Hayat Al-Qulub Vol.3

Part 41: The love and regard of the Angels for the Holy Imams

Verses that indicate the love and regard of the Angels for the Holy Imams and their Shias

The Almighty Allah says:

Those who bear the power and those around Him celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask protection for those who believe: Our Lord, thou embraces all things in mercy and knowledge, therefore grant protection to those who turn (to Thee) and follow Thy way, and save them from the punishment of the Hell: Our Lord! And make them enter the gardens of perpetuity which Thou hast promised to them and those who do good of their fathers and their wives and their offspring, surely Thou art the mighty, the wise. And keep them from evil deeds this day, instead Thou hast mercy on him, and that is the mighty achievement. Surely those who disbelieve shall be cried out to: Certainly Allah’s hatred (of you) when you were called upon to the faith and you rejected, is much greater than your hatred of yourselves. (Surah Ghafir 40:7-10)

Kulaini has from authentic chains related from Abu Baseer who narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said that there are some angels of Allah who sins of our Shias fall off from their backs like the wind makes the leaves fall from the tree in autumn.

As Allah says in Quran:

And ask protection for those who believe.

By Allah! O Abu Baseer it refers to none but you Shias and their seeking forgiveness is for you.

In Uyoon there is a tradition from Imam Ridha (a.s.) that he said: Angels are the servants of our Shias. Then the Hazrat recited this verse and said that in this verse ‘believers’ denote those who brought faith on our Wilayat.

Ali Ibne Ibrahim has narrated from reliable chains that people asked Imam Sadiq (a.s.) whether angels were more numerous of or human beings. The Imam said: By Allah! In Whose hands is my life, there are more angels in the heavens than the particles of the earth. There is not an empty space in the heavens to place a foot where there are no angels who glorify and praise Allah. And there is no tree or pebble on the earth but that an angel is appointed on it who reports its deeds to Allah, even though Allah knows much better about its deeds and every day he seeks the proximity of Allah through expression of the Wilayat of we Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) asks forgiveness for our friends and lovers and curses our enemies and asks Allah to send a terrible chastisement on them.

Also Imam Baqir (a.s.) remarks on the words of Allah:

And thus did the word of your Lord prove true against those who disbelieved that they are the inmates of the fire. (Surah Ghafir 40:6)

That they are Bani Umayyah and ‘Those who bear the power’ denotes the Holy Prophet (S) and after him his successors, who are the carriers of divine knowledge and ‘those around him’ are the angels who glorify and praise Allah and ask forgiveness for those who brought faith and they are the Shias of the progeny of Muhammad (S).

…therefore grant protection to those who turn (to Thee)…

That is may Allah forgive the sins of those who have repented from the love of those who committed injustice on the progeny of Muhammad (S) and the Bani Umayyah.

…and follow Thy way…

That is those who followed the Wali of Allah, Amirul Momineen (a.s.).

…and those who do good of their fathers and their wives and their offspring, surely Thou art the mighty, the wise.

It means those who are good and pious from among his ancestors, grandfathers, children and their women. The Hazrat said that the pious are those who have accepted the Wilayat of Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) and accepted him and his sons as Imams.

And keep them from evil deeds this day, instead Thou hast mercy on him, and that is the mighty achievement.

It means those who protect their Wilayat in this world would be the recipient of Your mercy on the day of Judgement. This is the great victory for those who are saved from the love and the Wilayat of the enemies of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Surely those who disbelieve

That is the Bani Umayyah.

…when you were called upon to the faith and you rejected...

Faith refers to the Wilayat of Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s).

Ibne Mahyar has narrated all the discussions from Jabir Johfi from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.).

It is also narrated from Amirul Momineen (a.s.) that he said: My praise in the context of this verse was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S). That is:

Those who bear the power…

Because when this verse was revealed no one had yet brought faith on the Holy Prophet (S) except me.

Also, there is tradition from Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) that the angels did not do repentance for seven years and some months for anyone except the Holy Prophet (S) and me. That is why these verses were revealed in our praise because there was no believer except us.

Also it is related through the Ahle Sunnat chain of narrators that angels sent Salaams on Ali (a.s.) for many years because except the Hazrat none had brought faith and none had prayed the Prayer.

From authentic sources Imam Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said that ‘Sabil’ (path) refers to Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) in this verse. ‘Those who believe’ refers to the Shias of Ali (a.s.).