The Last Luminary and Ways to Delve Into the Light

Responsibility 84: Respecting Those Close To the Imam

Another responsibility is to show respect to those who are related to and are close to Imam al-Zaman (ajtf).

The higher a person’s (spiritual) status is, the closer that person is to Imam al-Zaman (ajtf) and the more important it is for the true believers to show respect and honor to such a person.

Those who are related to the Imam include the noble family of the Sadat, especially the children of the twelfth Imam the scholars who act according to the Islamic injunctions, and the true believers who possess taqwa. The final categories of those who must be respected include all of the true believers and lovers of Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) no matter what level or societal class they belong to.

The most deserving of people who should be shown respect and those who are the closest to the Imam compared to all others are the scholars who act according to the Islamic teachings. More than all others, these are the people of taqwa and wara’ and from among these, the closest are the great scholars and those who make up the chain of the mujtahidin (Jurists) from among the Maraja’ Taqlid (sources of emulation). In any case, the true believer must love all of the friends of the Imam and respect them.

The Noble Prophet has said:

“Glad tidings to the one who meets the Qa`im (ajtf) of my Ahlul Bayt (as) while he has followed him during his occultation before his advent and has been an ally to those who are his allies and an enemy to those who are an enemy to him. These people are my friends and those who have my love, and are the noblest of my nation to me on the Day of Judgement.”[^1]

[^1]: Kamal ad-Din wa Tamam an-Ni’mah, vol. 1, pg. 286, sec. 25, no. 2