Imam Baqir (AS)'s traditions about reward on love for Ahl al-Bayt

Imam Abu Jafar Muhammad al-Baqir, peace be upon him, spoke to some of his companions about the love for the members of the House of Prophet (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.

Imam denoted that a great reward from Allah would result from the love for them. The following are some of his traditions on that:

1- Some of his lovers from Khurasa`n came to him. He, peace be on him, looked at a man of them. He saw that the man's feet split open. So, he, peace be on him, asked him: "What is this?" "O Son of Allah's Apostle, the remote distance (has brought it about). By Allah, nothing has brought me from where I came except the love for you, ahl al-Bayt," replied the man.

"Be cheerful! By Allah, you will be raised from the dead with us," said the Imam, peace be on him. The Khurasa`ni man was so happy that he asked: "O Son of Allah's Apostle, will I be raised from the dead with you?"

The Imam, peace be on him, replied: "Yes. The servant who loves us, Allah will raise him from the dead with us. Religion is nothing except love (for us).

Surely, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said in His Book: 'Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. "
(Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 223)

2- Ziyad al-Aswad came to Imam Abu Jafar al-Baqir, peace be on him from a remote distance and a far-off place. He walked so much that his feet rip open. So, Imam Abu Jafar al-Baqir, peace be on him, asked him: "Ziya`d, what is this?"

"My master, I came on the back of a weak young camel. So, I walked the entire road. I had nothing to buy a camel. I added a thing to a thing so that I have bought this young camel," Ziyad replied.

Imam Abu Jafar, peace be on him, felt pity and wept for him. Then Ziyad said to him: "May Allah make me ransom for you. By Allah, I have extremely committed sins. Perhaps I said: 'I have perished!' Then, I remember my love for you, ahl al-Bayt. With that I wish for forgiveness." So, the Imam turned to him, and then he said to him with kindness and affection: "Glory belongs to Allah. Religion is nothing but love (for us).

Indeed Allah, the Blessed and Exalted said in His Book: ﴾Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts.﴿
 
He said: ﴾If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you.﴿ (The Holy Qur'an, Al-Umran, 31)

He said: ﴾They love those who have fled to them.﴿
3- He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, the garden longs for and its light becomes intense for the coming of the family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and his progeny, and their followers. If a servant worships Allah between the rukn (the corner of the Kaaba) and the maqam (the standing place of Abraham) to the extent that his bodily members cut off, Allah would not accept his worship unless he adopts our authority and loves us."

(Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 227)

4- He, peace be on him, said to a group of his lovers: "The one of you who becomes happy when his soul reaches here, he pointed to his mouth with his hand, the angel of death comes down to him and says to him: 'As for what you wish for, it has been given to you. As for what you fear, you are safe from it.' He will open the door of his abode in the garden and say to him: 'Look at your abode in the garden! Those are Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his progeny, 'Ali, al-Hasan, and al-Hussein. They are your friends.' This is what the words of Allah, the Great and Almighty confirm: 'Those who believe and guard (against evil), they shall have good news in this world's life and in the hereafter.

(Ayun al Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 227)