Characteristics of Most Beloved Servants of God in Imam Ali’s Words
This is according to Bakhshali Ghanbari, a Nahj al-Balagha researcher, who discussed this topic of beloved servants of God in a series of lectures. Here are excerpts from the eighth session:
In the previous session, we discussed part of Sermon 87 of Nahj al-Balagha about the most beloved servants of God and noted that, first, God helps them in confronting their Nafs (self), second, their inner side is (submerged in) grief and the outer side is covered with fear, and, three, they have the fear of God.
Then, Imam Ali (AS) mentions three results of their characteristics and these outcomes are very brilliant. These are the outcomes: “The lamp of guidance is burning in his heart. He has provided entertainment for the day that is to befall him. He regards what is distant to be near himself and takes the hard to be light.”
So the three characteristics of the beloved servants of God have three outcomes. First, the light of guidance burns in their hearts. Here it is not the initial guidance because it has already taken place. What is referred to here is the secondary guidance. Declaring the Shahada and doing acts of worship like other Muslims in the initial guidance. But what Imam (AS) talks about here is the secondary guidance which is the light of Irfan (mysticism). Irfan is beyond Islam. Islam is the basis for Irfan. That is, the person acts upon the principles of ethics and Fiqh and now gets to the third stage, which is Irfan.
Second, he has prepared provision for the Day of Judgment. Of course we can never be sure the provision we have prepared is enough to save us on that day for sure but we can say that we have fulfilled our responsibility.
Third, He regards what is distant to be near himself. This sentence by Imam Ali (AS) is the same as two verses in the Holy Quran: “They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. but We see it to be very near.” (Verses 5-6 of Surah Al-Ma’arij)
So, according to the Commander of the Faithful, if you have these three characteristics, you will bring closer the Day of Judgment that is apparently far away. The Quran says that right now, not after death, people are surrounded by paradise and hell. Hell has surrounded unbelievers and paradise has surrounded believers now. Some may realize it and some not.
It is said that the 21st century is a century of pains and sufferings and psychological and mental problems. A main reason for that is that people do not take the hard to be light. They take hard on themselves. Life should be taken lightly. Imam Ali (AS) says the Arifs (mystics) take life lightly and their motto is things are easier than you think.
When an ignorant person uses foul language, we get angry and disappointed. But Arifs are not like this. So Arifs who have those three characteristics enjoy those four outcomes.
