Proximity to prophets through obedience to God

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 96

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 96

Proximity to prophets through obedience to God
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 116

٩٦. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِمَا جَاءُوا بِهِ، ثُمَّ تَلاَ (عليه السلام): (إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ وَاللهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ) ثُمَّ قَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): إِنَّ وَلِيَّ مُحَمَّد مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللهَ وإِنْ بَعُدَتْ لُحْمَتُهُ، وَإِنَّ عَدُوَّ مُحَمَّد مَنْ عَصَى اللهَ وَإِنْ قَرُبَتْ قَرَابَتُهُ!

96. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: The persons most attached to the prophets are those who know most what the prophets have brought. Then Amīr al-mu’minīn recited the verse: “Verily, of men the nearest to Abraham are surely those who followed him and this (Our) Prophet (Muḥammad) and those who believe.” (Qur’ān, 3:68) Then he said: The friend of Muḥammad is he who obeys Allāh, even though he may have no blood relationship, and the enemy of Muḥammad is he who disobeys Allāh even though he may have near kinship.