Muhammad b. al-Hasan رضي الله عنه narrated to us. He said: Al-Husayn b. al-Hasan b. Aban from al-Husayn b. Sa`id from Muhammad b. Abi `Umayr from `Ali b. Abi Hamza from Abi Basir from Abi `Abdillah al-Sadiq عليه السلام. He said: I went out with my father عليه السلام until we were between the grave [of the Prophet] and the pulpit. He was with people from the Shi`a, so he gave his salaam, and they returned their salaam. Then, he said: By Allah, I love your fragrance and your spirits. So, support me in that through piety and striving, and know that our wilaya can only be reached through good deeds and striving. Whoever of you is a worshiper should do his deeds. You are the Shi`a of Allah and you are the supporters of Allah. You are the foremost of the former and latter peoples. You are the forerunners of this world toward our wilaya, and you are the forerunners of the Hereafter toward Paradise. We have assured you of Paradise with the assurance of Allah and His Messenger. There is none in the ranks of Paradise that has more wives than you, so compete with one another in attaining the ranks. You are pure men, and your women are pure women. Every believing woman is a houri and every believing man is a saint. Amir al-Mu’minin عليه السلام said to Qanbar: “O Qanbar! Be glad, give glad tidings, and rejoice, for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم died angry with his [whole] Nation except the Shi`a.” Surely, for everything there is a firm handle, and the firm handle of Islam is the Shi`a. Surely, for everything there is a foundation, and the foundation of Islam is the Shi`a. Surely, for everything there is a nobility, and the nobility of Islam is the Shi`a. Surely, for everything there is a master, and the master of gatherings (sayyid al-majalis) are the gatherings of the Shi`a. Surely, for everything there is an Imam, and the Imam of the Earth is the earth that the Shi`a live upon. By Allah, had none of you been upon the Earth, Allah would not have bestowed blessings upon your opponents, nor would they gain goodly things. They have no claim to this world or the Hereafter. Every opponent (nasib) – even if he worships and strives – will have this verse apply to them, “Overburdened and exhausted, they will burn in a raging Fire and left to drink from a scalding spring. They will have no food except a foul, thorny shrub, neither nourishing nor satiating them from hunger.” (88:3-7) The deeds of every striving opponent will be in vain. Our Shi`a see by the light of Allah, and their opponents toil in the wrath of Allah. By Allah, there is not one worshiper from our Shi`a except that, when he sleeps, Allah raises his spirit to heaven. If his time has come, He brings him into the treasures of His grace, the Gardens of His Paradise, and the shade of His Throne. If his time is prolonged, He sends him with His trustworthy angels to the body that he came out of to settle him in it. By Allah, your pilgrims of Hajj and `Umra are the elite of Allah. Your poor ones are the truly rich ones, and your rich ones are the truly contented ones. Surely, all of you are those whom Allah called to and those who answered the call.