Imam Ali (as) said: "Faith rests on four pillars: reliance upon Allah, entrusting one's affairs to Allah, submission to the will of Allah, and contentment with Allah's decree." Bihar al-anwar, vol. 69 p. 63, hadith no. 154.
Imam Ali (as) said: "The most perfect in faith from among you is the one with the best character." Bihar al-anwar, vol. 71 p. 387, hadith no. 34
Imam Ali (as) said: "If faith was a mere statement, then fasting, prayers, the lawful and the unlawful things would not have been prescribed for it." Bihar al-anwar, vol. 69 p. 19, hadith no. 2.
The Prophet (saw) said: "Faith is inner knowledge by means of the heart, attestation with the tongue and action with the limbs." Kanz al-Ummal, hadith no. 2.
Imam al-Mahdi (af) said: "The way that people benefit from me during my occultation is as the benefit from the sin when the clouds cover it from the sights. I am indeed a [source of] security for the dwellers of the earth." Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 52 p. 90, hadith no. 7.
Imam al-Kazim (as) said: "Anticipating relief is part of the relief itself." Al-Ghaybah li al-Tusi, p 459, hadith no. 471
The Prophet (saw) said; "The [Final] Hour will not come until the land has been filled with tyranny and enmity, then a man from my progeny will emerge and will fill it with fairness and justice just as it had been filled with tyranny and enmity." Kanz al-ummal, hadith no. 38691.
Imam al-Hadi (as) said: "The Imam after me is al-Hasan, and after al-Hasan his son al-Qa'im [lit. the one who will rise], the one who will fill the land with fairness and justice just as it was filled with tyranny and oppression. " Bihar al-anwar, vol. 40, p. 308, hadith no. 6.
Imam al-Jawad (as) said; "Certainly the Imam after me is my son Ali (as). His command is my command, his word is my word, obedience to him is obedience to me, and the Imama after him will rest with his son al-Hasan (as)." Bihar al-anwar, vol. 50 p. 239, hadith no. 4.
Yahya al-San'ani narrated, "I visited Abu al-Hasan al-Rida (as) when he was in Makkah. I saw him peel a banana and feed it to Abu Ja'far. I asked him, 'May I be your ransom, is this the blessed newborn?' He said, 'Yes, O Yahya! This is the newborn the like of whom there is no other born into Islam and upon our Shia, more blessed than him." al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 360, hadith no. 3.
Including an analysis of the different views of Ma'mun al-Abbasi and his motivations behind offering Imam al-Rida (as) the Caliphate and thereafter the position of the heir apparent.
This episode includes three methods by which we can better connect with the later Imams (as)
Hisham b. Salim narrated, "When it was dark and part of the night had passed, Abu Abdillah (as) would take a sack of bread, meat and money, and carry it on his back to the needy of Madina. He would distribute it among them whilst they did not recognise him. When Aby Abdillah (as) passed away, they missed [the aid] and realized that it had in fact been Abu Abdillah (as)." al-Kafi, vol 4, p. 8, hadith no. 1.
Imam al-Baqir (as) said: "Verily the truth, harbouring falsehood in its midst, cried out for assistance from me. I cleaved it open from the side and disclosed the truth from its veils until it became manifest and widespread after having being concealed and hidden." Rabi al-abrar, vol 2, p 603.
The Prophet (saw) said: "On the Day of Judgement a caller will call, 'Where is the adornment of the worshippers (zayn al-abidin)?' And it is as if I am looking at my son Ali b. al-Husayn b. Ali b. Abi Talib emerging from between the rows." Bihar al-anwar, vol 46, p 3, hadith no. 1.
The Prophet (saw) said: "O Ubayy I swear by Him who has rightfully sent me down as a messenger, certainly [the worth of] Husayn b. Ali is greater in the heavens than on the earth. And verily it is written [about him] on the right side of Allah's Throne: lamp of guidance, ark of salvation, an Imam, not weak, a [source of] dignity and pride, a landmark and a great treasure." Uyun akhbar al-Rida (as), vol 1, p. 59, hadith no. 29.
The Prophet (saw) said: "O Allah, I love him, so You love him and love whoever loves him." Kanz al-Ummal, hadith no. 37640
The Prophet (saw) said: "Fatima is a part of me - whoever pleases her pleases me, whoever grieves her grieves me. Fatima is the dearest of all people to me." Bihar al-anwar, vol 43, p 23, hadith no. 17.
Imam Ali (as) said: "Verily my example among you is as that of a lamp in the darkness, whoever enters its vicinity is enlightened by it." Ghurar al-hikam, hadith no. 3883.
The Prophet (saw) said: "The truth is with Ali wherever he inclines." al-Kafi vol 1, p 294, hadith no. 1
The Prophet (saw) said: "Love for Ali consumes sins as fire consumes wood."
The Prophet (saw) said: "The affairs of the people will continue to progress as long as twelve men govern them...all of them will be from [the tribe of] Quraysh." Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p 1452, hadith no. 6
The Prophet (saw) said: "There is no obedience due to one who disobeys Allah."
The Prophet (saw) said: "Verily, your Imams are your representatives before Allah, therefore be careful whom you follow in your religion and your prayers." Bihar al-anwar, vol 23, p 30 & 46.
The Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever dies without knowing his Imam has died a pagan [pre-Islamic] death." Bihar al-anwar v. 23 p. 76 hadith no. 1.
Imam al-Rida (as) said: "Verily imamah is the reins of religion, the ruling system of the Muslims, the prosperity of the world and an honour for the believers."
The Prophet (saw) said: "Among all the prophets, my followers will be the most on the Day of Resurrection." Bihar al-anwar, v 69, p 394, hadith no. 77.
Bringing together some of the concepts from the previous episode with some examples.
"Leave them to eat and enjoy and to be diverted by expectations. Soon they will surely know." Qur'an (15:3)
Imam Ali (as) said: "A wild lion is better than an oppressive ruler, while an oppressive ruler is better than lasting schisms." Bihar al-anwar, vol. 75, p. 359, hadith no. 74
