Excellence of Shi’ah and advice of Abu Ja’far AS

328. Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al-Hassan Bin Ali, from Karraam, from Abu Al-Saamat, who has narrated the following: Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام having said: ‘I عليه الصلاة والسلام and Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام passed by the Shites whilst they were in between the Grave and the Pulpit (of the Rasool Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم). So I عليه الصلاة والسلام said to Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام: ‘May I عليه الصلاة والسلام be sacrificed for you عليه الصلاة والسلام, these are your عليه الصلاة والسلام Shites and your عليه الصلاة والسلام friends’. He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Where are they?’ I عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘In between the Grave and the Pulpit’. He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘So come with me عليه الصلاة والسلام to them’. So he عليه الصلاة والسلام went and greeted them, then said: ‘I عليه الصلاة والسلام love your aromas, and your souls, so support this with piety and struggle. What is with Allah عز وجل cannot be achieved except by piety and struggle, and if you follow a servant (an Imam عليه الصلاة والسلام), so follow him (emulate his عليه الصلاة والسلام deeds). But, by Allah عز وجل, all of you are upon my عليه الصلاة والسلام Religion, and the Religion of my عليه الصلاة والسلام forefather Ibrahim عليه السلام and Ismail عليه السلام, and if these were upon a Religion so they supported this by piety and struggle’.