The Effects of Accompanying the Imam: How Does Accompanying the Imam Lead Us to the Praiseworthy Station?
When we speak of the effects of accompanying the Imam, we are talking about the fruits of a connection that can elevate our lives from the lowest and most material levels to the pinnacles of spirituality, bliss, and divine satisfaction, bringing us closer to our human perfection. No relationship in the world, like the connection with the Wali of God (divinely appointed guardian) and being with him, is as influential and transformative.
Regardless of whether we consciously aim for the effects and results of an action or simply intend to do it without regard for its outcome, no action remains without effect. Each deed, no matter how insignificant, leads to certain results, and the importance of these results will be determined by the significance or insignificance of the deed itself. It is like a seed planted in the soil, which, regardless of the farmer’s wish, follows its natural course and eventually bears fruit.
The grander the action we perform and the higher its value, the more sublime its result and effect. As we have mentioned in previous lessons, one of the greatest and most significant actions on our path to fulfilling the purpose of our creation is reaching the status of being with the infallible Imam or leader.
The infallible Imam is not merely an influential historical or social figure, but the highest manifestation of God in the universe and the system of creation. He is a perfect mirror of divine names and attributes, displaying God’s mercy, knowledge, justice, and other names in the most comprehensive way. Closeness, similarity, and compatibility with him lead us to similarity with Allah. Therefore, achieving being with the Imam is not just a spiritual choice, but the deepest and most valuable result that can be expected from the path of human life and endeavors. Naturally, the effects of accompanying the Imam will also be among the most valuable actions. In this lesson, we intend to discuss the material and spiritual effects of reaching the status of accompanying the Imam in our lives.
Effects of Reaching the Status of Accompanying the Imam
Being with the Imam is an honor that, above all, will bring us supra-rational pleasure. However, the effects of accompanying the Imam do not solely encompass the divine aspect of our being; they also directly influence our material lives. We will now review the most important of these effects:
Inner Peace
Among us are many individuals who, despite having comfort, are devoid of the hallmarks of bliss such as happiness and inner peace, and consequently, are deprived of enjoying their lives. However, deep and lasting happiness and peace are not achieved on their own; they stem from closeness to the source of this tranquility which is the Absolute and Infinite perfection, God.
Certainly, reaching the status of committed love and consequently being with the Imam necessitates enduring the hardships of the path and sacrificing the beloveds of the four lower levels of existence, which naturally brings pressures upon us. However, aligning our movement based on the goals and decrees of the highest manifestation of God and striving to achieve these goals makes enduring these pressures easier for us.
The movement toward realizing the Imam’s plans is so critical and demands such speed and haste that it leaves no room for distress and sorrow imposed by the material aspects of our being. A moment of negligence on this path leads to distance from the Imam’s plans and destinies, and this very distance plunges us into sorrow, corruption, afflictions, and material worries and concerns.
Persistence
Adopting an approach based on committed love and being with the Imam will undoubtedly lead us to higher spirits, more precise goal-setting, and better outcomes in life, enhancing our strength and vitality on the path. Developing a deep relationship with the Prophet’s Household (Peace be upon them) as our true family will change our perspective on life and its challenges. This is because, in this state, difficulties will no longer be obstacles but rather bridges for our growth and closer proximity to the Beloved. We will neither fall due to exhaustion and lethargy, nor will laziness and apathy be able to stop us. Not even futile justifications, the temptations of others, or the attacks of Satan will affect our hearts because the spiritual support of the Household of the Prophet, our true family, acts as a strong shield, strengthening our resolve and giving us double the power to endure hardships and fatigue.
Naturally, an individual who aligns their horizons with higher, more comprehensive goals and sees themselves as part of the Imam’s grand plan to save humanity and lead them to salvation will act in accordance with this objective and will not easily falter.
Regulating Behavior
Regulating one’s relationship with the Imam, accompanying him, and aligning one’s desires and priorities with the most noble of God’s creation ensures that we act with greater precision in our decisions and choices across various aspects of life. In essence, we consider our heavenly family’s stature and harmonize ourselves with the standards and requirements of being with the Imam.
It is clear that the prerequisite for accompanying the Imam, in the first step, requires our sincerity in this companionship. There may be individuals who, despite having a respectable religious appearance and adhering to Islamic law, are practically incompatible with the Imam and far from the criteria of accompanying him. If a person is outwardly engaged in prayer, fasting, religious studies, or even social and religious activities, but has no connection with the Wali of God in any of these actions, they have spent a lifetime without connecting with the infallible expert.
Our religious appearance, abundant acts of worship, or even scientific and social work will not help our eternal life or true self, if they do not focus on the Imam and being with him. This is because the reality of religion is intertwined with connecting to the Imam and living under his guidance.
A human being who neglects this relationship and focuses on their limited perfections, even if they consider themselves religious, has strayed from the main path and spent their life on unimportant things. This is because only through ma’rifa of and committed love for the Imam do our actions gain true value and direction.
Reaching the Same Rank as the Imam
One of the most significant effects of accompanying the Imam can be considered reaching a station equivalent to infallibility or attaining the praiseworthy station (Maqam Mahmud), just as we ask God for such a station in the Ziyarat Ashura. Reaching this status means growing as much as an infallible person who is the manifestation of all of God’s names and attributes and is considered the most similar to Allah. Therefore, reaching the same rank as an infallible person necessitates similarity to them and acquiring divine names and attributes. This is a rank that is never easily attained; it is the result of aligning ourselves with the Imam’s desires and concerns. We absolutely cannot live at this high level without adjusting our lifestyle, decisions, relationships, behavior, and thoughts to align with the Imam.
Reaching the level of the Household of the Prophet (Peace be upon them) does not always mean just gaining a lot of knowledge or doing very grand acts of worship. Rather, it means that within the specific circumstances of our lives, we should progress on the path of humanity and perfection in such a way that our behavior and intentions become a reflection of the attributes and way of life of the Household of the Prophet (Peace be upon them). Our perspective on issues and our approach to trials and tribulations should stem from their worldview. In essence, the prerequisite for reaching the praiseworthy station, which is one of the effects of accompanying the Imam, is to move toward performing correct and high-quality actions. Although these actions may differ according to the individual circumstances of each of our lives, they are adjusted to align with our human path and the purpose of our creation, ultimately leading to our similarity to Allah.
In this article, we examined the effects of accompanying the Imam. We stated that being with the Imam, as the most similar person to Allah, necessitates choosing a lifestyle that is in harmony with the Imam’s concerns, priorities, and decrees. The effects of accompanying the Imam not only influence the divine and non-material aspects of our existence, serving as a bridge for us to reach the greatest honor or the praiseworthy station, but they also encompass the material and worldly dimensions of our being, bringing us inner peace and persistence.