Obstructing One’s Brother (In Belief)

“Once I was in the presence of al-Rida (a.s.) and he stated to me as follows: ‘O Muhammad, in the time of the children of Israel there were four believing people. One of them once went to the house where the other three had gathered together for a meeting on a certain issue among them. He knocked the door and a slave came to him. He then asked, ‘Where is your master?’ The slave replied, ‘He is not home.’ The man returned back and the slave went inside. His master asked, ‘Who was at the door?’ The slave replied, ‘It was so and so and I told him that you were not home.’ He remained quiet without regretting or blaming the slave for his false reply, nor did the other two show any concern for the return of their friend from the door and they continued talking. Next morning the man (their friend) came to the door very early and met the other three when they were leaving to go to a certain property that belonged to one of them. He offered them his greeting of peace and said, ‘I also want to come with you.’ They agreed but did not apologize to him for their attitude the day before. The man was needy or weak. On a certain part of the way a piece of cloud appeared over their heads with shadows and they thought it might rain. They began to move faster. When the cloud reached exactly over their heads an announcer announced from the cloud, ‘O fire, strike them. I am Jibril (Gabriel), the Messenger of Allah. ’ Suddenly, fire from the cloud snatched the three away and the man remained frightened and astonished for what had happened to the other people. He did not know the reason. He came to the city and met Yusha’ ibn Nun (peace be upon him). He explained to him what he had seen and heard. Yusha’ asked, ‘Did you not know that Allah had become angry with them, after that He was happy with them? It was because of the way they behaved toward you.’ He asked, ‘What had they done to me?’ Yusha’ informed him of their behavior and the man said, ‘I, however, am ready to forgive them.’ Yusha’ said, ‘Had this happened before it could have benefited them but now it does not benefit them and perhaps it may benefit them afterwards.’”

“Once I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about a Muslim who comes to the door of a Muslim as a visitor, or for help when he is home, and is asked permission for a meeting but does not give permission, nor does he come out to see his visitor?’ The Imam said, ‘O abu Hamza, if a Muslim comes to a Muslim as a visitor, or for help and he is home, and is asked permission but he does not come out to meet him, he continues living in the condemnation of Allah until the two will meet.’ I (the narrator) then asked the Imam, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, will he live with the condemnation of Allah until the two will meet?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, O abu Hamza.’”