To Revive the Believer

“I asked him about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . We made it a law for the children of Israel that the killing of a person for reasons other than legal retaliation or for stopping corruption in the land is as great a sin as murdering all of mankind. However, to save a life would be as great a virtue as to save all of mankind...’ (5:32) “The Imam said, ‘Whoever takes people from straying to guidance, has given them life. Whoever takes people from guidance to straying, it is as if he has murdered all of them.’”

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in His book, ‘ ... to save a life is as great a virtue as to save all of mankind. . . .’ (5:32) The Imam said, ‘It refers to burning or drowning someone.’ I asked, ‘What if someone takes him out of straying to guidance?’ The Imam said, ‘That is the greatest interpretation of the case in point.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad and ‘Abd Allah the two sons of Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban: a similar Hadith.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Can I ask you a question, may Allah keep you well?’ He said, ‘Yes you may do so.’ I said, ‘I was in a particular condition and today I am in another condition. I would go in the land to invite one or two men and women (to our belief) and Allah would save whomever He wanted. Today I do not invite anyone.’ The Imam said, ‘It is no offense to you to leave people to their Lord. Whomever Allah wants to guide and take out of darkness to light He does so.’ The Imam then said, ‘It is not an offense to you if you sense good in someone to introduce an issue.’ 1 then said, ‘Tell me about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . to save a life is as great a virtue as to save all of mankind. . . .’ (5:32) The Imam said, ‘It refers to burning or drowning someone. He then remained quiet and then said, ‘Its greatest case in point, is that one is invited (to the truth), and he accepts it.’”