Three Characteristics of A Believer in Words of Imam Reza

IQNA – Imam Reza (AS) in a Hadith listed some characteristics of a faithful person, and Iranian university and seminar scholar said, noting that according to the Hadith, a believer is not considered a believer unless he has three characteristics: a Sunnah from his Lord, a Sunnah from his Prophet, and a Sunnah from his Wali (Imam).

Speaking to IQNA, Zohreh Manazadeh offered condolences on the anniversary of Imam Reza’s (AS) martyrdom, which falls on Sunday, August 24, this year.

She considered one of the functions of Islamic teachings to be providing practical and effective guidance in life, and said by applying the educational teachings contained in the words of the infallibles (AS), especially Imam Reza (AS), “we can definitely reach the path of growth, perfection, and elevation.”

The director of the Women and Family Association of the Women’s Seminaries in Fars Province said that in this Hadith, Imam Reza (AS) described the beauty of a believer and listed some characteristics for the faithful.

She noted that according to this Hadith, narrated in the Book Al-Khisal, Volume 2, Page 82, Imam Reza (AS) said that a believer is not a believer unless he has three characteristics.

There must be a Sunnah from God, a Sunnah from the Prophet (PBUH), and a Sunnah from Wali in him to be considered a true believer, the Hadith says, Manazadeh added.

The researcher continued, “The Sunnah from God in a believer is to keep secrets, because God has said that He is the Knower of the unseen and does not inform anyone except His prophets about it. This characteristic means that a person must protect his own and others’ secrets.

“The characteristic of the Prophet (PBUH) is tolerance towards people. He continued. According to this Hadith, a believer must have tolerance and kindness towards people. And the third Sunnah, which is the Sunnah of the Wali of God, is patience in adversity and hardship.”

The scholar said that in this beautiful narrative, three basic elements of concealment of secrets, tolerance towards people, and patience in hardship and problems are considered, which are missing from many people’s behaviors in the family environment, interpersonal relationships, and also social relationships.

Concealment of secrets in interpersonal communications brings peace of mind and increases confidence and trust between people, and prevents chaos in relationships, she stated.

“Good and kind relations between family members depend to a large extent on secrecy, especially in the relationship between spouses.”

In social relationships, protecting secrets strengthens cohesion and unity among members of society, she said. “Perhaps one of the reasons why God has dealt severely with the sin of backbiting is the necessity of cohesion and unity among members of society, especially in the family environment.

“Another characteristic that has been mentioned as a prophetic Sunnah and a sign of a believing person in the enlightened words of Imam Reza (AS) is tolerance towards people. Tolerance means compatibility and flexibility in dealing with people. Imam Ali (AS) said that the health of a person’s religion and world lies in tolerance towards people. Tolerance means empathizing and understanding the other party and having compatibility, and it creates a sense of safety and healthy emotional relationships between individuals and lays the foundation for rational relationships.”

4301062