Lesson 01
Shia—The Foremost Community
Narration:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports:
I asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) about the saying of Allah the Almighty:
“And the foremost are the foremost. They are the ones brought near, in Gardens of bliss.”
(Surah Al-Waqi’ah, 56:10-12)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
Gabriel (peace be upon him) said: “This refers to Ali and his Shia. They are the ones who will be the first to enter Paradise and will be among those brought near to Allah through His grace.”
A Message of Leadership for the Youth
Young people must develop a deep understanding of what true precedence means. It is a journey of striving forward in the path of Allah—one that aims not just at worldly success, but more importantly at spiritual elevation and attaining divine pleasure. Youth should make the most of their prime years by choosing this path of advancement so they may be counted among those close to God and succeed in the Hereafter.
1. The Concept of Precedence in the Qur’an
Allah Almighty gives immense importance to precedence and initiative in the Qur’an. It is a key to both worldly progress and eternal success.
Verse:
“And the foremost are the foremost. They are the ones brought near, in Gardens of bliss.”
(Surah Al-Waqi’ah, 56:10-12)
2. The Precedence of Imam Ali (a.s.) and His Role
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) holds a distinguished position in terms of precedence. From his youth, he dedicated his life to seeking the pleasure of Allah. His advancement was not confined to personal elevation, but served as a luminous example for the Muslim Ummah.
Hadith:
“Ali will be the first among my nation to enter Paradise, and he is the foremost among the foremost.”
(Sahih Muslim)
3. The Role of the Shia in Precedence
The Shia are not merely claimants; they actively follow the principles of Imam Ali (a.s.). The Qur’an and Hadith repeatedly affirm that those who strive to advance for Allah’s pleasure will attain the highest ranks in Paradise.
Allama Tabataba’i (may Allah have mercy on him) emphasizes in his exegesis al-Mizān:
“The true Shia are those who live their lives according to the guidance of Imam Ali (a.s.), and this is the real meaning of precedence.”
4. Sayings of Scholars
Shaykh Mufīd (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The greatest treasure a youth possesses is his faith and actions. If these are aligned with the right path, he will attain success in this world and precedence in the Hereafter.”
Allama Iqbal (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“The true youth are those who do not surrender to circumstances, but use their faith and actions to change the world. By walking the path of precedence, they achieve success in both this world and the next.”
5. Spiritual Advancement Through Precedence
Precedence is not merely about material or worldly success; its real aim is spiritual growth. Youth must understand that worldly achievements only have true value when they serve the purpose of earning Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
Imam Ali (a.s.) is reported to have said:
“The goal of your precedence should not be wealth and possessions of the world, but your actions should be for the sake of Allah’s pleasure, which can elevate you to the highest ranks in Paradise.”