The word: TAGHVA (piety) derived from VAGHAYE
means preservation and in common law it means protection of soul from
disagreement of orders and prohibitions of God and obedience of God.
We should know that piety, though it is not a
stage of attainment, but reaching no rank is possible without it. 1
Piety is an spiritual force which occurs due to
several practices and the rational and logical abstinence is a means of
occurrence of such a spiritual state. This makes soul powerful and happy and
secures it. The man who is deprived of such a power, if intends to keep
himself safe of any sin,
shall be far from all guilt and since there are always causes of sin in the
social environment, he shall be far from the environment and keep isolated. 2
In this regard, holy prophet (p.b.u.h.) pointed
to his chest and prescribed: “piety rests here”. Hazrat Ali (p.b.u.h.)
prescribes in Nahjolbalagheh: “Oh! Creatures of God! I suggest to you to be
pious. Piety is in fact a divine right and creates a right for you from part
of God, so that relying on God, you are pious and by your piety, you attain
God. 3
Amir Almomenin (p.b.u.h.) prescribes about duty
of God at the time of absence of Imam Mahdi (May Almighty God Hasten His
Coming): “The owner of this decree will be absent for some time and the men
shall be pious and shall keep their religion during this time.” Then, he read
verse: 214 of Sura: Baghareh and prescribed: “Have
you thought that you will enter paradise, before it occurs to you like those
who came before you? They underwent many hardships and catastrophes and they
became anxious, so that prophet (p.b.u.h.) and those who were faithful sated:
“When God will help us? Beware that His help is near.”4
Considering the people living in the period in
the end of the world, prophet (p.b.u.h.) prescribed: “Honesty and truthfulness
will be rarely found and lie will govern.” 5
Honesty in fact means that a statement or a
news given complies with reality. When tongue, heart, and deed are emptied of
void, naturally, truth shall replace them. The honest tongue and heart is for
the people who do not play and do not cheat.
Prophet of God was asked: “what is the path of
being saved in the day after pandemonium?” He prescribed: “ The path of being
saved is that no one cheats God because He shall retaliate.” They asked him
what was being tricky and cheating God?” He said: “One who obeys God, but to
attract attention of others, is cheating.” Faith of man is estimated by extent
of his honesty.
Imam Sadegh (p.b.u.h.) stated: “do not be
cheated by prayers and fast of the people, because one who has got used to
prayers and fast will be terrified if he decides to quit it. Try them, to find
out their truthfulness.” Honesty holds a very higher rank. It means that man
should be honest and takes action by a complete purity and transcendence of
inside, so it shall have an end according to truth.
They should be the people who are firm in their
paths and are changed by alteration of the world and for goodness of the world
and also they are fixed in their beliefs. 6
This verse instructs the faithful men, to be
pious and to follow the honest people in their deeds and speeches. In
interpretation of the proof it has been narrated that God has instructed the
friends of God (p.b.u.h.) to fear Him. Then he stated that the honest people
are those who avoid sin. 7
Imam Sadegh (p.b.u.h.) stated, considering the
secret of absence of Imam Mahdi (May Almighty God Hasten His Coming): “The
holder of this decree shall be absent for some time and shall not avoid it,
for some reason which we are not allowed to reveal. We can briefly say it is
for the reason the previous prophets were absent, the main reason of which
shall not be known except after his coming, just as the philosophy under his
wonderful acts of Hazrat Khezr was not revealed to Moses, until they parted
and then it was revealed why he had holed the ship, why he had killed the
youth, and why he had construed the wall. When we consider Almighty God, wise,
we shall consider all His acts as truth, though we do not know the meaning of
some of them. 8
Regarding enjoyment of the people of Imam Mahdi
(May Almighty God Hasten His Coming) during his absence, prophet says: “I take
oath to Almighty God who elected me as a prophet, the people will enjoy his
presence and the light of his guidance, just as they enjoy rays of sun, though
it is behind the clouds”.
Imam Mahdi (May Almighty God Hasten His Coming)
stated: “We did not desert you and did
not forget you and if it was not for our concerns, you had to undergo
catastrophes, would be defeated by you enemies. So pray for our coming so that
you are salvated”. 9
End Notes:
1. Chehel Hadis of Imam/page: 206
2. Seyri dar Nahjolbalagheh, Ostad Motahari, page: 199
3. Ibid. /page: 207
4. Roosgar-e Rahaei/ volume: 1, page: 318
5.Ibid., page:708
6. Chehel Mantel Solouk/ Kazem
Arfa, page: 129 to 134
7. Tafsir Almizan, volume 9, Allameh Tabatabaei, page: 548
8. Roozegar-e Rahaei/ volume: 1, page: 193
9. Ibid./ page:
221 to 236