Question 419 - The Enlightening Answer Across the Ether, Vol 5

Ahmed al-Hasan Response:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the Imams and the Mahdis, and grant them peace. The Exalted said: ‘The likeness of the Garden promised to the mindful is that within it are rivers of water unspoiled, rivers of milk whose taste does not change, rivers of wine delightful to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey. Within it they will have every fruit and forgiveness from their Lord. Is this like one who abides forever in the Fire and is given scalding water to drink that tears apart their intestines?’ The mindful are Muhammad, the family of Muhammad, and their Shia, and they are the people of the Garden and forgiveness. Forgiveness has degrees, each according to his condition. For some, their forgiveness is that Allah conceals their sins and misdeeds and causes even the recording angels and every one of His servants who knew or encountered their sins to forget them. He even causes them to forget their own sins, so that their sins and misdeeds do not become a cause that disturbs the bliss of the Garden with which Allah has blessed them. Among them are those of a higher station. Their forgiveness is the manifest opening and the forgiveness of the sin that was forgiven for Muhammad (s)-that is, forgiveness of the sin of the ‘I,’ but at a degree below Muhammad (s). I have explained this matter in many places, and may Allah grant you success in consulting it in The Allegories. The Exalted said, addressing Muhammad (s): ‘Indeed, We have granted you a manifest opening, so that Allah may forgive you what preceded of your sin and what followed, complete His blessing upon you, and guide you upon a straight path’ (^[23]). Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. Ahmed Alhasan Rabi al-Awwal 1431 AH