Reciting the merits of Imam Ali (as)

--- Keeping the Affairs of the AhlulBait (as) Alive ---

Imam Sadiq(as) asked one of his companions:

قال تجلسون و تتحدثون قال قلت جعلت فداك نعم قال إن تلك المجالس أحبها فأحيوا أمرنا إنه من ذكرنا أو ذكرنا عنده فخرج منه مثل جنح الذباب غفر الله له ذنوبه و لو كانت أكثر من زبد البحر

"Do you (Shia) sit together and speak (about us)?"

The companion replied, "Yes, my master!"

Imam Sadiq(as) said:

I love your gatherings. Keep our affairs alive. May Allah have mercy on those who keep our affairs alive.

Allah will forgive the sins of those who talk about us, hear about us, and cry for us even as little as the (width of the) wings of a fly, even if their sins are greater than the foam in the seas.

Source: Basharat ul Mustafa Le Shiyyat e Murtuza,Chapter.11 Hadees.1 / Thawaab Al-`Amaal, pg. 223

http://www.rafed.net/books/hadith/bishara/035.html#564

Prophet Muhammad (saww) ordered by Allah (swt) to recite the merits/virtues of Imam Ali (as)

Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) narrates from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww):

ان جبرئيل نزل علي وقال : ان الله يأمرك أن تقوم بتفضيل علي بن أبي طالب خطيبا على أصحابك ليبلغوا من بعده ذلك عنك ويأمر جميع الملائكة ان تسمع ما تذكره ، والله يوحي إليك يا محمد ان من خالفك في أمره فله النار ومن أطاعك فله الجنة . فأمر النبي ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مناديا ينادي بالصلاة جامعة ، فاجتمع الناس وخرج النبي حتى علا المنبر وكان أول ما تكلم به : أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم . ثم قال : ايها الناس انا البشير وأنا النذير وأنا النبي الامي ، أنا مبلغكم عن الله عز وجل في أمر رجل لحمه من لحمي ودمه من دمي ، وهو عيبة العلم ، وهو الذي انتجبه الله من هذه الامة واصطفاه وهذاه وتولاه ، وخلقني وإياه ، فضلني بالرسالة وفضله بالتبليغ عني ، وجعلني مدينة العلم وجعله الباب ، وجعله خازن العلم والمقتبس منه الأحكام وخصه بالوصية وأبان امره وخوف من عداوته وأزلف لمن والاه وغفر لشيعته ، وأمر الناس جميعا بطاعته ، وانه عز وجل يقول : من عاداه عاداني ، ومن والاه والاني ، ومن ناصبه ناصبني ، ومن خالفه خالفني ، ومن عصاه عصاني ، ومن أذاه آذاني ومن أبغضه أبغضني ، ومن أحبه أحبني ، ومن أراده أرادني ، من كاده كادني ، ومن نصره نصرني .

يا أيها الناس اسمعوا ما آمركم به وأطيعوه ، فاني أخوفكم عقاب الله ، يوم تجد كل نفس ما عملت من خير محضرا وما عملت من سوء تود لو أن بينها وبينه أمدا بعيدا ويحذركم الله نفسه

Jibraeel came to me and said:

Allah has ordered you to give a speech about All bin Abi Taleb's virtues in front of your companions so that they can narrate it to others. Allah has ordered all of the angels to listen to your speech. Allah says that those who disobey you by not following Ali will go to Hell, and those who obey you will be rewarded with Paradise.

So the Prophet(saww) called for Salaat and when people gathered, the Prophet(saww) went on the Mimbar and he started by saying:

AOUZO BILLAHE MIN AL-SHAYTAN AL-RAJIM BISMIILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM

O people! I am the bearer of glad tidings and I am the Warner. I am the Prophet from Makkah.

Allah has ordered me to tell you about a man whose flesh is from my flesh and whose blood is from my blood. He is the keeper of knowledge. He is the one whom Allah chose from this nation and appointed as the Wali.

Allah has created the two of us together. Allah elevated me above all people by honouring me with prophethood and Allah elevated him above all people by appointing him as my successor.

Allah made me the city of knowledge and made him the door. Allah chose him as the keeper of knowledge with which he defines the rules.

Allah has chosen him as my successor and Allah has revealed his status to everyone.

Allah has warned his enemies and Allah has brought his followers closer to Himself.

Allah has forgiven his Shia and Allah has ordered all of the people to obey him.

Allah says that those who are against Ali are against Allah and those who disobey Ali disobey Allah. Those who hurt Ali hurt Allah and those who hate Ali hate Allah. Those who love Ali love Allah and those who desire Ali desire Allah. Those who conspire against Ali conspire against Allah and those who support Ali support Allah.

O people! Listen to my orders and obey me. I am warning you of Allah's punishment:

"(Remember) the day when every soul shall find present whatever it has done of good and whatever it has done of evil; it will wish there might be a wide interval between it and that (evil), Allah warns you to beware of Him; and Allah is affectionate to His faithful servants" (3:30).

Then the Prophet(saww) took the hand of the Commander of the Believers, Ali bin Abi Taleb(as), and said:

O People! He is the Master of the Believers and he is Allah's decisive argument on His entire creation. Ali is the fighter of the Kafers.

O Allah! I have announced it! And these are Your slaves and You have the power to reform them, so reform them with Your Mercy, for You are the most merciful.

I seek forgiveness for myself and for you, O people.

Then the Prophet(saww) descended the Mimbar.

Jibraeel came to the Prophet(saww) and said to him:

Allah conveys His Salaam to you and says, "I will reward you for what you have announced. You have fulfilled your duty of prophethood. You have advised your nation. You have pleased the believers and you have constrained the Kafers. O Mohammad! Your cousin will be made to suffer and people will suffer with him. O Mohammad! Say at all times, 'Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. And soon those who deal unjustly shall know as to what an evil turning they shall be turned' (26:227).

Source: Basharat ul Mustafa Le Shiyyat e Murtuza, Chapter 2, Hadees 52 / Amaali of Sheikh Mufeed 76,346