OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO.69 - 70)

      It is narrated that: SOWBÄN; one of the prophet's companions who loved him ardently, came to his presence perplexed and anxious! The prophet asked what wrong was with him? and Sowban answered: ``To-day I was considering the Resurrection Day; and it came to my thought that: even if I be among those who are admitted to Paradise' still I am not in such a rank and position there, as to visit you or have your company; and anyhow, I have to suffer your separation which is a distressful circumstance with me, and a real pain in my heart.''

      Then these two verses appeared, consisting of glad- tidings for those who obey Allah and His Messenger. Then the prophet said: ``Upon my Lord! No one's faith will be completed, unless he loves me more than himself and his father and mother and families.''

THE FRIENDS IN PARADISE

      Friends in Paradise are those who obtain salvation by the obedience of God and His Messenger, and Allah has bestowed on them of His extensive bounties and Grace. Here in this verse four classes of them are specified:

      1- The highest and the best is that of the prophets who get inspiration from God in order to teach mankind by example and precept.

      2- The next class of the fellowship in Paradise belongs to the lovers of truth who are truthful in their words and deeds. Their deeds prove their words, and their words testify their deeds.

      3- In the third category are the martyrs, or those who have been slain for the sake of God, and who testify to people's honesty in the Final Judgement in Dooms Day.

      4- And lastly there is the class of the righteous people who are the lovers of doing good, and who do whatever they do in the righteous way.

      Then the ending of the verse implies that the individuals of the above classes makes excellent friends and intimates in extensive gardens of bliss in Paradise. There is also a fine touch here that; association, friendship, and intimacy is so important a matter that good companionship has marked and ranked among the most important bounties and Grace of God found in Paradise.

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      (In Islam the highest position or rank which is the prophethood is held by Mohammad Mustafa only, and by no one else.

      In a lower grade, there are countless Muslims who are either truthful and the lovers of truth, Martyrs, who witness and testify, and the Righteous who do good, that are all specified in the above verses.

      There are also twelve saints who are Mohammad's descendants through his beloved daughter Fatima and her husband Imam Ali (AS). All these saints have all the excellent qualifications that believers must have, and besides that, they all have the three above mentioned virtues. Let us take HAZRAT IMAM ALI as an instance:

      He was the first man who became a Muslim, believed in God and His Messenger, and testified the oneness of God and the prophethood of Mohammad. He always, throughout his life, practically proved to be truthful in his belief.

      He was martyred in the sanctuary of mosque of KOFFEH, when he was performing his prayer.

      In QURÄN - S 66: 4 he is called SALIHUL MOMENINE, which means the righteous of the believers or he who is the lover of doing good, and his fine and gentle behaviour, and good manly conducts is now a general topic of admiration among friends and foes.   (TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)