In Najaf, some people wanted to adopt a style known as observance of hierarchy of the revered sources of emulation of Shi‘ites so that with this excuse they could disregard the social position and standing of the Imam. This issue was extremely disagreeable to friends. I along with two others were selected on behalf of all the friends to go to the Imam and inform him of such an issue. I who have a gift for talking quickly told the Imam that every environment had its own customs and traditions and apparently, observance of customs and traditions is not forbidden by religion and that the position of his holiness was such that he belonged to all Muslims and this position must be safeguarded for Islam whereas with the plan that the gentlemen (clergy) had, they intended to disregard his position or God forbid, defame him. Thus I requested him that based on the customs and traditions governing the environment, not to accept the plans of the gentlemen. When our dialogue ended, he narrated a story that we felt humbled and ashamed in relation to his spiritual greatness. The Imam stated: “In the past when there was no electricity and the lanes were dark, one of the gentlemen was going somewhere and as was customary, a person holding a lantern walked ahead of him. Incidentally, he was going to a gathering where another gentleman was also going. On the way when they encountered one another, this man distanced himself a little bit from the other in order to make it known that he had a exalted stature and a personal lantern carrier.” After narrating this incident he stated: “If on the Day of Resurrection we are lined up in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (s) and asked about such things, then do the gentlemen have a reply to give to a question that for example, ‘this person should be ahead or that person should walk behind or that this one should go earlier and that one later? These credentials that the gentlemen take into consideration, if in that line-up His Holiness the Messenger (s) asks us a question, then do we have a reply to give?” thereafter he stated: “Implement the plan that they have prepared.”
What reply can we give to the Messenger of Allah (s)? Ayatullah Qadiri