is good, and such a person is counted among the people of Paradise.

It has already been mentioned that the just imam is one of those whom Allah will shade beneath His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His. That is what the Prophet – blessings and peace be upon him – alluded to in this narration: “a ruler who is equitable and whom Allah enables to act rightly, and a man who is merciful, tender-hearted toward every relative and every Muslim.”

A merciful man shows compassion to Allah’s servants: he feels for the poor, the incapacitated, the young—indeed, everyone who deserves mercy. “Tender-hearted” means his heart is not hard, and his gentleness extends “to every relative and every Muslim.” As for the unbelievers, he deals with them firmly. Such a person, too, is among the people of Paradise, for kindness and compassion toward every relative and every Muslim are signs of true faith.

The third category is “a man who is chaste and self-restrained, yet burdened with dependants.” He is poor but dignified; he never begs from people, so that an uninformed observer would imagine him wealthy because of his self-restraint. “Burdened with dependants” means that, despite his poverty, he supports a family. You will find him patient and seeking reward, toiling for their sake—perhaps tying a rope around a bundle of firewood to sell for food, or taking a sickle to cut fodder and living on what he earns. The point is that he is chaste and self-restrained, with dependants, yet patient in hardship and patient with his family; such a man belongs to the people of Paradise.

We ask Allah to grant us and you a share in these virtues, and Allah alone grants success.