- The Prophet (PBUH) said to one of his Companions named Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari: "You will see a man from my family whose name is my name, his behavior and actions are my behavior and actions, and he penetrates knowledge to its depths."
Imam Baqir (AS)
The preaching method of Imam Baqir (a.s) with the deviations of the Ghalis:
Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) gave many clarifications to protect the Shiite society of his era from the danger of the Ghalis. Words such as the following hadiths of that Imam were an attempt to negate their position and their corrupt thoughts. In one case, Imam said: "By God! Our Shiites are only those who fear God and obey Him.".[1]
And in another place they said: "Our Shiites are among those who strive and keep their promises and are faithful to their vows and are people of asceticism and worship. They are among the people who pray fifty-one rak'ahs every day and night. They are praying at night and they are fasting for days. They pay zakat of their property and go to visit the house of God. They avoid all divine prohibitions".[2]
In another place, they said: "Whoever is not among the most pious people in a village of tens of thousands of population, is not one of our Shiites."[3] And they said: "Our Shiites are those who follow us and follow our works and deeds".[4]
Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) emphasized on the pragmatism of Shias, indirectly, against all sects that did not pay attention to righteous deeds.
[1] Al-Kafi, V. 3, P. 74:
فَوَ اللّه ِ! ما شيعَتُنا إلا مَن اتَّقَى اللّه َ وَ أطاعَهُ.
[2] Bihar al-Anwar, V. 23, P. 167:
شِيعَتُنـا أهـلُ الـوَرَعِ و الاجتِهادِ، و أهلُ الوَفاءِ و الأمانَةِ، و أهلُ الزُّهدِ و العِبادَةِ، أصحابُ إحدى و خَمسينَ رَكعَةً في اليَومِ و اللَّيلَةِ، القائمونَ بِاللَّيلِ، الصائمونَ بِالنَّهارِ، يُزَكُّونَ أموالَهُم، و يَحُجُّونَ البَيتَ، و يَجتَنِبُونَ كُلَّ مُحَرَّمٍ
[3] Al-Kafi, V. 2, P. 79:
لَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِنَا مَنْ هُوَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ فِيهَا عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ فِيهِمْ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ أَوْرَعُ مِنْهُ
[4] Mizan al-Hekmah, V. 6, P. 109:
إنَّ شِيعَتَنا مَن شَيَّعَنا و اتَّبَعَ آثارَنا و اقتَدى بِأعمالِنا