Tradition

"إنَّ لاَِهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ اَرْبَعَ عَلامات: وَجْهٌ مُنْبَسِطٌ وَ لِسانٌ فَصِيْحٌ وَ قَلْبٌ رَحِيْمٌ وَ يَدٌ مُعْطِيَةٌ"

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is narrated to have said: “The people of paradise have four signs: ‘A smiling and open face, an expressive tongue, a heart full of love and affection, and a generous and giving hand.’”1

Brief Commentary

The most authentic of religions are those which see human beings as the very heart of society and cause that society to give rise to valuable individuals. This is because the social sphere is the root of all spiritual and material blessings found on this earth. The aforementioned tradition has brought forward four signs of those who are heaven bound. It is interesting to note that all of these signs are related to issues that are socially relevant and not anything which is of a worship-based nature.

The first sign is a relaxed and open face, which is full of joy and affection. The second is a tongue which expresses love and speaks good words to the people in a clear and eloquent way. The third sign is a heart which beats for other people, while the fourth is a hand which does not refrain from helping others. These are the signs of those who are heaven bound.

• 1. From the book Irshad al-Qulub.