Tradition

اَلْعُبّادُ ثَلثَةٌ: قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللّهَ خَوْفاً فَتِلْكَ عِبادَةُ الْعَبِيد، و قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللّه طَلَبَ الثَّوابِ فَتِلْكَ عِبادَةُ الأُجراءِ، وَ قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللّهَ حُبًّا لَهُ فَتِلْكَ عِبادَةُ الأَحْرارِ.

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is narrated to have said: “The worshippers are of three groups. There are those who worship God out of fear of the hellfire, and this is the worship of the slaves. Then there are those who worship God for the rewards (which are offered), and this is the worship of the wage earners. Then there is the worship of those who worship God out of their love and affection for him and this is the worship of the free ones.”1

Brief Commentary

God’s promise is true in that he will reward some and punish others based on their actions. His reward will be extraordinary in scope, as will his punishment. In spite of this, the ‘free ones’ see through these rewards, looking at God alone. They seek nothing but God and they fill their heart only with his love. Their eyes are looking at something much greater than simple reward and punishment and their goal in life is to truly worship God and become closer to him. For them, their worship of God is based on their love and understanding of him.

• 1. Taken from the book: Wasa’il al-Shi’ah.