The Amir-Ol-Mo'menin, Hadrat Ali (PBUH), has declared:
“One who takes his religion from the mouths of the people, the people will deviate him. But the one who acquires Religion from the Book (Qur'an) and Traditions, mountains may move but he will not.”
(Wasaa'el-O-Shshi'ah, vol. 18, p. 95; …)
Let us think deeply about the very profound statement of Hadrat Ali (PBUH). If some one has become a Shi'ah through all the talk about its popularity at a certain time and place, or through the attained power of certain state, or through following a popular person, or through a seemingly modern and attractive interpretation of Qur'an, one which is not really based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and his AhlulBayt (PBUT), or …, then according to Hadrat Ali (PBUH) such a person, as soon as the popularity or attractiveness or … of that which he has followed, are not there any more, or if he is faced with certain unpleasant facts regarding some fallible people whom he had trusted, or …, he will go astray; i.e. his Faith is not on solid grounds. On the other hand, if a person acquires the Religion only from Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP), as upheld and interpreted by his AhlulBayt (PBUT), no matter what happens, even if the whole world turns against him, he shall remain steadfast, because he is standing on solid grounds; but this happens, only if THE RELIGION IS ACQUIRED THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF QUR'AN, AND THE SAYINGS AND DOINGS AND GUIDANCE OF THE PROPHET AND HIS AHLULBAYT (PBUT), AND NOT THROUGH THE TEACHINGS OF ANY HUMAN DESIGNED SYSTEMS WHICH TRY TO LIMIT QUR'AN AND THE TRUE SUNNAH IN THEIR LIMITED HUMAN BOUNDARIES, SUCH AS PHILOSOPHY AND MYSTICISM AND …, AND NOT THROUGH FOLLOWING HUMAN DESIRES AND POPULARITIES AND … .
Imam Moosa Kaazem (PBUH) has warned:
“O Yunus! Never be an Innovator. One who holds his own opinion is destroyed, one who forsakes the AhlulBayt (PBUT) of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) is deviated, and the one who abandons the Book of Allah and the Traditions of His Prophet (PBUH&HP) has indeed disbelieved.”
(Wasaa'el-O-Shshi'ah, vol. 18, p. 24; …)
O' our beloved Mahdi (May Allah hasten your Emergence)! We study Qur'an and the Ahaadith of you and your forefathers, while we spiritually cling to you and seek the Light of Guidance and comprehension from you, the Infallible Imam of our Time. O' our Infallible Imam! Please pray for us and assist us to remain steadfast on the Right Path until the wonderful and beautiful Day that you shall come and … .