Imam Muhammad Baqir says that Imam Ali once said: 'There were two things in this world which softened the Wrath of God and prevented its descent upon man: One has been taken away from you; hold the other stead- fastly. The one which has been taken away from men is the Holy Prophet and the one which is still left with them and which they must hold steadfastly is repentance and atonement for sins because God at one place in the Holy Book addressed the Holy Prophet and said God would not punish them while you were among them nor while they were asking for forgiveness. (Surah Anfal, 8 : 33)