Divine Leadership (Imamate)

The Necessity of Divine Leadership

        The reasons that were described for the necessity of Prophets also apply for the necessity of Imamate (Divine Leadership). 

        Question:  The deniers (of Imamate) criticize that now we have the Koran and Sunnah (traditions), so what is the need of an Imam?

        Answer:  Allah has given the guarantee for the protections of the Holy Koran,

“Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian” (Al-Hijr:9).

        However, nowhere in the whole Koran has Allah given the guarantee for the protection of the Traditions of the Prophet.  If there was no difference in the Traditions of the Prophet, seventy-two sects would not have been created.  After the Apostle of Allah passed away, a difference was immediately created in ablution (wudhu)—whether the hands should be washed from top to bottom or from bottom to top.  Matters will be changed many, many more times where there will be people’s interests.  All the Shi’ah and Sunni scholars admit that false traditions began to be narrated after the Apostle of Allah.  Allah has not mentioned in the Koran the ways to perform prayer and fast, so now there is a need for such a perfect being who, though not a Prophet, is perfect and in knowledge and infallibility is just like a Prophet and is from Allah.  Or else, this Koran is not sufficient for us.  Because of difference in the Traditions (Sunnah), man cannot achieve 100% certainty.  Notwithstanding (Even though), it is established by proves and the Koran that the purpose of creation of man is gaining access to perfection.  However, this is only possible at that moment when man possesses 100% knowledge.  Hence, it is proven that if the belief of Imamate is removed, the entire purpose of Prophet-hood is eliminated.  “I am going to make an Imam for the people.”  When Hazrat Ibrahim (as) was made servant, Prophet, messenger, and friend his progeny was not mentioned; however, for the station of Imamate the children were remembered.

        2: The Apostle of Allah has stated, “I am leaving amongst you two weighty things[1] one is the book of Allah and the other is my progeny.  If you remain attached to them you will never go astray until you reach me at the Fountain of Kauthar.”

 

The Conditions for Divine Leadership

1.        Be Infallible from Allah

2.               Possess Divine Knowledge

Proof:  The Apostle of Allah passed thirteen years in Mecca after declaring Prophet-hood, where very few people accepted faith.  During that time whatever questions arose were solved from the Koran.  The Koran is guidance until the Day of Judgement[2].  Till the Day of Judgement thousands of questions will arise, so has the Prophet answered these questions from the Koran or not?  Let us say that he has stated them and someone has even memorized them 100%, and he does not increase or decrease (anything) the slightest bit and there is not possibility of his (making a) mistake in his speech, and he is immune from error and doubt.  Hence, he will be trustworthy.  As such, it is established that the Koran is for the human beings until the Day of Judgement.  Thus, it is necessary for there to be a representative of Allah in every age.  The Koran states,

“O Apostle!  Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people” (Al-Maidah:67).

Criticism

        If the existence of Imamate[3] is necessary, then why are the people of this age deprived of the apparent benefits of their Imam?

        Answer:  Allah sent the Prophets to different places based upon His Wisdom, but the people killed them.  So it is not necessary for Allah to send other Prophets.  Like, Allah has given us two eyes.  If we take out one of our eyes, it is not necessary for Allah to again give us an eye.  After the Prophet, Allah gave his nation eleven Great Imams but they killed them.  The people did not help the Imams in their striving (jihad) against the oppressors, nor did they fight against the oppressors.  Rather, because of fear of oppressive rulers, they remained silent and did not raise revolution in response to Imam’s call for help.  If the Twelfth Imam[4] was apparent, then he would also be martyred.  Allah has kept this blessing hidden.  Until the capacity to stand up against oppressors is not borne (bear) in the people, the reappearance of the Imam is against wisdom.  Thus, the matter of the occultation of the Imam depends upon the people, not Allah.  When the people will raise revolution the Imam will reappear.      

Proof 1

        This matter is against the wisdom of Allah that Allah would not make anyone after His Prophet his successor.  The desire of Divine Intellect is that if there needs to be amendment to a part of an order then in exchange for that a similar law or a law better than that will have to be made.  The Koran itself declares,

(translation needed: ma nansakh min ayatihi aw nansaha bighayr minha)

 

Proof 2

        “O you who believe!  Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you” (An-Nisa:59).

        Here, along with obedience to the Prophet, obedience to those in authority is mentioned.  Hence, it is obligatory upon whoever obeys the Prophet[5] to obey those in authority.  We believe the Imams to be those in authority (ulul amr).  Furthermore, this implies absolute obedience without any conditions.  If the one in authority will be sinful, then he will oppose Allah.  When he will oppose Allah it will be forbidden for the people to obey him because Allah does not command that any sinner be obeyed.

        Question:  Why did not Allah state the names of those in authority in the Koran?

        Answer:  Imam Ja’far Sadiq (peace be upon him) states that Allah has given the command for prayer in the Koran, but it does not say about the Dawn Prayer whether it is two cycles or four cycles.  It says pay the poor-rate, but does not describe upon what (nisab?).  The Apostle of Allah informed us about everything.  Likewise, the Koran has given the command to obey those in authority, but does not state their names.  Nevertheless, the Apostle of Allah has informed us of the names of the twelve endowed with authority,

“There will be twelve Caliphs (successors) of my nation and the last among them will be the Mahdi[6].”     

---