Each part of the universe which was materialized with Allah’s Most Excellent Names is under the Attribute which rules it. Beyond doubt someone must come into existence to be the full manifestation of Allah’s Chief Name and create a balance among Allah’s concrete Names so that they will not interfere with each other. In other words, the universe is in need of a perfect man who is the manifestation of all Most Excellent Names as well as the Chief Name so as to be able to administer all the affairs as Allah’s vicegerent with His permission. Even angels who are abstract beings and each of them is assigned with a special duty [And there is none of us but has an assigned place (37:164)] are in need of Allah’s vicegerent (khal¢fat all¡h) so as to control them in their affairs and to teach them what is necessary.
To sum it up, based on Qur’¡nic verses and narrations, the universe is in need of khal¢fat all¡h even if no human beings had been created. The first human being of our kind, Adam, was also in need of khal¢fat all¡h so that his affairs would be administered justly. Hence he himself was khal¢fat all¡h in order for that position to be a link between him and Allah.
Based on this urgent need, Allah chose a vicegerent for Himself and made him rule over universe:
ﭕ ﭖ ﭗ ﭘ ﭙ…
I am going to place in the earth a khal¢fah –Vicegerent- (2:30)
This khal¢fah would rule the highest stages of the universe. Though the earth is the lowest of the low, potentially, it is the highest in terms of position and rank, for the earth, this most passive element, is the only element which can collect in it all Allah’s Attributes and become the most active element of universe thanks to its mere passiveness.
ﭰ ﭱ ﭲ ﭳ …
And He taught Adam all the names (2:31)
Features of Allah’s Vicegerent
Since a khal¢fah knows all the names, he can be a teacher for all creatures. Since Allah has made khal¢fah teacher of angels, He has made him teacher of all other creatures too.
ﭰ ﭱ ﭲ ﭳ ﭴ ﭵ ﭶ ﭷ ﭸ ﭹ ﭺ ﭻ ﭼ ﭽ ﭾ ﭿ ﮀ ﮁ ﮂ ﮃ ﮄ ﮅ ﮆ ﮇﮈ ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌ ﮍ ﮎ ﮏ ﮐ ﮑﮒ ﮓ ﮔ ﮕ ﮖ ﮗ ﮘ ﮙ ﮚ ﮛ ﮜ ﮝ ﮞ ﮟ ﮠ ﮡ ﮢ ﮣ ﮤ ﮥ
And He taught Adam all the names and then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right. They said: glory be to thee! We have no knowledge but that which thou has taught us; surely thou art the knowing, the wise. He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names. Then when, he had in formed them of their names, He said: Did I say to you that I surely know what is ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth and (that) I Know what you manifest and what you hide. (2:31-33)
A khal¢fah due to his knowledge and understanding of Allah’s Most Excellent Names objectively and subjectively lies in the core of the universe. He must lie in the center of it to be able to teach the angels, administer them in relation to their affairs and urge them to do special missions. In other words, a khal¢fah must be perfect in terms of knowledge and capacity and superior in terms of infallibility and justice so as to be able to distinguish between the objective beautiful Names of Allah and other creatures.
A khal¢fah is a person who has gone through the lowest stages of existence up to its highest ones.
A khal¢fah is a person with whom is the knowledge of the Book and the Preserved Tablet (al-Law¦ al-Ma¦f£¨) has been internalized in him, one who is benevolent and has acquired such virtues as generosity, contentment, chastity and courage, and has become the manifestation of Allah’s Most Excellent Names.
A khal¢fah is one who emerges at any time with one of Allah’s Names, which is proper to that time, making that Name rule. It is at this station that he is absorbed in Allah and takes the course toward Him. After receiving the baptism of Allah, he will reach a position where he can do extraordinary works with the permission of Allah. Then his heart becomes Allah’s Throne and finds Allah sitting on it:
ﮉ ﮊ ﮋ ﮌ ﮍ
The All-Compassionate sat himself upon the throne. (20:5)
source : AHL AL-BAYT THE CELESTIAL BEINGS ON THE EARTH Allameh Hussein Ansariyan
