Ahl al-Bayt, Allah’s Vicegerents

Allah’s Attributes are not merely verbal; rather; they are objective and having external realization. The first Attributes which manifested themselves from the invisible God at His will are four according to a narration, and seven according to another which can somehow refer to the same name. The first Attributes are the Ever-living, the All-knowing, the All-Powerful, and the Speaker.

Each of these Attributes has a domain and property for itself and there is a longing in them for manifestation. Since ‘Allah’ is comprehensive of all attributes, it generally holds other Attributes and does not allow an Attribute to emerge alone.

The Universe’s Need for Allah’s vicegerent

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:

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.

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.

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:

The All-Compassionate sat himself upon the throne. (20:5)

Merits Of Allah’s Vicegerent

In a sacred ¦ad¢th (Words of Almighty Allah), we read:

لأ يَسَعُنِي أرْضِي وَلا سَمَائِي، وَلَكِنْ يَسَعُنِي قَلْبُ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ.

I am not contained in heaven or the earth; but I am contained in the heart of my believing servant.[1]

It is a believer’s heart which can undertake the vicegerency of Allah’s Most Excellent Names by which Allah rules over the universe. Referring to the creation of the Holy Prophet, another sacred ¦ad¢th reads:

لَوْلأكَ لَمَا خَلَقْتُ الأفْلأكَ.

Were it not for your sake, I would not have created the universe.[2]

Ahl al-Bayt, Allah’s Most Perfect Vicegerents

Allah’s true vicegerent is the Holy Prophet, for he is the first being to have been created, the most perfect manifestation of Allah’s Attributes and a collection of truth and Allah’s light:

The first thing Allah created was my light.[3]

Narrations say that the light of the Holy Prophet was created many thousand years before the creation of the universe. About the light of Imam `Al¢ (a.s), it has been said that he was together with the Holy Prophet in the invisible World. One of these lights became Prophet and the other became Imam. In this connection, the Holy Prophet says:

خُلِقْتُ أنَا وَعَلِيٌّ مِنْ نُورٍ وَاحِدٍ.

`Al¢ and I were created from the same light.[4]

Imam `Al¢ (a.s) who is Allah’s intimate friend is the heart of Allah’s Messenger as he shares with him everything except Prophethood. The Holy Prophet says:

آدَمُ وَمَنْ دُونَهُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؛ فَإذَا حَكَمَ اللهُ بَيْنَ الْعِبَادِ أخَذَ أمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اللِّوَاءَ.

Adam and others are under my banner on the Judgment Day. When Allah judges among His servants, Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (i.e. Imam `Al¢) will hold the banner.[5]

Therefore; if the mission of all prophets led to the mission of the Holy Prophet, Imamate of all prophets is based on the Imamate of Imam `Al¢ who was with all prophets inwardly and with the Holy Prophet outwardly. Hence, the Imamate of Allah’s Messenger is united with the Imamate of `Al¢.

True vicegerents; Means of Grace

Any station that is attained by any person must be by means of Ahl al-Bayt. In this relation, the Holy Qur’¡n says:

And seek means of nearness to Him. (5:35)

We are advised to “hold fast to Allah’s cord.” Ahl al-Bayt have been reported as saying:

نَحْنُ حَبْلُ اللهِ الْمَتِينُ.

We are the firm cord of Allah.[6]

To follow the Imamate of `Al¢’ and the Holy Imams (a.s) is a requirement for receiving Divine Grace whether it is knowledge or daily food. The Holy Prophet says:

أنَا مَدِينَةُ الْعِلْمِ وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا، فَلأ تُؤتَى الْبُيُوتُ إلأ مِنْ أبْوَابِهَا.

I am the city of knowledge and `Al¢ is its gate. Whoever wishes to enter the city and seek its wisdom must first come to the gate.[7]

Ab¡n ibn Taghlib, a trustworthy narrator, says: I asked Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s), “What for has Allah set the Sh¢`ites free from Hellfire?” The Imam answered,

On account of their acceptance of `Al¢’s Imamate.[8]

Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s) is reported as saying in the famous narration of Salsalat al-Dhahab (Golden Chain),

لأ إلَهَ إلأ اللهُ حِصْنِي؛ فَمَنْ دَخَلَ حِصْنِي أمِنَ مِنْ عَذَابِي.

(Almighty Allah says) There is no god but Allah is my fortress. Whoever enters it will be safe from punishment.

Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s) adds,

…بِشُرُوطِهَا، وَأنَا مِنْ شُرُوطِهَا.

Accepting my Imamate is the requirement for entering the fortress.[9]

Therefore, prophethood of Allah’s Messenger and Imamate of Imam `Al¢ and the Infallible Imams are the indisputable requirements for monotheism. It is for this reason that it is said the profession of one is the profession of the other two.

Allah has professed His unity, Prophethood and Imamate:

Allah bears witness that there is no god but He… (3:18)

… and Allah knows that you are most surely His Apostle… (63:1)

Only Allah is your Wal¢ and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate while they bow. (5:55)

Ahl al-Bayt are truly a means of Divine Grace and were it not for their sake, no one was blessed with that Grace. Since they are near to Allah and are in the station of certainty, whoever wishes to reach that station must resort to them:

Allah started with you and will end with you and to you is the return of the people.[10]

The light of Ahl al-Bayt is such that even the angels who are abstract cannot tolerate their light; so, they fall in prostration by seeing their light, thinking of it as Allah’s light. It has been narrated that when Allah’s Messenger, accompanied by (Archangel) Gabriel at the Ascension Night reached the third heaven, the angels ran away first and then started falling in prostration, saying:

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ، رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّ الْمَلأئكَِةِ وَالرُّوحِ، مَا أشْبَهَ هَذا النُّورَ بِنُورِ رَبِّنَا!

Glory and Holiness be to our Lord; Lord of angels and the Spirit. How close this light to the light of our Lord is.[11]

At any rate, Allah’s vicegerency among people is one of the features of Ahl al-Bayt. According to a narration, Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s) is reported as saying:

الأئِمَّةُ خُلَفَاءُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي أرْضِهِ.

The Imams are Allah’s vicegerents on the earth.[12]

In al-Ziy¡rah al-J¡mi`ah al-Kab¢rah, Imam al-H¡d¢ (a.s) says:

وَأعَزَّكُمْ بِهُداهُ، وَخَصَّكُمْ بِبُرْهانِهِ، وَانْتَجَبَكُمْ لِنُورِهِ، وَأيَّدَكُمْ بِرُوحِهِ، وَرَضِيَكُمْ خُلَفاءَ فى أرْضِهِ، وَحُجَجاً عَلى بَرِيَّتِهِ.

He strengthened you with His omnipotence, equipped you with His guidance, distinguished you with His clear Proofs, glorified you with His Light, confirmed you with His Holy spirit, made a choice of you to represent Him in His earth.

`Al¢ ibn °ass¡n says: Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s) was asked about the Ziy¡rah of Imam al-K¡¨im (a.s). He answered: Perform prayer near mosques and say,

السَّلأمُ عَلَى أوْلِيَاءِ اللهِ وَأصْفِيَاءِهِ. السَّلأمُ عَلَى اُمَنَاءِ اللهِ وَأحِبَّاءِهِ. السَّلأمُ عَلَى أنْصَارِ اللهِ وَخُلَفَاءِهِ.

“Peace be upon the favorites of Allah and the chosen ones. Peace be upon the trustees of Allah and the beloved ones. Peace be upon the supporters of Allah and His representatives.”[13]

About khal¢fah, Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n says:

هُوَ الَّذِي يُنَادَى بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ: أيْنَ خَلِيفَةُ اللهِ فِي أرْضِهِ؟

On the Judgment Day, Allah’s vicegerent will be called, “Where is Allah’s representative on His earth.”[14]

In Du`¡’ `Arafah, Imam Zayn al-`ªbid¢n (a.s) describes Ahl al-Bayt as Allah’s representatives on the earth:

وَخُلَفَائِكَ فِي أرْضِكَ.

…and Your vicegerents on Your lands.[15]