Plant seeds do not grow or bear fruit without being directly connected to the soil. Evidently, the soil must be good, for if the soil is contaminated, seeds will not grow and will perish. Therefore, seeds will not grow nor bear fruit save by means of a good soil:

And as for the good land, its vegetation springs for the (abundantly) by the permission of its Lord, and (as for) that which is inferior (its herbage) comes forth but scantily (7:58)

Mediation or means is necessary not only in relation to seeds but also for the realization of every truth so much so that nothing can be realized and nothing reaches perfection without mediation or means. Houses cannot be built without architects and bodies cannot grow without food. Eyes cannot see without light and ears cannot hear without waves nor can man attain worthy position without mediation.

Man’s dignity is to become Allah’s vicegerent but can he attain such sublime spiritual position without any mediation? Never!

However, mediation with which man can find his way to the realm of faith, morality, good deeds, and finally piety is a truth expressed by the Holy Qur’¡n.

Ahl al-Bayt’s Mediation

The Holy Qur’¡n considers only the Infallible Persons as having the position of mediation between Allah and man for leading to faith, good deeds morality and meeting with Allah. These infallible persons are none but the Holy Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt who can familiarize man with the past and future as well as the teachings and wisdom of the Holy Qur’¡n. There is not a bit of corruption, defect or fault, whether overt or covert, in Ahl al-Bayt. In this connection, the Holy Prophet says:

إنَّا أهْلُ الْبَيْتِ قَدْ أذْهَبَ اللهُ عَنَّا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ.

We, Ahl al-Bayt, are those from whom Allah has removed any hidden or manifest uncleanness.[1]

Following the revelation of the Verse of Purification, Allah’s Messenger said:

نَحْنُ أهْلُ بَيْتٍ طَهَّرَهُمُ اللهُ.

We, Ahl al-Bayt, are purified by Allah.[2]

In an important fragment, Imam `Al¢ (a.s) says:

إنَّمَا أمَرَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِطَاعَةِ الرَّسُولِ لأنَّهُ مَعْصُومٌ مُطَهَّرٌ لأ يَأمُرُ بِمَعْصِيَتِهِ. وَإنَّمَا أمَرَ بِطَاعَةِ أولِي الأمْرِ لأنَّهُمْ مَعْصُومُونَ مُطَهَّرُونَ لأ يَأمُرُونَ بِمَعْصِيَتِهِ.

Allah has decreed (His creatures) to obey the Messenger, for he is infallible and purified and he does not order to sin. He has decreed to obey those in authority, for they are infallible and purified and they do not order to sin.[3]

Imam °as¡n (a.s) has said:

إنَّا أهْلُ بَيْتٍ أكْرَمَنَا اللهُ بِالإسْلأمِ، وَاخْتَارَنَا وَاصْطَفَانَا وَاجْتَبَانَا فَأذْهَبَ عَنَّا الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرَنَا تَطْهِيراً. وَالرِّجْسُ هُوَ الشَّكُّ، فَلأ نَشُكُّ فِي اللهِ الْحَقِّ وَدِينِهِ أبَداً. وَطَهَّرَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أفَنٍ وَغَيَّةٍ.

We, Ahl al-Bayt, are those whom Allah has honored by Islam, chosen from among all creatures, removed any uncleanness, and purified a thorough purification. Uncleanness is the same as doubt. We never have any doubt about Allah and His religion. He has also purified us from infirmity or error.[4]

Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) too has said:

إنَّا لأ نُوصَفُ. وَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ قَوْمٌ رَفَعَ اللهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ؟

We cannot be described. How can a group from whom Allah has removed uncleanness be described?[5]

Imam al-¯¡diq (a.s) has said:

إنَّ الشَّكَّ وَالْمَعْصِيَةَ فِي النَّارِ، لَيْسَا مِنَّا وَلأ إلَيْنَا.

Doubt and sin are in Fire. They are neither from us no do they come to us.[6]

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

وَأشْهَدُ أنَّكُمُ الأئِمَّةُ الرَّاشِدُونَ الْمَهْدِيُّونَ الْمَعْصُومُونَ الْمُكَرَّمُونَ… عَصَمَكُمُ اللهُ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ، وَآمَنَكُمْ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ، وَطَهَّرَكُمْ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأذْهَبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرَكُمْ تَطْهيراً.

I bear witness that all of you are guide leaders, rightly guided, infallible, highly revered… Allah preserved you guiltless and free from error, kept you safe from unruly disorderliness, freed you from dirt, removed uncleanness from you and cleansed you with a thorough cleansing.[7]

Verily, Allah Who is free from any defect has placed Prophethood and Imamate in an ‘household’ free from any uncleanness so that men will realize the dignity they deserve through their mediation, be immune from infidelity, carnal desires and sins, have a happy life in this world and finally meet Allah and abide in Paradise forever:

This is a Book which We have revealed to you that you may bring forth men from utter darkness into light. (14:1)

O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you. (4:59)

So far, we have reported important narrations from the books of Sh¢`ite and Sunni scholars.

Based on the Holy Prophet’s saying, ‘those in authority’ the obedience to whom is like obedience to Allah and to His Messenger stands for the Twelve Infallible Imams from the Holy Prophet’s Household. In that saying, the names of the twelve Imams have been mentioned.