Distinguishing the Imams by Their Names
The interesting point to note is the following:
In some of the narrations which have been handed down to us through Sunni scholars narrated from the Prophet(s), the names of the twelve Imams are explicitly mentioned with their names and characteristics.
Sheikh Sulaym¡n Qanduz¢, the distinguished Sunni scholar, in his book, called Yan¡b¢` al-Mawaddah, reports the following:
A Jew, called Na`thal, had the honor to meet with the Prophet(s). He asked the Prophet about his successors. The Prophet(s) introduced them in the following way:
إنَّ وَصِيِّي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَبَعْدَهُ سِبْطَايَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ، تَتْلُوهُمْ تِسْعَةُ أَئِمَّةٍ مِنْ صُلْبِ الْحُسَيْنِ.
قَالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ، فَسَمِّهِمْ لِي.
قَالَ: إذَا مَضَى الْحُسَيْنُ فَابْنُهُ عَلِيٌّ. فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ جَعْفَرٌ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ مُوسَى، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ عَلِيٌّ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ مُحَمَّدٌ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ عَلِيٌّ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ الْحَسَنُ، فَإذَا مَضَى فَابْنُهُ الْحُجَّةُ مُحَمَّدُ الْمَهْدِيُّ؛ فَهَؤلاَءِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ.
“My successor is `Al¢ Ibn Ab¢-±¡lib, then his two sons °asan and °usayn; then there will follow nine other Imams from his generation.
The Jew asked the Prophet(s) to call their names. The Prophet(s) replied: “When °usayn passes away, his son is `Al¢ and when `Al¢ passes away, his son will be Mu¦ammad and when Mu¦ammad passes away, his son will be Ja`far, then his son Moses, then Moses’ son will be `Al¢ and then his son Mu¦ammad. And when Mu¦ammad passes away, his son will be `Al¢. After `Al¢, his son will be °asan. Upon the death of °asan, his son will be Mu¦ammad Al-Mahd¢. These are the twelve Imams.”([1])
In the book, Yan¡b¢`, there is also another narration reported from another book, called “Kit¡b al-Man¡qib,” which has named the twelve Imams by their names and refers to the last Imam who is now in occultation but will someday rise and fill the earth with justice.([2])
Of course, the number of Sh¢`ah writers who have dealt with this narration is countless.
One Who Dies Without Having Known His Imam…
In a narration from the Prophet(s) recorded by Sunni scholars, we read:
مَنْ مَاتَ بِغَيْرِ إمَامٍ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً.
“One who dies without having known his Imam, his death would be a death in ignorance”([3])
This narration vividly shows that there is a sinless Imam in every period of time who should be identified. Not recognizing him would place a person on the way of destruction.
Does the word Imam in this narration refer to leaders like those who are the heads of world governments, such as Genghis Khan, H¡r£n Rash¢d or puppet governors of different types?
No doubt, the answer is negative. This is because many political leaders are generally dishonest, tyrannical, sometimes affiliated to either the east or west and agents of foreign countries. Naturally, adopting them as Imams would send one to Hell.
Thus, it becomes clear that at every period of time, there should be an infallible Imam who should be identified and followed.
Of course, the veracity of the imamate of any Imam is possible not only through the above approach, but also through the confirmation handed down to us from the previous Imam about his successor and by observing their miracles.
THINK AND ANSWER
In which books can narrations related to the twelve Imams of the Sh¢`ah be found?
What is the content of these narrations?
What are the unsuitable interpretations of these narrations?
Do the names of the twelve Imams appear in the narrations recorded by Sunni scholars?
What is another way to prove the existence of the twelve Imams?
