Islam Guidance

The Imamate of Imam Ali(AS)

The Meaning of Imam

Imam or leader is the title given to a person who takes the lead in a community, in a particular social movement or political ideology, or in a scientific and/or a religious form of thought. Naturally, because of his relation with the people he leads, he must conform his actions to their capabilities in both important and secondary matters.

As is clear from the preceding chapters, the sacred religion of Islam takes into consideration and gives directives concerning all aspects of life for all men. It investigates human life from the spiritual point of view and guides man accordingly; and it intervenes on the plan of formal and material existence from the point of view of the life of the individual. In the same way, it intervenes on the plan of social life with its regulations (i.e., on the plan of government).

Thus, the imamate and religious leadership in Islam may be studied from three different perspectives: From the perspective of (1) Islamic government, (2) Islamic sciences and injunctions, and (3) Leadership and innovative spiritual guidance. Shi`ism believes that since the Islamic society is in dire need of guidance in each of these three aspects, the person who occupies the function of giving that guidance and is the leader of the community must be appointed by God and the Prophet. Naturally, the Prophet himself was also appointed by Divine Command.

The Imamate and Succession

Man through his God - given nature without doubt realizes that no organized society, such as a country or city or village or tribe or even a household consisting of a few human beings, can continue to subsist without a leader and ruler who puts the wheel of the society in motion and who will govern each individual's will and induces the members of that society to perform their social duty.

Without such a ruler the parts of this society would disperse in a short period of time, causing disorder and confusion to reign. Therefore, he who is the ruler and governor of a society, whether it be great or small, if he is interested in his own position and the continued existence of his society, will appoint a successor for himself if he is to be absent from his rule - temporarily or permanently.

He would never abandon the domain of his rule, which would be oblivious to its existence. The head of a household who bids farewell to his household, upon a journey for a few days or months, will appoint one of the members of his household or someone as his successor and will leave the affairs of the house in his hands. The head of an institution, the principal of a school, or the owner of a shop, if he is to be absent even for a few hours will select someone to represent him.

In the same way, Islam is a religion which according to the text of its Holy Book and the Sunnah is established upon the basis of the primordial nature of things. It is a religion concerned with social life, as has been seen by every observer near and far. The special attention God and the Prophet (SW) have given to the social nature of this religion can never be denied nor neglected - It is an incomparable feature of Islam.

The Holy Prophet (SW) was never heedless of the problem of forming a social group - this was so since the beginning of Islam's influence in Arabia. Whenever a city or village fell into Muslim hands he would, in the shortest time possible, appoint a governor or ruler in whose hands he would leave the affairs of the Muslims.

In very important military expeditions - in the Holy wars (Jihad) - he would appoint more than one leader and commander. In the war of Mu'tah he even appointed four leaders, so that if the first was killed the second would be recognized as the leader, heading his command. And if the second was killed, then the third would be leader, and so on.

The Prophet also displayed great interest in the problem of succession and never failed to appoint a successor when necessary. Whenever he left Medina he would appoint a governor in his own place. Even when he migrated from Mecca to Medina and there was not, as of yet, any idea as to what would happen; yet still, order to have his personal affairs managed in Mecca for those few days, he appointed Ali (may peace be upon him) as his successor.

In the same way, after his death Ali was his successor in matters concerning his debts and personal affairs. The Shi`ites claim that for this very reason it is not conceivable that the Prophet (SW) should have died without appointing someone as his successor, without having selected a guide and leader to direct the affairs of the Muslims and to turn the wheels of the Islamic society.

Man's primordial nature does not doubt the importance and value of the society and that the existence and continuation of that society depend upon a just government which agrees to carry out these regulations completely. This fact is such that anyone possessing intelligence would not neglect or forget it.

At the same time one can doubt neither the breadth and detailed nature of the Islamic Shari'ah, nor the importance and value the Prophet (SW) attached to it; thus, he made many sacrifices for its application and preservation. Nor can one debate the mental geniusness and perfection of intelligence or perspicacity of vision of the Prophet (SW) (beside, this fact is confirmed by revelation and prophetic narrations).

According to established traditions in both Sunni and Shi'ite collections of hadith (in the chapter on temptations and seditions and others) it is transmitted from the Prophet (SW) that he foretold seditions and tribulations that would entangle the Islamic society after his death and that corruption would penetrate the body of Islam until ( a later time) worldly rulers who would sacrifice this pure religion for their own impure and unscrupulous ends.

So, how is it possible that the Prophet (SW) would neglect to speak of the details of events and trials of years or even thousands of years after him, and yet would neglect the condition had to be brought into being most urgently after his death? Or that he should be negligent and consider as unimportant a duty that is on the one hand simple and evident and on the other significant to such a degree?

How could he concern himself with the most natural and common acts such as eating, drinking and sleeping and give hundreds of commands concerning them, yet remain completely silent about this important problem and not appoint someone in his own place? Even if we accepted the hypothesis (which Shi'ism does not accept) that the appointment of the ruler of Islamic society is given by the Shari'ah to the people themselves, still it would be necessary for the Prophet to give an explanation concerning this matter, He would have had to give the necessary instruction to the community so that they would be aware of the problem upon which the existence and growth of Islamic society and the life of religious symbols and observances depended and relied.

Yet there is on trace of such a prophetic explanation or religious instruction. If there had been such a thing, those who succeeded the Prophet and held of power in their hands would not have opposed it. Actually, the first caliph transferred the caliphate to the second by bequest.

The second caliph chose the third caliph through a sis-man council of which he was himself a member and whose order of procedure he had himself determined and ordered. Mu'awiyeh forced Imam Hassan to make peace and in this way carried away the caliphate After this event the caliphate was converted into an hereditary monarchy.

Gradually many religious observances identified with the early yeras of Islamic rule (such as holy war, commanding what is lawful and prohibiting what is forbidden, the establishment of boundaries for human action) were weakened or even disappeared from the political life of the community, nullifying in this domain the efforts of the Prophet of Islam.

Shi'ism has studied and investigated the primordial nature of man and the continuous tradition of wisdom that has survived among men, It has penetrated into the principal purpose of Islam, which is to revivify man's primordial nature, and has investigated such things as the methods used by the Prophet in suiting the community; the troubles which entangled Islam and the Muslims and which led to division and separtion; and the short life of the Muslim governments of the early centuries, which were characterized by negligence and lack of strict religious principles.

As a result of these studies Shi'ism has reached the conclustion that there are sufficient traditioal texts left by the Prophet to indicate the procedure for determining the Imam and successor of the Prophet. This conclusion is supported by Quranic verses and hadiths which Shi'ism considers as sound, such as the verses on walayat and the hadiths of Ghadir, Safinah, Thaqalayn, Happ, Manzilah, Da'wat-i'ashirah-i aqrabin, and others.

But of course these hadiths, most of which are also accepted by Sunnism, have Otherwise the whole question of succession would not have arisen, Whereas these hadiths appear to Shi'ites as a clear indication of the Prophet's intetion in the question of succession, they have been interpreted by Sunnis in quite another way so as to leave this question open and unanswered.

Quranic Verses about Imam Ali's Imamate

To prove the caliphate of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Shi'ites have had recourse to Quranic verses, including the following: " Your master [wali] can be only Allah; and His messenger and the those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor due, and bow down (in prayer) [or, and this reading is accepted by 'Allamah Tabataba'i: "... pay the poor due while bowing down (in prayer)"]" (Quran, V, 55). Shi'ite and Sunni commentators alike agree that this verse was revealed concerning Ali ibn Abi Talib, and many Shi'ite and Sunni traditions exist supporting this view.

Abu Dharr Ghafafi has said: " One day we prayed the noon prayer with the Prophet (SW). A person in need asked people to help him, but no one gave him anything. The person raised his hands to the sky saying, 'Oh God! Bear witness that in the mosque of the Prophet (SW) that no one gave me anything.' Ali ibn Abi Talib was in the bowing position of the prayer. He pointed with his finger outwards towards the person, who then took his ring and left. The Prophet (SW), who was observing the scene raised his head toward heaven and said: ' Oh God! My brother Moses said to Thee, "Expand my breast and make easy my tasks and make my tongue eloquent so that they will comprehend my words, and make my brother, Harun, my help and vizier" [cf. Quran, XXVIII, 35]. Oh God! I am also Thy prophet; expand my breast and make easy my tasks make Ali my vizier and helper.'" Abu Dharr says, "The words of the Prophet had not as yet finished when the verse [cited above] was revealed."

Another verse which the Shi'ites consider as proof of the caliphate of Ali is this: " This day those who disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion AL-ISLAM" (Quran, V,3).

The obvious meaning of this verse is that before that particular day the infidels had hopes that a day would come when Islam would die out, but God through the actualization of a particular event made them lose forever the hope that Islam would be destroyed. This very event is the cause of the strength and perfection of Islam and of necessity could be a minor occasion such as the proclaim of one of the injunctions of religion. Rather, it was a matter of such importance that the continuation of Islam depended upon it.

This verse seems to be related to another verse which comes toward the end of the same chapter: "O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou will not have conveyed His message, Allah will protect thee from mankind." (Quran, V,67). This verse indicates that God commanded a mission of great concern and importance to the Prophet (SW) that if not accomplished would endanger the basis of Islam and prophecy.

But, the matter was so important that the Prophet (SW) feared opposition and interference and in awaiting suitable circumstances delayed it - until there came a definite and urgent order from God to execute this command without delay and not to fear anyone. This matter also was not just a particular regligious injunction in the ordinary sense, for to preach one or several religious injuncations is not so vital, that if a single one of them was not preached it would cause the destruction of Islam.

The Prophet (SW) of Islam did not fear anyone in preaching the injunc- tions and laws of religion. These indications and witnesses add weight to the Shi'ite tradi- tions which asset that these verses were revealed at Ghadir Khumm and concern the spiritual investiture (walayat) of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Moreover, many Shi'ite and Sunni commentators have confirmed this point.

Abu Said Khudari says: "The Prophet (SW) in Ghadir Khumm invited people toward Ali and took his arm and lifted it so high that the white spot on the armpit of the Prophet (SW) could be seen. Then this verse was revealed: 'This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-ISLAM.'

Then the Prophet (SW) said, 'God is great (Allahu akbar) that religion has become perfected and that God's bounty has been completed, His satisfaction attained and the walayat of Ali achieved.' Then he added, 'For whomever I am the authority and guide Ali is also his guide and authority. Oh God! Be friendly with the friends of Ali and the enemy of his enemies. Whoever helps, help him, and whoever leaves him, leave him.' "

In a summary, we can say that the enemies of Islam who did everything possible to destroy it, when they lost all hope of achieving this end, were left with only one hope. They though that since the protector of Islam was the Prophet (SW), after his death Islam would be left without a guide and leader; and thus, definitely perish. But, at Ghadir Khumm their hopes were brought to end as the Prophet (SW) presented Ali as the guide and leader of Islam to the people. After Ali, this heavy and necessary duty of guide and leader was left upon the shoulders of his family.

Prophet's traditions(Hadiths) about Imam Ali's Imamate

Some of the hadiths pertaining to Ghadir Khumm, the investiture of Ali, and the significance of the Household of the Porphet are cited here:
Hadith-i ghadir: The Prophet (SW) of Islam upon returning from the farewell pilgrimage stopped at Ghadir Khumm, assembled the Muslims and, after delivering a sermon, chose Ali as the leader and guide of the Muslims. Bara' says: "I was in the company of the Prophet (SW) during the farewell pilgrimage . When we reached Ghadir Khumm he ordered that place to be cleaned. Then he took Ali's hand and placed him on his right side.

Then he said, 'Am I not the authority whom you obey?' They answered, 'We obey your directions.' Then he said, 'For whomever I am his master (maula) and the authority whom he obeys, Ali will be his master. Oh God! Be friendly with the friends of Ali and enemy of the enemies of Ali.'
Then Umar ibn al-Khattab said to Ali, 'May this position be pleasing to you, for now you are my master and the master of all the believers.'"

Hadith-i safinah: Ibn 'Abbas says, "The Prophet said, 'My household is like the ship of Noah; whoever embarks upon it will be saved and whoever turns away from it will be drowned.'"

Hadith-i thaqalayn: Zayd ibn Arqam has recounted that the Prophet (SW) said, "It seems that God has called me unto Himself and I must obey His call. But, I leave two great and precious things among you: the Book of God and My Household. Be careful as to how you behave toward them. These two will never be separated from each other until they enconunter me at Kawthar (in paradise)."

Hadith-i thaqalayn is one of the most storngly established hadiths, and has been transmitted through many chains of transmission and in different versions. Shi'ites and Sunni agree concerning its authenticity.

Several important points can be deduced from this hadith and its like: In the same way that the Holy Quran will remain until the Day of Judgment, the progeny of the Holy Prophet (SW) will also remain.

No period of time will be without the existence of the figure which Shi'ites calls the Imam, the real leader and guide of men. Through these two great trusts (amanat), the Prophet has provided all the religious and intellectual needs of the Muslims. He has introduced his Household to the Muslims as authorities in knowledge and has pronounced their words and deeds to be worthy and authoritative.

One must not separate the Holy Quran from the Household of the Prophet (SW). No Muslim has the right to reject the "knowledge" of the members of the Prophet's (SW) Household or to remove himself from under their guidance. If people obey this Household and follow their words they will never be led astray. God will always be with them.

The answers to the intellectual and relgious needs of men are to be found in the hands of this Household . Whoever follows them will not fall into error and will reach true felicity; that is, the members of the Household are free from error and sin and are inerrant.

From this it can be concluded that by the meaning of "The Members of the Household" and "Progeny" is not all the descendants and relatives of the Prophet (SW). Rather, specific individuals (are meant) who are perfect in their religious knowledge and are protected against error and sin; thus, they are qualified to guide and lead men.

For Shi'ism these individuals consist of Ali ibn Abi Talib and his eleven descendants who inherit the imamate one after another. This interpretation is also confirmed by the Shi'ite traditions. For example, Ibn ' Abbas has said, "I said to the Prophet (SW), 'Who are your descendants whose love is obligatory [upon Muslims]?'

He said, 'Ali, Fatimah, Hassan and Husayn., " Jabir has transmitted that the Prophet (SW) has said, "God placed the Children of all prophets in their 'backbone' but placed my children in the backbone of Ali."

Hadith-i haqq: Umm Salamh has said, "I heard from the Prophet (SW) of God who said, 'Ali is with the Truth (haqq) and the Quran, and the Truth and the Quran are also with Ali, and they will be inseparable until they come upon me at Kawthar."

Hadith-i manzilah: Sa'd ibn Waqqas has said, "The Prophet (SW) of God said to Ali, Are you not satisfied to be to me what Harun was to Moses except that after me there will not be another prophet?' "

Hadith-i da'wat-i 'eshirah: The Prophet (SW) invited his relatives for luncheon and after the meal told them, "I know of no one who has brought to his people better things than I have brought to you.

God has commanded me to invite you toward Him. Who will assist me in this matter and be my brother and inheritor (wasi) and vicegerent (khalifah) among you?" All remained silent, but Ali, who was the yougest of all - he exclaimed, "I shall be your deputy."

Then the Prophet (SW) put his arms around him and said, "He is my brother, inheritor and vicegerent. You must obey him." The group as they departed began to laugh, telling Abu Talib, "Muhammad has ordered you to obey your son."

Hudhayfah has said, " The Prophet (SW) of God said, 'If you make Ali my vicegerent and succcessor, I do not think you will find him a perspicacious guide who will direct you toward the straight path!" Ibn Marduyah has said that the Prophet (SW) said, Whoever wishes that his life and death to be like mine and that he enters paradise should love Ali, after me and follow my household, for they are my descendants and have been created from my clay.

My knowledge and undertanding have been bestowed upon them. Therefore woe unto those who deny their virtues. My intercession [on the Day of judgement] will never include them."

Affirmation of the Previous Section

Much of the argument of Shi'ism concerning the succession to the Prophet rests on the belief that during the last days of his illness the Prophet in the presence of some of his companions asked for some paper and ink so that something could be written which, if obeyed by the Muslims, would prevent them from going astray.

Some of those present considered the Prophet to be too ill to be able to dictate anything and said, "The Book of God is sufficient for us." There was so much clamor raised over this matter that the Holy Prophet told those present to leave, for in the presence of a prophet there should not be nay noise or clamor.

Considering what has been said above about hadiths concerning succession and the evetns that followed upon the death of the Prophet, especially the fact that Ali was not consulted in the question of selecting the Prophet's successor, Shi'ites conclude that the Holy Prophet had wanted to dictate his definitive views about the person who was to succeed him but was not able to do so.

The purpose of the utterances of some of those present to have been to cause confusion and prevent this final decision from being clearly announced. Their interruption of the Holy Prophet's discourse does not seem to be what it appears outwardly, that is concern with the possiblity that the Prophet might utter incongruous words due to the intensity of his illness.

For first of all, throughout his illness the Holy Prophet was not heard to have uttered any meaningless or incongruous words and no such thing has been transmitted concerning him. Moreover, according to the principles of Islam the Prophet is protected by God from uttering delirious or senseless words and is inerrant.

Secondly, if the words mentioned by some of those present on that occasion before the Prophet were meant to be of a serious nature there would have been on place for the next phrase, "The Book of God is sufficient for us." In order to prove that the Prophet might utter incongruous words under unusual circumstances the reason of his serious illness would have been used rather than the claim that with the Quran there was on need of the Prophet's words.

For it could not be hidden from any Muslim that the very text of the Book of God considers the obedience to the Holy Prophet to be obligatory and his words to be in a sense like the Word of God. According to the text of the Holy Quran, Muslims must obey the injunctions of both God and the Prophet.

Thirdly, an incident involving illness occurred durign the last days of the life of the first caliph, who in his last will and testament chose the second caliph as his successor. When Uthman was writing the will according to the order caliph, the caliph fainted. Yet the second caliph did not repeat the words that had been uttered in the case of the Prophet according to the hadith of "Pen and Paper."

This fact has been confirmed in a hadith related by Ibn Abbas. And it has been accounted of the second caliph that he said, "Ali deserved the caliphate but the Quraysh would not have been able to bear his caliphate, for had he become caliph he would have forced the people to accept the pure truth and follow the right path.

Under his caliphate they would not have been able to transgress the boundaries of justice and thus would have sought to engage in war with him." Obviously according to religious principles one must force him who has deviated from the truth to follow the truth; one must not abandon the truth for the sake of one who has abandoned it.

When the first caliph was informed that some of the Muslim tribes had refused to pay religious tax, he ordered war and said, "If they do not give me the tithes which they gave to the Prophet, I shall fight against them." Evidently by this saying he meant most of all that truth and justice must revived all costs.
Surely the problem of the legitimate caliphate was more important and significant than tithes, and Shi'ism believes that the same principle applied by the frist caliph to this matter should have been applied by the whole early community to the problem of succession to the Holy Prophet.

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