Lesson 6

One of the most essential principles of Shia Islam is Imāmat and divine leadership, which is the continuation of the Holy Prophet’s mission. Like Nabuwat, Imāmat is a divine position appointed by Allāh the Almighty. Thus, Allāh appointed 12 infallible Imāms from the household (Ahl Al-Bayt) of the Prophet Muhammad (AS) to guide the Muslim community after the Prophet’s death. They guided people to the path the Prophet set.

A- The Concept of Imāmat

Imāmat means leadership[1]; however, in Islamic terminology, it refers to the succession to the Prophet in all religious and material issues.

B- The Significance of Imāmat

Imāmt is one of the most essential principles of Islam because it not only deals with the leadership of the Islamic community but also has a high religious and spiritual position in Islam. That is why Allāh appointed an Imām for any age to guide the Islamic community to the straight way and to safeguard the divine law. Otherwise, man cannot achieve happiness and perfection, resulting in people wandering in the wrong way.

C- The Necessity of Imāmat

As the Prophet’s Be’sat (mission) was necessary for the development of human beings, Imāmt is necessary to preserve religion and follow the Prophet’s path. Therefore, the succession to the Prophet was legitimate when Allāh introduced and appointed them.

Several verses in the Holy Quran and many hadiths indicate that the successor of the Prophet was appointed from his  Ahl Al-Bayt. In the famous Hadith of Saqalain, the Holy Prophet mentioned the Holy Quran and  Ahl Al-Bayt together and said, “I’ll leave two precious things with you: the Book of Allāh and my  Ahl Al-Bayt . Hold to them so that you won’t go astray”.[2]

Other hadiths, such as Manzelat[3] and Ghadir,[4] indicate that Imām Ali (AS) was appointed as the successor of the Holy Prophet; thus, Islam is perfected (Al-Mā’idah 5:3).

D- Conditions of Imām

In Shia Islam, the Imām, as the successor of the Prophet and follower of his way, has conditions and characteristics:

1. Infallibility (Ismat)

Like the prophets, Imāms must be immune from sin and error as Allāh does not grant the position of Imāmt to Those who are tainted with sin (Al-Baqarah 2: 124). Therefore, in the verse of “Ulul Amr” (Al-Nissa 5: 59), the Holy Quran commands Muslims to obey Ulul-Amr because they are innocent and immune from sin and error.

2. Appointment

Imām must be appointed with the permission of Allāh

and by the Prophet because He knows who is qualified for this position. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad introduced the Imāms as his successors on the command of Allāh.

Shiites believe the Prophet introduced Imām Ali (AS) as his successor on several occasions, such as Ghadir-E-Khom. After Imām Ali (AS), 11 Imāms were appointed as successors.

3. Superiority

Imāms, like the Prophet, had all moral and human perfections, excelled in various scientific, religious, social, political, military, governmental, and humanitarian dimensions, and possessed all human characteristics and traits in a perfect manner.

4. Imām’s Knowledge

According to the absolute belief of Shiites, the infallible Imāms have knowledge and wisdom, and no one can understand their scientific high rank. The Prophet Muhammad said, “I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate”[5].

All Imāms received their knowledge from the Holy Prophet or the previous Imāms. Such knowledge is reliable; therefore, the Imāms’ command is indeed Allāh’s command.

E- Infallible (Ma’sum) Imāms (AS)

The infallible Imāms are 12 members of the Prophet’s  Ahl Al-Bayt. The first Imām was Imām Ali Ibn Abi Taleb. The other 11 Imāms were from Imām Ali’s generation and were appointed by the former Imām. The Holy Prophet (AS) specified their names as follows:

First: The Imām ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS)

Second: The Imām al-Hasan ibn‘Ali (AS);

Third: The Imām al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (AS);

Fourth: The Imām ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (AS);

Fifth: The Imām Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir (AS);

Sixth: The Imām Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (AS);

Seventh: The Imām Musa ibn Ja’far al-Kadhim (AS);

Eighth: The Imām ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS);

Ninth: The Imām Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Jawad (AS);

Tenth: The Imām ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (AS);

Eleventh: The Imām al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali al-’Askari (AS);

Twelfth: The Imām al-Hujjat ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi al-Mawud (AS);

All Muslims believe in a “savior” who will one day come to establish justice in the world. However, the Shiites believe that Imām Mahdi (A.S.) is the 12th Imām who was born and has lived for a long time, and now he is concealed (occultation) and is waiting to reemerge to raise the flag of justice, establish true justice and peace on earth as Allāh’s will.

Exercises:

1. What is Imāmat?
2. What are the conditions of the Imām?
3. How are Imāms appointed?
4. Who are the successors of the Prophet of Muhammad (Imāms)?

[1]. Khalil bin ahmad farahidi, al-ain, vol. 8, pp 428.

[2]. Moslem Ibn Hojaj Neishaburi, Sahih Moslem, Vol. 4, p. 1873, Fazayel Al -Sahabe, Chapter of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb’s Privileges, Hadith 2408

[3].  Sahih al-Bukhari, Ghazwah Tabuk, vol. 5, pp 129, hadith no. 2; and vol. 4, pp 208; Sahih Muslim, vol. 7, pp 120 -121.

[4] . Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, vol. 2, pp 71, hadith no 641.

[5]. Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Hakem Neishaburi, Mostadrak Ala al-Sahihayn, vol. 3, p. 137