Symposium 45
Is Imamate One of the Pillars of Islam or
the Branches of the Pillars?
Anwar:We are back again!
Hasan:Yes, and I am all ready for your inquiries.
Anwar:Thanks a lot for your great information. Allah rewards you well, Akhi. I actually have a question in mind that might be of interest to many other young people.
Hasan:All right. Go ahead!
Anwar:Is Imamate one of the Pillars of Islam or one of its branches?
Hasan:It is an expectable and beautiful question! Here is the thing. Most of the the Sunnites agree that the
Imamate is one of the branches of the Islamic Pillars (Foru’ Al-Din). The Shiites disagree about this point. We have already discussed the significance of the Imamate and the role of Imams in our lives following the Prophet (PBUH). So, the Imamate is a Pillar in Islam for the same reason that the Prophecy or Prophethood is a Pillar in Islam.
Anwar:I understand here that the Imams are like the Prophets; they are the leaders of our Islamic societies as they preserve the Shari’a over ages, and consequently we must follow them; that is why the Imamate is no different from the Prophethood and we need to accept it as one of the Pillars of Islam (Osul Al-Din).
Hasan:Yes, exactly!
Anwar:Do you have any evidence to support this?
Hasan:The Almighty Allah says in the Noble Quran:
(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. Lo! Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk)5;67.
Religious experts believe that this Holy Verse was revealed for the sake of the Imamate and that it clearly shows its importance and place. We can also use this following Holy Verse to reason it out:
(Forbidden unto you for food are carrion and blood and swine flesh, and that which hath been dedicated unto any other than Allah, and the strangled, and the dead through beating, and the dead through falling from a height, and that which hath been killed by the goring of horns, and the devoured of wild beasts, saving that which ye make lawful by the death stroke, and that which hath been immolated unto idols. And forbidden is it that ye swear by the diving arrows. This is an abomination. This day are those who disbelieve in despair of ever harming your religion; so fear them not, fear by hunger, not by will, to sin: for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful)5;3.
This Holy Verse and many other Hadith refer to the guardianship and the Imamate of Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH). The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said:“Whoever dies without knowing the Imam of their time, they die in a pre-Islamic state of ignorance”. This
proves that through knowing the Imam and following him, beliefs are established. After this Hadith, does anyone can doubt the fact that Imamate is one of the Pillars of Islam?
Anwar:Surely, it is!
Hasan:Thank you.
Anwar:If someone denies that the Imamate is one of the Pillars of Islam, would this act be considered a violation of Islam?
Hasan:Most religious experts agree that this is a violation of the sect and the person has deviated from the sect, and few consider this a violation of Islamic codes.
Anwar:The Sunnites say that the Imamate is established through consultation (Shura). Is that correct?
Hasan:No, it is not. Imamate can only be established according to the Scripture (Al-Nas). If Shura were the basis for ruling, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) would have clearly declared it and explained its aspects; he could illustrate, for instance, the type of people who can participate in this consultation, the qualities of the
candidates as well as the quantity and the quality of the work they do. You know, Shura takes a long approach.
Anwar:All right. What do you have to tell us on ‘the pledge of allegiance’ (Bai’a)?
Hasan:Before we go into details of this issue, we need to know its meaning. According to Ibn Khaldun([11]), pledge is the loyalty to give full compliance, that is, people vow to their leader to commit themselves to him in regard to Muslims affairs and obey his orders; the pledge of allegiance or Bai’a is done through placing one’s hand in the hand of the leader.
Anwar:Was this originated by Islam?
Hasan:No, it was a common tradition among the Arabs even before Islam, but it was supported and celebrated by Islam.
Anwar:Was the Prophet (PBUH) given the pledge of allegiance?
Hasan:Yes, the people of Medina made pledge before
[11]Ibn khaldun (1332 – 1406 AD) was a Tunisian Muslim historiographer and historian who is ofter viewed as one of The fathers of modern historiography, sociology and economics.
the Hegira([12]) and also after the Hegira by a tree; it was named ‘the pledge of gratification’ and mentioned in the Noble Quran:
(Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down peace of reassurance on them with a near victory)48;18.
Anwar:Is the pledge of allegiance specifically for men?
Hasan:No, women also vowed allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH) as it is evident in this Holy Verse:
(O Prophet! If believing women come unto thee, taking oath of allegiance unto thee that they will ascribe nothing as partner unto Allah, and will neither steal nor commit adultery nor kill their children, nor produce any lie that they have devised between their hands and feet, nor disobey thee in what is right, then accept their allegiance and ask Allah to forgive them. Lo! Allah is forgiving, Merciful)60;12.
Anwar:Does this mean the pledge of allegiance is the basis for ruling?
Hasan:No, there is no evidence to that.
[12]Hegira also Hijrot or Hijra, is the migration or journey of the prophet (PBUH) and his followers from Mecca to Medina between June 21st and July 2nd in 622 AD.
Anwar:Then, how do you explain the pledge of allegiance given to the Prophet (PBUH)?
Hasan:The answer can put as the following:
· The pledge of allegiance that Muslims made to the Messenger (PBUH) was neither an inauguration nor recognition of his leadership. It was a commitment to obey him because he was sent by the Almighty Allah and he was already distinguished with leadership. So, they swore allegiance to emphasize their faith to his message.
· Pledge of Allegiance is a covenant between two people that demands commitment, loyalty and obedience to the person we are making this pledge to. Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) asserts this fact in this Hadith:“However, you owe me loyalty to the allegiance, sincerity when present and absent, responding when I call you and obeying when I command you”.
· There are explicit Scripts on the prophethood of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his leadership so much that the pledge of allegiance cannot stand a hinder before it.
Anwar:You look tired.
Hasan:Yes, let’s carry on our discussion tomorrow.
Symposium 46
Is Imamate Established through Allegiance (Bai’a) or the Scripture (Al-Nas)?
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom, Akhi Hasan!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh! Allah grants you success for your commitment to acquire knowledge.
Anwar:Allah rewards you well for your generosity in providing us with this knowledge. Let’s continue what we started last time, if you please.
Hasan:Yes, of course! We said that the pledge of allegiance that Muslims made to the Prophet (PBUH) was not a means for inauguration; rather it was a commitment to obey him and follow his commands.