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.
This is what the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) gives emphasis to in this Hadith:“If you believe in me, swear allegiance to obey me, to say prayers and pay almsgiving Zakat, to push the enemy away from me and not escape from wars”.
Anwar:So, can we conclude here that the allegiance made to Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) is beyond dispute?
Hasan:Yes, we can.
Anwar:Will you provide us with evidence to the fact that the Imamte is a Divine affair?
Hasan:Yes, there are words and incidents related to the Prophet (PBUH) that evidently prove the connection between the Imamate and the Almighty Allah, some of which are:
· When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) called for the Arab tribes to enter Islam, they started to come one after the other in groups. Bani Khamir was one of the tribes that met with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) during pilgrimage to Mecca (Al-Haj) and their chief said to the Prophet (PBUH):“You see that we vowed allegiance to you, as Allah showed you your enemies.
·
·So, will we be in control after you?”The Prophet replied:“It is up to Allah as He chooses whoever He wills”. I would like to focus on what the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said so you understand the point.
· The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) sent Salit Bin Amr Al-Ameri with a message to the king of Yamamah([13]), Hauzah bin Ali Al-hanafi, who was Christian, in order to call him to embrace Islam. Salit went before the king and handed over the message. The king welcomed Salit, read the message and wrote a message back to the Prophet (PBUH) that“what a great and beautiful thing you are calling for. I am a national poet and their orator; the Arabs fear my status, so give me some authority and I will follow you”. Salit went back and read the message from the king of Yamamah, then the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said:“I will not give him an abandoned land for that; may he perish, may what he has perish”.
· The words of the Most Exalted Allah in the Noble Quran affirms what the Prophet (PBUH) did and said:
[13]Yamamah: was a province southern to Najad. Now, it is located within Governorate of Alkharj in KSA.
(…Allah knoweth best with whom to place His message…)6;124.
As long as the Imamate is the same as the Prophethood in regard to purpose and role, it is unquestionably a Divine affair.
Anwar:It is quite clear now that the Imamate and leadership of the community cannot be subjected to election or nomination. It is a Divine position written in the Scripture by the Most Gracious Allah.
Hasan:Yes, very well.
Anwar:Is it true that the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) did not commit themselves to this Divine inauguration, as it were.
Hasan:The true thing is that they just did not commit themselves to inauguration of Imam Ali (PBUH) which is the only Divine inauguration done at the hands of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Anwar:How is that?
Hasan:Do you know that Omar Bin Al-Khattab was inaugurated as a Caliph by Abu Bakr? Do you also know
that Othman was inaugurated as a Caliph by Omar? He chose him from a group of six!
Anwar:No, I did not know.
Hasan:Now, you know.
Anwar:So, they were nominated and inaugurated by one another. How do they say it was consultation (Shura)?
Hasan:Pay no attention to what they say.
Anwar:Anyway! Thank you very much indeed.
Hasan:Don’t mention it. See you soon, Inshallah.
Symposium 47
What are the Attributes and the Responsibilities of Imam?
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam!
Anwar:Now, that we know what the Imamate is and how important it is, may I ask a few questions?
Hasan:Of course, I am here to answer your questions.
Anwar:Thanks a lot! Can I extract the characteristics and the roles of Imam from the Hadith you earlier mentioned from Imam Al-Riza (PBUH) in which he gave
a description about the Imamate?
Hasan:Yes, there are many attributes and responsibilities of Imam mentioned in his words which definitely shows how much people need the Imams.
Anwar:My dear Brother, Let’s go back a little bit so that we become acquainted with the attributes of Imams (PBUT) and his responsibilities. This way we can also refute those tendentious people with undue claims to be Imam.
Hasan:Great suggestion. I can sum up the attributes of Imams (PBUT) as the following:
· Not to be unjust from birth to death.
· To be infallible from sins intentionally and unintentionally and purified from atrocity and enormity.
· To be the best and the most learned of his time.
· To be endowed with all perfection attributes and moral qualities.
· It is reported from Imam Al-Riza (PBUH) that:
“There is no man parallel to their status; they are
incomparable and unmatchable. The Imams are favored by Allah; they do not grow their position; it is bestowed upon them by the Lord.”
He also said in this regard:
“Imams are the most learned, the most virtuous, the most righteous, the most generous, the wisest and the bravest. They are born circumcised and purified from sins and flaws; they can see from behind like they see before them”, as there are many other attributes.
Anwar:These are the attributes. Will you please mention their responsibilities?
Hasan:The roles and responsibilities that Imam Al-Riza (PBUH) referred to can be put as the following:
· The Imams (PBUT) complete Prayer (As-Salat), Fasting (As-Siam), Almsgiving (Az-Zakat), Pilgrimage to Mecca (Al-Haj) and Holy Wars (Al-Jihad).
· They provide aids and charities.
· They execute punishments and sentences.
· They prevent breaches and limitations.