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.
· They permit the Halal and prohibit the Haram.
· They defend and protect the Shari’a of Allah.
· They establish the Divine justice, as they wisely and kindly call upon working for the sake of the Lord.
Anwar:I have one more question to ask here.
Hasan:Let’s postpone your question for our next meeting, Inshallah.
Symposium 48
What is the Imam’s Source of Knowledge?
Anwar:Salam ‘Alaykom, Akhi Hasan!
Hasan:Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!
Anwar:We have previously talked about the attributes of Imams (PBUH) and their responsibilities. I think this is the right time to raise the second question which is as important as the one before. Why should the Imam be distinguished with these attributes and characteristics?
Hasan:This an excellent question and the answer to this question will definitely silence whoever claims to have the characteristics of Imam. It will also falsify the justifications to the mistakes done by the past caliphs. That is why we need to be aware of the reasons that
make the Imam distinguished with the characteristics we mentioned earlier:
· The purpose of Prophecy to fulfill the spirits and arrive at perfection, and so is the purpose of Imamate which is a natural continuation of Prophecy or Prophethood. Moreover, just as it is of necessity for the prophet to have the best characteristics among people, the same goes for the Imam.
· It is shameful to let anyone precede the Imam, that is, it is reasonably and lawfully shameful that someone would be better than and superior to the Imam, as they need to be the best of all in their time.
· If the Imam were not superior in his community, people would not follow him. This way, the Divine purpose, that is guiding people and preserving the religion, cannot be served.
· If the Imam were to do abominable acts, they could be subjected to harm and harassment and this is absolutely rejected as the Almighty Allah put it in the Noble Quran:
(And those who malign believing men and believing
women undeservedly, they bear the guilt of slander and manifest sin)33;58.
· If the Imam were of less rank and status or even if he were of the same status to other people, it would not be permissible for him to be favored. This concludes the fact that the Imam has to be superior to everyone.
· There is still more concrete evidence on the necessity of distinguishing the Imam over the subjects. However, what we mentioned is adequately satisfactory.
Anwar:God bless you. Your knowledge is so valuable.
Hasan:I am at the service of my brother Muslims.
Anwar:Now, it is time to raise the third question which is related to the knowledge of Imams (PBUT). It is actually one multifaceted question; what is the Imam’s Source of Knowledge? Does the Imam know about the Divine secrets? What is the difference between the knowledge of Imams (PBUT) and our knowledge?
Hasan:Your questions are highly significant as all people need to be aware of such inquiries. That is why I am going to answer them one by one.
To answer the first question, we need to know that the Imams’ (PBUT) source of knowledge is the Almighty Allah. At times, their knowledge comes from the Prophet (PBUH) himself and at other times from internal illumination and enlightenment and as well as from speaking to angels.
The Hadith from Imam Ali (PBUH) confirms this point:“The Messenger of Allah taught me a thousand doors each of which opens up to a thousand doors; that is a thousand by a thousand doors. Consequently, I have learned about what was and what is going to be till the Judgment Day. I learned about demise andaffliction and sound judgment”. If we consider this Hadith carefully, we will see the references to the first two ways of earning knowledge.
Anwar:But if I can interrupt, Akhi Hasan, I have got to ask a question before we move to the third way. What is the significance of ‘thousand’ here? Is it a reference to the actual number?
Hasan:No, it just refers to large quantities. This Holy Verse is an example:
(…though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times Allah will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk)9;80.
Anwar:Very good, Sir.
Hasan:To move on now to the third source of knowledge, namely speaking to angels, I would like to start with a Hadith from Abu Al-Hasan Imam Ali (PBUH):“The Imams are truthful knowers and learned talkers”. This proves what we said.
There are other ways as it is reported from Al-Harith Bin Al-Maghirah that,“I asked Abu Abdullah (PBUH) to tell me about their knowledge; he said it was a legacy from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and from Ali (PBUH). I said we know it is casted upon your hearts and spelled into your ears. He replied this as well”. This involves a fourth way, which is ‘casting upon hearts and spelling into ears’. This will pretty much end the answer to your first question as well as our session for today.
Anwar:Thanks a lot. I will let you get some rest, but hopefully see you soon.
Hasan:Thank you. See you soon, Inshallah.