٦ - أخبرنا محمد بن يعقوب قال: حدثنا أبو القاسم بن العلاء الهمداني رفعه عن عبد العزيز بن مسلم قال: كنا مع مولانا الرضا بمرو، فاجتمعنا وأصحابنا في الجامع يوم الجمعة في بدء مقدمنا، فأداروا أمر الإمامة، وذكروا كثرة الاختلاف فيها فدخلت على سيدي الرضا فأعلمته خوض الناس في ذلك فتبسم ، ثم قال: يا عبد العزيز، جهل القوم وخدعوا عن آرائهم، إن الله تبارك أسمه لم يقبض رسوله حتى أكمل له الدين فأنزل عليه القرآن فيه تفصيل كل شيء، بيّن فيه الحلال والحرام، والحدود والأحكام وجميع ما يحتاج الناس إليه كملاً فقال وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۚ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ وأنزل عليه في حجة الوداع وهي آخر عمره حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ وَالْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَالْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَالْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَالنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَا أَكَلَ السَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ وَأَنْ تَسْتَقْسِمُوا بِالْأَزْلَامِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ۗ الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ ۚ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ وأمر الإمامة من تمام الدين، لم يمض حتى بيّن لأمّته معالم دينهم، وأوضح لهم سبيلهم، وتركهم على قول الحق وأقام لهم علياً علماً وإماماً، وما ترك شيئاً يحتاج إليه الأمة إلاّ بيّنه، فمن زعم أن الله لكم يكمل دينه فقد ردّ كتاب الله، وهو كافر به. هل يعرفون قدر الإمامة ومحلّها من الأمة فيجوز فيها اختيارهم؟ إنّ الإمامة أجل قدراً وأعظم شأناً وأعلى مكاناً وأمنع جانباً وأبعد غوراً مِن أن يبلغَها الناس بعقولهم أو ينالوها بآرائهم أو يقيموا إماماً باختيارهم. إن الإمامة منْزلة خصّ الله بها إبراهيمَ الخليل بعد النبوة والخلّة مرتبةً ثالثة وفضيلةً شرّفه بها وأشاد بها ذكره فقال وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ فقال الخليل سروراً بها قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي قال الله تعالى لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ ، فأبطلت هذه الآية إمامةَ كلّ ظالم إلى يوم القيامة وصارت في الصفوة. ثم أكرمه الله بأن جعلها في ذريته أهل الصفوة والطهارة فقال وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً ۖ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ فلم تزل في ذريته يرثها بعضٌ عن بعض قرناً فقرناً حتى ورثها النبي فقال إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۗ وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فكانت له خاصّة، فقلّدها علياً بأمر الله عزّ اسمُه على رسم ما فرضه الله، فصارت في ذريته الأصفياء الذين آتاهم الله العلم والإيمان بقوله وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَالْإِيمَانَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَٰذَا يَوْمُ الْبَعْثِ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ فهي في ولْد علي خاصة إلى يوم القيامة إذ لا نبيّ بعد محمد ، فمِن أين يختار هؤلاء الجهالُ الإمامَ. إنّ الإمامة هي منْزلة الأنبياء وإرث الأوصياء. إن الإمامة خلافة الله وخلافة الرسول ومقام أمير المؤمنين وميراث الحسن والحسين إن الإمامة زمام الدين ونظام أمور المسلمين وصلاح الدنيا وعزّ المؤمنين. إن الإمامة هي أس الإسلام النامي وفرعه السامي. بالإمام تمام الصلاة والزكاة والصيام والحج والجهاد، وتوفير الفيء والصدقات وإمضاء الحدود والاحكام ومنع الثغور والأطراف. الإمام يحل حلال الله ويحرم حرام الله ويقيم حدود الله ويذب عن دين الله ويدعو إلى سبيل ربه بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة والحجة البالغة. الإمام الشمس الطالعة المجللة بنورها للعالم وهي في الأفق بحيث لا تنالها الأيدي والأبصار. الإمام البدر المنير والسراج الزاهر والنور الساطع والنجم الهادي في غياهب الدجى وأجواز البلدان والقفار ولجج البحار. الإمام الماء العذب على الظماء والنور الدالّ على الهدى والمنجي من الردى. الإمام النار على اليفاع الحار لمن اصطلى به والدليل في المهالك، مَن فارقه فهالكٌ. الإمام السحاب الماطر والغيث الهاطل والشمس المضيئة والسماء الظليلة والأرض البسيطة والعين الغزيرة والغدير والروضة. الإمام الأنيس الرفيق والوالد الشفيق والأخ الشقيق والأم البرة بالوالد الصغير ومفزع العباد في الداهية الناد. الإمام أمين الله في خلقه وحجته على عباده وخليفته في بلاده والداعي إلى الله والذابّ عن حرم الله. الإمام المطهر من الذنوب والمبرء عن العيوب المخصوص بالعلم الموسوم بالحلم، نظام الدين وعزّ المسلمين وغيظ المنافقين وبوار الكافرين. الإمام واحد دهره لا يدانيه أحدٌ ولا يعادله عالم ولا يوجد منه بدل ولا له مثل ولا نظير، مخصوص بالفضل كله من غير طلب منه له ولا اكتساب، بل اختصاص من المفضل الوهاب. فمَن ذا الذي يبلغ معرفة الإمام أو يمكنه اختياره؟ هيهات هيهات! ضلّت العقول وتاهت الحلوم وحارت الألباب وخسئت العيون وتصاغرت العظماء وتحيّرت الحكماء وتقاصرت الحلماء وحصرت الخطباء وجهلت الألبّاء وكلّت الشعراء وعجزت الأدباء وعييت البلغاء عن وصف شأنٍ من شأنه أو فضيلة من فضائله، فأقرّت بالعجز والتقصير. وكيف يوصف بكلّه أو ينعت بكنهه أو يفهم شيء من أمره أو يوجد مَن يقوم مقامه ويغني غناه؟ لا كيف وأنى وهو بحيث النجم من يد المتناولين ووصف الواصفين، فأين الاختيار من هذا؟ وأين العقول عن هذا، وأين يوجد مثل هذا؟ أتظنون أن ذلك يوجد في غير آل الرسول محمد ؟ كذّبتهم واللهِ أنفسُهم ومنّتهم الأباطيل فارتقوا مرتقاً صعباً دحضاً تزلّ عنه إلى الحضيض أقدامُهم. راموا إقامةَ الإمام بعقول حائرة بائرة ناقصة وآراء مضلة فلم يزدادوا منه إلاّ بعداً، لقد رامو صعباً وقالوا إفكاً وضلوا ضلالاً بعيداً ووقعوا في الحيرة إذ تركوا الإمام عن بصيرة، وزيّن لهم الشيطانُ أعمالهم فصدّهم عن السبيل وكانوا مستبصرين. رغبوا عن اختيار الله واختيار رسول الله وأهل بيته إلى اختيارهم، والقرآنُ يناديهم وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ويقول وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا {٣٦} وقال أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ {٣٧} إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ {٣٨} أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ {٣٩} سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ {٤٠} أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ {٤١} وقال أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا {٢٤} أم رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ {٨٧} أم وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ {٢١} إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ {٢٢} وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَأَسْمَعَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّوْا وَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ {٢٣} أم وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاسْمَعُوا ۖ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَأُشْرِبُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْعِجْلَ بِكُفْرِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ بِئْسَمَا يَأْمُرُكُمْ بِهِ إِيمَانُكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ {٩٣} بل هو فكيف لهم باختيار الإمام؟ والإمام عالم لا يجهل وراعٍ لا ينكل، معدن القدس والطهارة والنسك والزهادة والعلم والعبادة، مخصوصٌ بدعوة الرسول ونسل المطهرة البتول، لا مغمز فيه في نسب ولا يدانيه ذو حسب، فالبيت من قريش، والذروة من هاشم، والعترة من الرسول والرضى من الله ، شرف الأشراف، والفرع عن عبد مناف، نامي العلم، كامل الحلم، مضطلع بالإمامة، عالم بالسياسة، مفروض الطاعة، قائم بأمر الله ، ناصح لعباد الله، حافظ لدين الله. إنّ الأنبياء والأئمة صلوات الله عليهم يوفقهم الله ويؤتيهم من مخزون علمه وحكمه ما لا يؤتيه غيرهم، فيكون علمهم فوق علم أهل الزمان في قوله تعالى قُلْ هَلْ مِنْ شُرَكَائِكُمْ مَنْ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ ۚ قُلِ اللَّهُ يَهْدِي لِلْحَقِّ ۗ أَفَمَنْ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّنْ لَا يَهِدِّي إِلَّا أَنْ يُهْدَىٰ ۖ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ {٣٥} يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ {٢٦٩} وقوله في طالوت وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا ۚ قَالُوا أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِنَ الْمَالِ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ {٢٤٧} وقال لنبيه وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَهَمَّتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُضِلُّوكَ وَمَا يُضِلُّونَ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ۖ وَمَا يَضُرُّونَكَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ ۚ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا {١١٣} وقال في الأئمة من أهل بيت نبيه وعترته وذريته صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ۖ فَقَدْ آتَيْنَا آلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَآتَيْنَاهُمْ مُلْكًا عَظِيمًا {٥٤} فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ صَدَّ عَنْهُ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا {٥٥} وإنّ العبد إذا اختاره الله لأمور عباده شرح صدره لذلك وأودع قلبه ينابيع الحكمة وألهمه العلم إلهاماً، فلم يعِ بعده بجواب ولا يحير فيه عن صواب، فهو معصوم مؤيد، موفق مسدد، قد أمِن من الخطايا والزلل والعثار، يخصه الله بذلك ليكون حجته على عباده وشاهده على خلقه سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ {٢١} فهل يقدرون على مثل هذا فيختارونه؟ أو يكون مختارهم بهذه الصفة فيقدمونه؟ تعدّوا وبيتِ الله الحقَّ، ونبذوا كتابَ الله وراء ظهورهم كأنهم لا يعلمون، وفي كتاب الله الهدى والشفاء، فنبذوه واتبعوا أهواءهم، فذمّهم الله تعالى ومقَتَهم وأتعَسَهم فقال فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ {٥٠} وقال وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَتَعْسًا لَهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ {٨} وقال الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ ۖ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعِنْدَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّارٍ
(6) Muhammad bin Ya’qoob narrated from Abul Qassim bin al-Ala’ al-Hamadani that Abdul Aziz bin Muslim had said: We were with Imam ar-Redha  in Marw. We met with our companions in the mosque on Friday. They discussed the matter of the imamate. They mentioned how much disagreement there was about this subject. I came to my master Imam ar-Redha  and told him of what people had discussed. He smiled and said: “O Abdul Aziz, the people have ignored and have been deceived by their opinions. Allah has not make His messenger  die until He has perfected the religion and revealed the Qur’an to detail everything; permissible and impermissible things, judgements and penalties and every thing that people might need in their lives. Allah has said, “We have not neglected anything in the Book,” and He has revealed to His messenger in the last (farewell) hajj this verse, “This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion.” Definitely the matter of the imamate is from the religion and that religion is not perfected without it. The Prophet (S), before leaving to the better world, has declared to his umma the principles of their religion and has showed them the straight path and the clear truth. He has appointed to them Ali as the imam. He has not left anything that the umma need unless he has declared it to them. Then whoever claims that Allah has not perfected His religion denies the Book of Allah and so he becomes unbeliever. Do they know the importance of the imamate and its position to the umma so that they determine as they like? The imamate is much more important, greater in position, higher in rank, more impervious and profounder than to be perceived by their own minds or to be refuted by their own opinions or that they themselves appoint the imam according to their fancies. The imamate is a divine position that Allah has favored Abraham  with after prophethood then He has honored him with companionship thirdly. Allah has said, “Surely I will make you an Imam of men.” Abraham said delightfully, “And of my offspring?” Then Allah has said, “My covenant does not include the unjust.” So this verse has annulled every imamate of every unjust one until the Day of Resurrection and it limited the imamate to the choice that Allah has chosen. The choice is the progeny of Abraham  that Allah has honored and preferred to all of the human beings. Allah has said, “And We gave him Issaq and Yaqoub (Jacob), a son’s son, and We made (them) all good and We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve.” It has been still in Abraham’s progeny inherited by one after the other and age after age until it has been inherited by Prophet Muhammad . Allah has said, “Most surely the nearest of people to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet and those who believe and Allah is the guardian of the believers.” Then the Prophet (S) has entrusted Ali  with it (the imamate) according to the order of Allah and then it has been inherited by Ali’s pure progeny, whom Allah has granted faith, knowledge and wisdom as He has said, “And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you tarried according to the ordinance of Allah till the Day of Resurrection.” The imamate has been limited to the progeny of Ali  until the Day of Resurrection because there is no prophet after Muhammad . Then how can these ignorants choose the imam? Imamate is the rank of the prophets and the inheritance of their guardians. Imamate is the caliphate of Allah and His messenger and it is the position of Amirul Mo’mineen Ali  and the inheritance of al-Hasan and al-Husayn . Imamate is the reins of religion, the system that runs the Muslims’ affairs, the goodness of life and the honor of the believers. Imamate is the progressive basis of Islam. With the imam prayers, zakat, fasting, hajj, jihad, finance, charities, judgements, penalties and protecting the boundaries become perfect. The imam permits what Allah has permitted and prohibits what Allah has prohibited. He defends the religion of Allah, carries out His penalties and invites to the way of his Lord with wisdom, fair exhortation and with inevitable evidence. An imam is the shining sun that spreads its light allover the world while it is in the sky where neither hands nor eyes can harm it. An imam is a luminous moon, a bright lamp, shining light and a guiding star in the dark nights, in the deserts and in the high seas. An imam is like pure water to the thirsty. He is the light leading to guidance and he is the saver, who saves from perishment. An imam is like a fire on a hill. It is warm to those, who want to warm themselves and it is a sign of guidance to the lost. Who turns away from it will perish. An imam is like raining clouds, like the shining sun, like the shady sky, like plain ground, like a flowing fountain, like a brook and a garden. An imam is like a close companion, a kind father, a good brother and a merciful mother to her child. He is a safe resort to people during disasters. An imam is the trustee of Allah among His people, His authority over them, His caliph on His earth, the advocate of His mission and the defender of His sanctuaries. An imam is purified from sins, free from defects, inspired with knowledge and endowed with discernment. He is the order of religion, the dignity of the Muslims, the rage of the hypocrites and the ruin of the unbelievers. An imam is the only one of his age. He is incomparable and with no like or substitute. He is endowed with all virtues by the Exalted Giver. Who, then, can know what an imam is to choose him? How far! Minds become confused, wise men go astray, discerning people abstain, speechers fail, intelligents ignore, poets become tired, men of letters flop and eloquent people falter to describe one aspect of an imam’s aspects or one virtue of his virtues. How can he be described as all? How can his essence be recognized? Can anything of his affairs be understood? Can anyone replace him? Certainly not! He is like a star to the hands of the catchers! So how can they choose the imam with their fancies or how can minds determine that? Is there another like? Do you think that that is available among other than the Prophet’s progeny? By Allah their minds have cheated them and their false fancies have deluded them and so they put themselves in a very high position, from which their feet will slip to the lowest bottom. They want to appoint the imam with confused or inactive minds and deviating thoughts; therefore they become too far away from him (the imam). They look forward to unattainable thing, say false thing and go astray too far and then they fall into confusion when they turn away from the imam knowingly and when the Satan has encrusted their bad deeds to them to take them away from the straight path. They turn away from the choice of Allah, His messenger and Ahlul Bayt and cling to their own choice whereas Allah has said, “And your Lord creates and chooses whom He pleases; to choose is not theirs; glory be to Allah, and exalted be He above what they associate with Him.” And it behooves not a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter.” And, “What has happened to you? How do you judge? Or have you a book wherein you read? That you have surely therein what you choose. Or have you received from Us an agreement confirmed by an oath extending to the Day of Resurrection that you shall surely have what you demand? Ask them which of them will vouch for that. Or have they other gods? Then let them bring their other gods if they are truthful.” سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ {21} And, “Do they not then reflect on the Qur’an? Nay, on the hearts there are locks,” or, “a seal is set on their hearts so they do not understand,” or “They said, We hear, and they did not obey. Surely the vilest of animals, in Allah’s sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who do not understand. And if Allah had known any good in them He would have made them hear, and if He makes them hear they would turn back while they withdraw,” or, “They said: We hear and disobey,” but it is “The grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases.” How can they choose the imam? An imam is a savant that does not ignore and a guardian that does not wrong. He is the essence of holiness, purity, asceticism, knowledge and worship. He is appointed by the Prophet (S) via revelation. He is from the progeny of the pure Batool . There is no defect in his lineage and no one is comparable to him from among all of Quraysh. He is the summit of the Hashimites, the successor of the Prophet (S) and the pleasing of Allah. He is the most honorable of the all. He is with perfect knowledge and discernment. He undertakes the imamate devotedly. He is aware of politics. He is obeyed. He carries out the orders of Allah, directs people to their welfare and guards the religion of Allah. Allah grants the prophets and imams (peace be upon them) with His knowledge and wisdom, which He does not grant anyone else than them with. Hence their knowledge is above the knowledge of the people of every age. Allah says, “Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge,” and, “…and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good.” And He says about Talut, “Surely Allah has chosen him in preference to you, and He has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique, and Allah grants His kingdom to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.” And He says to His messenger Muhammad , “…and Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and He has taught you what you did not know, and Allah’s grace on you is very great.” Allah says about the infallible imams of His prophet’s progeny, “Or do they envy the people for what Allah has given them of His grace? But indeed We have given to Ibraheem’s children the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them a grand kingdom. So of them is he who believes in him and of them is he who turns away from him, and hell is sufficient to burn.” If Allah chooses someone to run the affairs of His people, He will delight his heart to be ready to that, grant him with wisdom and inspire him with knowledge that he will never fail to answer any question. Allah assists him and makes him infallible that he does never fall into error, fault or mistake. Allah grants him with all of that to be His authority over His people. “… that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.” After all, can they be fit to choose such an imam? Can their chosen imam be with all these virtues that Allah has granted to the imams, whom He has chosen? By the House of Allah, they have trespassed the truth and turned their backs to the holy Book of Allah indifferently. The Book of Allah has the remedy and the guidance but they have neglected it and followed their fancies; therefore Allah has dispraised them, detested them and has made them wretched. Allah has said, “…and who is more erring than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Allah? Surely Allah does not guide the unjust people,” and “…for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective,” and “…greatly hated is it by Allah and by-those who believe. Thus does Allah set a seal over the heart of every proud, haughty one.”