Qasim bin Muslim from his brother Abdul Aziz Ibne Muslim that he said:
“We had been with ar-Reza (a.s.) at Merv. We gathered at the Friday mosque on Friday, when we had just arrived (in Merv), and they discussed the matter of Imamate, and they discussed the many differences among people in this matter. Then I came into the presence of my master (a.s.). I informed him about the various things the people had said respecting him. He smiled, then said: O Abd al-’Aziz! The people do not know, and have been deceived in their opinions. Verily, Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, did not take away (the life of) His Prophet (s.a.w.s.) until He had perfected the religion for him, and sent down on him the Quran in which is the clarification of all things. He completely clarified in it what is lawful and what is unlawful, the restrictions (hudud) and the commands, and all that people need. He to whom belong Might and Majesty said:
مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ
We have neglected nothing in the Book.[1]
And he sent down in the Farewell Pilgrimage, which was at the end of his life:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلا مَ دِينًا
Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam for your religion.[2]
“And the matter of the Imamate is one of the things by which the religion is completed. He did not pass away until he had clarified the guiding principles of their religion to his community and made plain their path for them, and he left them pointing in the direction of the path of the truth. And he established Ali (a.s.) for them as a sign and as Imam. He (Allah) has not left for them anything which the community needs without clarifying it. Hence, whoever imagines that Allah to Whom belong Might and Majesty, has not perfected His religion has surely rejected the Book of Allah, and whoever has rejected the Book of Allah, is an unbeliever in it.
“‘Do they know the value of Imamate and its position in the community that their selection could be allowable in this matter? Verily, the Imamate is too sublime among values, too great among ranks, too high among stations, too impenetrable on all sides, too profound among the depths, for people to reach it with their intellects, or to grasp it with their opinions, or to establish an Imam by their choice. Verily, the Imamate is that in which Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, has distinguished Ibrahim, the Intimate Friend (al-Khalil), after Prophethood and Intimacy, as a third degree, and an eminence with which He honored him and by which He raised his renown, and He said:
إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا
“Behold! I make you an Imam for the people.”
Then the Intimate Friend (a.s.) said out of delight in this:
وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي
“And of my seed.”
Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime, said:
لا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
My covenant shall not reach the evil-doers.[3]
Thus, this verse has abolished the leadership (Imamah) of all evil-doers till the Day of Resurrection, and it has become for the select ones. Then Allah, the Sublime, bestowed honors on him, by establishing it in his seed, the ones who are selected and purified (by Allah). And He said:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً وَكُلا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ { 72 } وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ{73}
And We gave him Ishaq and Yaqoob in superabundance, and ever yone made We righteous and appointed them to be Imams guiding by Our commands, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, and to perform the prayer, and to pray Zakat, and Us they served.[4]
“So it (the Imamate) did not leave his seed; one of them inheriting it from another, generation after generation, till Allah, the Sublime, caused the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) to inherit it. And He, the Majestic, the Sublime, said:
إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَاللّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Surely the people standing closet to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe; and Allah is the Master of the believers.[5]
So it (the Imamate) belonged to him particularly, and hence he invested Ali (a.s.) with it by the command of Allah, the Sublime, in the way in which Allah has made obligatory. So it came to be in his (Ali’s) selected seed, those to whom Allah has given knowledge and faith, as in the words of He Who is the Sublime: But those who have given knowledge and faith shall say,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَالْإِيمَانَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْبَعْثِ فَهَذَا يَوْمُ الْبَعْثِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you tarried according to the ordinance of Allah till the day of resurrection, so this is the day of resurrection, but you did not know.[6]
Thus it will be within the sons of Ali (a.s.), especially, till the Day of Resurrection, since there is no prophet after Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). So from where have these ignorant people got (the right) to select?
“Verily, the Imamate is the position of the Prophets, and the heritage of the successors. Indeed, the Imamate is the vicegerency (Khalifa) of Allah and the vicegerency of the Messenger (s.a.w.s.), and the station of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and the inheritance of al-Hasan and Husain (a.s.).
“Truly, the Imamate is the reins of religion, the state of order of the Muslims, the rectitude of the world, and the might of the believers. Verily, the Imamate is Islam’s growing root, and its lofty branch. Through the Imam the prayer, Zakat, fasting, hajj and jihad (exerting oneself, striving in the way of Allah, whether by means of one’s property, one’s life, one’s knowledge, or by any other means) are perfected, public funds are increased, restrictions and the commands are put into practice, and the frontier-posts and borders are protected.
“The Imam allows what Allah allows, and prohibits what Allah prohibits; he establishes the restrictions of Allah; he defends the religion of Allah; and he calls to the way of his Lord with wisdom and good admonition and with the Proof which reaches.
“The Imam is like the rising sun which covers the world with its light and which is in a place where no hand or eye can reach it. The Imam is the radiant moon, the shining lamp, the brilliant light, and the star that guides in the heavy darkness, and in the middle of inhabited lands, deserted regions and high seas. The Imam is sweet water for the thirst, the pointer towards true guidance, and the deliverer from destruction. The Imam is the fire on the heights (which guides those far away), and which warms those who seek the heat, and an indicator in dangers. He who moves away from him will perish.
“The Imam is the rain-bearing cloud, the rainfall that covers everywhere, the shining sun, the covering that shades, the prairie, the overflowing spring, the pool and the meadow. The Imam is the gentle, close friend, the sympathetic father, the blood-brother, the mother who is tender to her small child, a place of refuge for mankind from perilous disaster. The Imam is Allah’s custodian over His creation, His Proof for His slaves, His vicegerent in His lands, a caller towards Allah and the defender of Allah’s precincts. The Imam is the one who is purified from sins, free from all shortcomings, characterized by knowledge, distinguished by forbearance, the state of order of the religion, the might of the Muslims, the one who enrages the hypocrites, and the doom of unbelievers. The Imam is unique of his time, no one can approach his rank, no man of knowledge is comparable to him, there is no one who can take his place, nor is there anyone similar to him or same as him. He is characterized by every (kind of) eminence, without his seeking it or acquiring it, rather it is a characteristic from the Bestower of eminence, the All-giving. So who is there who can arrive at knowledge of Imam, or have the ability to select him? How far from the truth is it! Intellects have lost (themselves), imaginations have gone astray, minds have become perplexed, eyes have turned away, the great have been made small, the wise have confounded themselves, those who reflect forever fall short, orators falter, the intelligent become ignorant, poets become expressionless, prosodists incapable and the eloquent stammer, in describing one of his aspects, or one of his eminences. All of them have confessed their incapacity and inadequacy. How can his totality be described, and how can his inner essence be characterized? How can anything concerning him be understood? Who can be found one to take his place and to give what he can give? No! How and where? Since he is in the position of the star for hands of those that grasp, and to the description of those who describe. What is the place of choice in this affair? What is the place of intellects in this affair?
“Where can someone like this be found? Do you imagine that this can be found anywhere else but in the progeny of the Messenger, Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). By Allah, they have lied to themselves, they have promised to themselves the impossible, they have climbed up to a difficult and dangerous height, (and) their feet will slip and fall to the bottom. They want to appoint an Imam with (their) confused, unproductive and defective minds, and (their) misguided opinions. Nothing accrued to them but remoteness from him. Allah assail them! How they are perverted! Surely, they are looking for a difficulty. They have uttered an untruth, and have gone astray into far error; they have put themselves into confusion, because they have knowingly abandoned the Imam. And Shaitan decked out fair to them their works, and barred them from the way, though they saw clearly.
“They have turned their backs on the choice of Allah, the choice of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and his Ahle Bayt, (and turned) to their own choice. And the Quran has called them:
وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَيَخْتَارُ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Thy Lord creates whatsoever He will and He chooses; they have not the choice. Glory be to Allah! High be He above that they associate.[7]
And He to Whom belong Might and Majesty has said:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ مُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ
It is not for any believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have the choice in the affair.[8]
And He has said:
مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ { 36 } أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ { 37 } إ نَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ { 38 } أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ { 39 } سَلْهُم أَيُّهُم بِذَلِكَ زَعِيمٌ { 40 } أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاء فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ { 41}
What ails you then, how you judge? Or have you a Book wherein you study? Surely therein you shall have whatever you choose! Or have you oaths from Us, reaching to the Day ofResurrection? Surely you shall have whatever you judge! Ask them, which of them will guarantee that! Or do they have associates? Then let them bring their associates, if they speak truly.[9]
And He to Whom belong Might and Majesty has said:
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا
What, do they not ponder the Quran? Or is it that there are locks upon their hearts?[10]
وَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يَفْقَهُونَ
Or has Allah set a seal upon their hearts, so they understand not.[11]
A seal has been set upon their hearts, or they say:
سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لاَ يَسْ مَعُونَ { 21 } إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابَّ عِندَ اللّهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ { 22 } وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا لَّأسْمَعَهُمْ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ { 23 }
“We hear,” and they hear not. Surely the worst of beasts in Allah’s sight are those that are deaf and dumb and do not understand. If Allah had known of any good in them He would have made them hear, and if He had made them hear, they would have turned away, swerving aside.[12]
Or they said:
سَمِعْنَا وعَصَيْنَا
We have heard and we disobey.[13]
But that is the bounty of Allah; He gives it to whom He will, and Allah is of bounty abounding. How can they have (the right) to choose an Imam? Since the Imam is the man of knowledge, he is not ignorant (of anything), a shepherd who does not shirk (his duty), a mine of sanctity and purity, of piety and renunciation, of knowledge and worship. He is the one specifically mentioned in the supplication of the Messenger (s.a.w.s.), and he is of the seed of the purified one, the chaste (Fatima). Aspersion cannot be cast on him in relation to his parentage, no one can approach him in nobility. He is in the noble house of the Quraish, at the summit of (Banu) Hashim, of the offspring of the Messenger (s.a.w.s.) and the one accepted by Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. He is the nobility of the noblest men, and the true branch of Abde Manaf (the father of Hashim and Umayyah); the one whose knowledge forever grows and whose knowledge is perfect, who is completely acquainted with the Imamate, entirely knowledgeable in statesmanship. Obedience to him is obligatory, the one who establishes the affair of Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. He is the sincere advisor to the slaves of Allah, the protector of the religion of Allah.
“Truly, Allah accommodates the prophets and the Imams, may Allah bless them, (to the right path). He gives them of His stored knowledge and wisdom, which He does not give to anyone else. Thus their knowledge is far above the knowledge of the people of their time, as He, the Sublime, says:
أَفَمَن يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لاَّ يَهِدِّيَ إِلاَّ أَن يُهْدَى فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
He who guides to the truth, is he worthier to be followed, or he who guides not unless he is guided? What then ails you, how you judge?[14]
And as He the Blessed, the Sublime, says:
يُؤتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاء وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ
And whoso is given the wisdom, has been given much good.[15]
Also what he says about Talut (Saul):
اصْطَفَاه عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ وَاللّه يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Verily Allah has chosen him over you, and has increased him broadly in knowledge and body. Allah gives the kingship to whom He will. And Allah is All-embracing, All-knowing.[16]
And He said to His Prophet (s.a.w.s.):
وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا
Allah’s bounty to thee is very great.[17]
And He says about the Imams from the Ahle Bayt of His Prophet, his progeny and his seed, may Allah bless them:
أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَا آتَاهُمُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ فَقَدْ آتَيْنَآ آلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكِتَابَ
فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن صَدَّ عَنْهُ وَكَفَى {55} وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَآتَيْنَاهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًا بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا
Or are they jealous of the people for the bounty that Allah has given them? Yet We gave the progeny of Ibrahim the Book and the Wisdom, and We gave them a mighty kingdom. And some of them (i.e., those they were jealous) there are that believe, and some of them that bar from it; Gehenna suffices for a Blaze![18]
“Verily, when Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, selects a slave for the affairs of His slaves, He expands his breast for it; He entrusts to his hearts the fountains of wisdom, and profoundly inspires him with knowledge. So, after this, he does not stammer in answers, and he does not deviate from the truth in them. Thus, he is infallible (Masoom), supported (by Allah); he is accommodated (to the right path, his steps being) firmly guided; he will be safe from errors, slips and stumblings. Allah distinguishes him by this, because he is His Proof over his slaves, and His witness over His creatures –
ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
That is the bounty of Allah, He gives it to whom He will, and Allah is of bounty abounding.[19]
“So, do they have the power to do the like of this, so that they can choose him? Or can the one that they choose have this attribution so that they may prefer him? By the House of Allah, they have transgressed against the truth, they have rejected the Book of Allah behind their backs as though they did not know, and in the Book of Allah there is guidance and cure. So they have rejected it, and they have followed their own desires. Therefore, Allah has found fault with them, detested them and cast them down, as He, to Whom belong Mighty and Sublimity, has said:
وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And who is further astray them he who follows his own caprice without guidance from Allah? Surely Allah guides not the people of the evil-doers.[20]
And He has said:
فَتَعْسًا لَّهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
Ill chance shall befall them, He will send their works astray.[21]
And He has sxaid:
كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّهِ وَعِندَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَب رٍ جَبَّارٍ
Verily, hateful is that in the sight of Allah and the believers; so Allah sets a seal on every heart proud, arrogant.[22]
And may Allah bless the Prophet, Muhammad and his progeny, and bestow peace upon them with much bestowing.’”
[1] Surah Anaam 6:38
[2] Surah Maidah 5:3
[3] Surah Baqarah 2:124
[4] Surah Anbiya 21:72 -73
[5] Surah Aale Imran 3:68
[6] Surah Rum 30:56
[7] Surah Qasas 28:68
[8] Surah Ahzab 33:36
[9] Surah Qalam 68:36-41
[10] Surah Muhammad 47:24
[11] Surah Taubah 9:87
[12] Surah al-Anfaal 8:21-23
[13] Surah Baqarah 2:93
[14] Surah Yunus 10:35
[15] Surah Baqarah 2:269
[16] Surah Baqarah 2:247
[17] Surah Nisa 4:113
[18] Surah Nisa 4:54-55
[19] Surah Hadid 57:21
[20] Surah Qasas 28:50
[21] Surah Muhammad 47:8
[22] Surah Momin 40:35