Imam Ridha (as) relating some proofs of Imamate
Imam Ridha (as) stated, “none is appropriate for the Imamate except him who argues with the communities through the proofs of Imamate.”
“What is the evidence for the Imamate?” a Jewish scholar asked.
He, peace be upon him, answered..
“He must be learned in the Torah, the Gospel, the Zabur (David’s Psalms), and the Holy Qur’an that he may be able to argue with the people of the Torah through their Torah, the people of the Bible through their Bible, and the people of the Qur’an through their Qur’an. He must be learned in all languages, that each language may be obvious to him, and that he may be able to debate with each people in their own language. In addition to these qualities, he must be Allah-fearing, clear from every uncleanness, pure from every defect, just, fair, wise, affectionate, merciful, forgiving, sympathetic, truthful, pitiful, kind, honest, and trustworthy.”
The Position of an Imam is Higher than That of a Prophet
The superiority of an imam over a prophet may sound surprising to some, yet the Qur’an regards the imamate as a higher position than that of prophecy. This discussion will establish the loftiness of the position of the imam in response to those who believe that the imam can be just about anyone who takes over political control of the nation. The Qur’an says:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, “Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people.” [Abraham] said, “And of my descendants?” [ Allah ] said, “My covenant does not include the wrongdoers.”2:124
It is obvious that Abraham (ع) became an imam long after he had been chosen as a prophet (nabi). This is because when he was selected as an imam, Abraham (ع) asked whether the imamate would also be granted to his descendants or not. The Qur’an is clear that Abraham (ع) did not have descendants until he was very old and long after he had been selected as a prophet, as Abraham (ع) said, “Praise be to Allah Who has bestowed on Ishmael and Isaac on me in my old age.”
Another reason that clearly shows that Abraham (ع) was selected as an imam after he was selected as a prophet is that in order for the conversation between Abraham (ع) Allah regarding his imamate to proceed, Abraham (ع) must have been a prophet to begin with. It is therefore that Abraham’s (ع) status as an imam was granted after his prophecy. Thus, the status of imamate is higher than that of prophecy.
This, however, should not be taken to mean that all imams are prophets. Rather, it implies that the imamate is a degree not bestowed upon all of Allah’s prophets, just as prophecy is not bestowed on all imams. Indeed, none of the Shi’ah Imams were bestowed with prophecy, as Muhammad (ص) was the final prophet. The fact that the position of imam is higher than that of prophet should not be taken to mean that the Shi’ah imams are superior to the Prophet (ص), as he was both a prophet and an imam and the most superior of all of Allah’s creation. Rather, the lofty position of imam shows the fact that such a position is not a simple matter to be held by any corrupt leader who ascends the throne.
According to the Qur’an:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, “Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people.” [Abraham] said, “And of my descendants?” [ Allah ] said, “My covenant does not include the wrongdoers.”2:124
This verse is absolutely clear that imams from the progeny of Abraham (ع) must be pure from sin because Allah’s covenant, regarding the imamate does not apply to the oppressors. According to the Qur’an, any sin is a form of oppression: “And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah does truly oppress his own self (zalama nafsah)”. Therefore, those from among Abraham’s (ع) offspring who commit sins cannot be legitimate imams, as they will never have a binding covenant with Allah with respect to holding the imamate.
Shi’ah Islam: Proofs from the Qur’an, Sunnah and History. p. 460-461
The Rightful Leaders
Why wasn’t the Kaaba protected at the time of Yazid?
Prof. Hassanain Rajabali answered this question and explained the importance of rightful leaders in one of his lectures beautifully. This is an excerpt from his lecture:
“In the Jafari school of thought, the lovers of Ahlul Bayt (a.s) insist that Allah has always placed his representatives on earth at all times. There is never a moment when representatives of Allah are not on this earth. Even in the time of the Prophet’s birth, when Abraha goes to destroy the Kaaba we find Abdul Muttalib was the imam of the time and hence Allah protected the Kaaba. Historians say the Kaaba was protected when Abdul Muttalib was the imam of the time, why wasn’t it protected when Yazid was the khalifa of the time? Because the Kaaba was burnt by Yazid. It is because the authority representing the Kaaba was false so Allah ignored them and He ignored even the Kaaba. Allah says at the end of the day it is not the Kaaba that counts, it is the leadership that counts. It is the representation of my khalifa that counts on this earth. Otherwise I don’t protect anything or anyone. So when Abdul Muttalib was protected when he said to Abraha that Allah owns the Kaaba and i own the red camels, Allah will protect it because he was the rightful leader of the time. But in the time of Yazid and Muawiyah when Abdullah Ibn Zubayr was there, the Kaaba was burnt because they were all illegitimate leaders thats why Allah sent a clear message for if it was protected it would give credence to these criminals as some kind of legitimate leaders. This is the hikmah Allah (swt) is showing us in history.”
Birth in Kaaba
shiatv.netBirth in Kaaba - Haaj Mahdi Samavati - Beautiful Poetry - Farsi sub English
Hesham on Imamate
Basra is a big city and the main port of Iraq. It is situated at the mouth of river Euphrates.
There, in a big mosque, people used to assemble to discuss various subjects on Islamic rules and laws. A famous learned priest/clergyman by name Amr Bin Ubeid was once preaching on the subject of Imamate (An Islamic term referring to “leadership” of Imams who followed Prophet Muhammad (saw) in leadership of Islam, according to Shi’a belief). He was surrounded by a big crowd of people who were asking various questions on the subject. Suddenly, a young and intelligent student of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) by name of Hesham, entered the gathering and sat down in the first row. He addressed the priest saying that he was a stranger and would like to ask some questions. On getting the permission to do so, he asked the following:
Hesham: First, Sir! May I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Young Boy! Is this a question to ask?
Hesham: Whatever it may be, this is my question to which I shall appreciate your answer.
Amr: Alright! You are at liberty to ask, even though it is a foolish question.
Hesham: As I have already asked, Sir, may I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Yes, I have.
Hesham: For what use are they?
Amr: With eyes, I can see faces of people and color of various things.
Hesham: And you have a nose also?
Amr: Yes. I do have one.
Hesham: What is its function?
Amr: I smell the scent and odor by it.
Hesham: And do you have a mouth?
Amr: Yes I do have.
Hesham: For what use is it?
Amr: I can talk to people or taste food and drink with it.
Hesham: Do you have ears?
Amr: Yes, I have two ears.
Hesham: What is their function?
Amr: I can hear voices by them.
Hesham: And do you have a mind?
Amr: Almighty has bestowed me with that also.
Hesham: What is its use?
Amr: With that I am able to distinguish things whatever is felt by the other senses like hands, eyes, ears, nose, tongue etc. In case of a difference, I am able to solve with its help. In case of a doubt, I can dispel with it and be sure.
Hesham: So, does it mean that despite being sound and healthy, all these organs cannot function independently without the help of the mind.
Amr: No, No! None of the organs can function independently without the help of the mind.
Hesham: Why is it so? After all, the organs are perfect and strong enough to differentiate between things?
Amr: Young Boy! When any organ has some doubt about a thing, which it smells, sees or tastes, it brings the matter to the mind and it is the mind, which confirms the truth and removes the doubt.
Hesham: So, from what you have said, do you want me to understand that Almighty Allah (SWT) has created and designed the mind to guide the organs and remove doubts?
Amr: Yes! It is so.
Hesham: So the mind is a necessity, otherwise the organs could not work independently.
Amr: Yes.
Hesham: Please Sir! Proclaim your opinion with fairness and justice on this point also. If Almighty Allah (SWT) has not left the organs of man’s body without the guidance of the mind, how is it possible that Almighty Allah (SWT) could leave millions of His creatures without an IMAM to guide and solve their problems arising out of doubts and conflicts? Should not our common sense accept this fact?
On hearing this logic argument, and having no answer to give, Amr Bin Ubeid kept silent and went into deep thinking.
Hesham was a deeply learned person and one of the closest companions of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) from whom he had obtained his knowledge.
According to a verse (2:124) of Noble Qur’an, Imamate is a station that was granted to prophet Ibrahim al-Khalil (pbuh) after that great test, trial by Kalimat (words). According to traditions that are consecutively narrated (mutawatir) and which both Shi’a and Sunnis have related, this station was also placed in Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya 1:1-9
Praise belongs to God,
the First, without a first before Him,
the Last, without a last behind Him.
Beholders’ eyes fall short of seeing Him,
describers’ imaginations are not able to depict Him.
He originated the creatures through His power with an origination,
He devised them in accordance with His will with a devising.
Then He made them walk on the path of His desire,
He sent them out on the way of His love.
They cannot keep back
from that to which He has sent them forward,
nor can they go forward
to that from which He has kept them back.
He assigned from His provision to each of their spirits
a nourishment known and apportioned.
Then each spirit He strikes a fixed term in life,
for each He sets up a determined end;
he walks toward it through the days of his span,
he overtakes it through the years of his time.
Then, when he takes his final step
and embraces the reckoning of his span,
God seizes him to the abundant reward
or the feared punishment
to which He has called him,
that He may repay those who do evil with what they have done and repay those who do good with goodness
as justice from Him (holy are His names, and manifest His boons).
He shall not be questioned as to what He does,
but they shall be questioned.
Praise belongs to God, for,
had He withheld from His servants the knowledge to praise Him
for the uninterrupted sadness with which He has tried them
and the manifest favours which He has lavished upon them,
they would have moved about in His kindnesses without praising Him,
and spread themselves out in His provision without thanking Him.
Had such been the case,
they would have left the bounds of humanity for that of beastliness
and become as He described in the firm text of His Book:
They are but as cattle — nay, but they are further astray from the way!
...quotes on Imam Hussain (alayhis salaam)...
Quotations about Imam Hussain (A.S.) by Non-Muslims
Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political and spiritual leader): “I learnd from Hussein
how to achieve victory while being oppressed.”
Thomas Carlyle (Scottish historian and essayist): “The best lesson which we get
from the tragedy of Cerebella is that Husain and his companions were rigid
believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical superiority does not
count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Husain,
despite his minority, marvels me!”
Edward Gibbon (English historian and member of parliament): “In a distant age
and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the
sympathy of the coldest reader.” (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London,
1911, volume 5, p. 391-392)
Charles Dickens (English novelist): “If Husain had fought to quench his
worldly desires…then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children
accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for
Islam.”
Antoine Bara (Lebanese writer): “No battle in the modern and past
history of mankind has earned more sympathy and admiration as well as
provided more lessons than the martyrdom of Husayn in the battle of
Karbala.” (Husayn in Christian Ideology)
Dr. K. Sheldrake: “Of that gallant band, male and female knew that the
enemy forces around were implacable, and were not only ready to fight, but
to kill. Denied even water for the children, they remained parched under the
burning sun and scorching sands, yet not one faltered for a moment. Husain
marched with his little company, not to glory, not to power of wealth, but to
a supreme sacrifice, and every member bravely faced the greatest odds
without flinching.”
Ignaz Goldziher (Hungarian orientalist): “…Weeping and lamentation over
the evils and persecutions suffered by the ‘Alid family, and mourning for its
martyrs: these are things from which loyal supporters of the cause cannot
cease. ‘More touching than the tears of the Shi’is’ has even become an
Arabic proverb.” (Introduction to Islamic Theology and Law, Princeton, 1981, p.179)
Edward G. Brown (Professor at the University of Cambridge): “…a reminder of
that blood-stained field of Karbala, where the grandson of the Apostle of
God fell, at length, tortured by thirst, and surround by the bodies of his
murdered kinsmen, has been at anytime since then, sufficient to evoke, even
in the most lukewarm and the heedless, the deepest emotion, the most
frantic grief, and an exaltation of spirit before which pain, danger, and death
shrink to unconsidered trifles.” (A Literary History of Persia, London, 1919, p.227)
Sir William Muir (Scottish orientalist): “The tragedy of Karbala decided not
only the fate of the Caliphate, but also of Mohammadan kingdoms long after
the Caliphate had waned and disappeared.” (Annals of the Early Caliphate,
London, 1883, p.441-442)
“Though Imam Hussain gave his life years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”Dr. Radha Krishnan
Mahatma Gandhi
“My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword by its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Hussain (A.S.), the great saint.”
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
“Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness.”
Reynold Alleyne Nicholson
“Hussain (A.S.) fell, pierced by an arrow, and his brave followers were cut down beside him to the last man. Muhammadan tradition, which with rare exceptions is uniformly hostile to the Umayyad dynasty, regards Hussain (A.S.) as a martyr and Yazid as his murderer.”
[A Literary History of the Arabs, Cambridge, 1930, p197]
Rabindranath ***************ore
“In order to keep alive justice and truth, instead of an army or weapons, success can be achieved by sacrificing lives, exactly what Imam Hussain (A.S.) did
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
“The sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S.) is not limited to one country, or nation, but it is the hereditary state of the brotherhood of all mankind.”
Dr. Radha Krishnan
“Though Imam Hussain (A.S.) gave his life almost 1300 years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”
Swami Shankaracharya
“It is Hussain’s (A.S.) sacrifice that has kept Islam alive or else in this world there would be no one left to take Islam’s name.”
Mrs. Sarojini Naidu
“I congratulate Muslims that from among them, Hussain (A.S.), a great human being was born, who is reverted and honored totally by all communities.
