This question arises especially since the Imamate age has apparently terminated...

This question arises especially since the Imamate age has apparently terminated; no one is supposed to be Imam today, so that we have no duty to search for and find the true Imam. In these conditions, isn’t it better to leave the Imamate issue and the controversy about it and attend to more important Islamic issues?

In answer to the first question it can be said that as will be proved later in the present book, Imamate and leadership are high positions in Islam, which cannot be occupied by regular people. Only qualified persons, with the following characteristics, can reach the Imamate position: The Imam should know all the Divine sciences, teachings, and verdicts that are revealed to (S) by Allah. In other words, the Imam is and should be the inheritor of the Prophet’s knowledge.

The Imam should be away from mistakes and forgetfulness (be infallible) in gaining, recording, maintaining, and publishing religious sciences and teachings. The Imam should also be away from committing sins and transgressing religious rules. He should follow religious rules and verdicts so that the people follow his Islamic speech, behavior, and morality.

Therefore, the recognition of Imam, mentioned in the traditions, is not merely being familiar with his identification; rather it is recognition of his brilliant scientific, practical, ethical, and virtuous personality. The answer to the first question clears the answer to the second question too.

In other words, if we consider the Imam as the source of all religious sciences, teachings, and verdicts, every Muslim should refer to the Imam –as an original reliable source– for learning his religious duties. As a result, research for recognizing the true Imam –for acquiring religious sciences– is a major duty of every Muslim, who thinks of his salvation in this world and the Hereafter. It is clear that such an important duty does not belong to a certain age and is necessary in all times.

In fact, Muslims in all eras should attempt to recognize the infallible Imam of their age –introduced by (S) along with the Holy Quran as two reliable scientific sources– and benefit from his virtuous speech and behavior. Moreover, since only an infallible Imam is introduced from Allah to rule the Islamic Ummah (nation), as the Prophet’s true successor, people in all ages should discover the true Imam and ruler and help establish the Islamic government.

The Government Issue does not belong to a certain time and place either.