They will not contradict the Book of Allah...

They will not contradict the Book of Allah, and the Book of Allah will not contradict them until they will join the Prophet (S) on His Pool[^5].” This hadith substantiates the fact that the Ahlul-Bayt and the holy Quran are full twins that never depart each other. Like the Quran’s being the constitution and the argument against Muslims, an imam from the Ahlul-Bayt (a) must exist in every age to hold the position of Muslims’ leadership and guide them to prosperity.

The Prophet (S) said: “He who desires to live like me, die like me, and be taken to the paradise of eternity of which my Lord has promised me, must be loyal to Ali and his descendants, for they will never take you out of the door of right guidance and will never take you to a door of deviation[^6].” Obedience to the Imams God says: “Believers, obey Allah, His Messenger, and your (qualified) leaders.

If you have faith in Allah and the Day of Judgment, refer to Allah and His Messenger concerning matters in which you differ. This would be a more virtuous and a better way of settling differences. (4:59)” In this holy Verse, God imposes as duty on Muslims to obey the Imams in their capacity as the Prophet’s successors, Muslims’ leaders, and pioneers of the Islamic ideology. Like imposing as duty the obedience to His Messenger and Him, God imposes the obedience to the Imams.

This fact makes clear that they are the true successors of the Prophet (S) and are protected against sins, because no one deserves the absolute obligatory obedience except the sinless leader. Thus, it is a big mistake to state that ‘the qualified leaders’ to whom the previous Verse refers includes the other individuals who led the Islamic states, because most of such ones contradicted the instructions of God and the practices of the Prophet (S) and, moreover, went astray from the line of Islam.

Zurara; one of the most celebrated traditionists, relates the following narration that indicates the merit and necessity of loyalty and obedience to the Imams of the Ahlul-Bayt (a): Imam al-Baqir (a) said: “The supports of Islam are five: the prayer, zakat, fasting, hajj, and Wilaya[^7].” I asked: “Which one of these is the most favorable?” The Imam (a) answered: “It is the Wilaya, because it is the key to the other four supports.

The Imam is the guide to these supports After the recognition of the Imams, the obedience to him is the summit, climax, key, and door to the things.