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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Our Belief Chapter 5: Imamate There is Always an Imam We believe that as God has decreed to send His Messengers with divine guidance, for every age or time God has appointed an Imam to look after the people, leading them to the righteous path and to guard the divine law against any deviation.

An Imam has to clearly know the necessities of the ages, and lead the people to the true path of God; he invites and teaches the people to obey the prophets and to follow the law. If not so, man will fail to obtain the goal for which he has been created (i.e. prosperity and perfection) and divine law will be abandoned and people will wander astray.

This is why we believe that after our prophet, in any age or time there has always been and there will always be, an Imam to teach and to lead the people. ‘Imam’ primarily means: `he who is foremost-hence a religious leader, a model, a pattern or one who leads the congregational prayer’. "O, You who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.” (Holy Qur’an, 9:119) This verse of Holy Qur’an does not refer to a certain time or a distinct age.

It rather unconditionally orders the people to be the followers of the ‘truthful’ Imam. All the famous commentators have taken the word ‘truthful’ to mean an innocent Imam who is free of guilt and sin (infallible). The Reality of Imamate We believe that Imamate is not only the apparent rulership or leadership of a caliph, but rather a high spiritual or religious position.

Besides ruling and governing the Islamic society, an Imam has the overall leadership of this mortal life of people as well as that of the hereafter. He guides the soul and mind of people, and guards against any deviation from the law. Meanwhile, he leads at the level of expectations assigned by the prophet. This is the same high rank that God gave to Abraham after passing the stages and steps of prophethood as well as many other exams.

When Abraham asked his Lord to assign the position of Imamate to some of his near kins, he was answered that this title or position will not be given to the oppressors or sinners. "And remember when Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commandments which he fulfilled, God said to him: `I will make you an Imam to the people.' He said: `What about making Imams out of my offspring?' God answered: `No!