Also, it is narrated that Imam Baqir (a.

Also, it is narrated that Imam Baqir (a.s.) recited the verse in this way: You are the best nation… and said that Jibraeel had brought in this way and it refers to Muhammad, Ali and the vicegerents from their progeny.[^2] Third verse: وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ. And surely this your nation is one nation and I am your Lord, therefore be careful (of your duty) to Me. (Surah Mu’minin 23:52) Most commentators have said that ‘nation’ refers to community.

Ibne Mahyar and Ibne Shahr Aashob have narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that ‘nation’ refers to Aale Muhammad (a.s.). Fourth verse: وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ. And we made of them Imams to guide by our command when they were patient and they were certain of our communications.

(Surah Sajdah 32:24) At another place after the mention of Firon and his army Allah says: وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ. وَأَتْبَعْنَاهُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ هُمْ مِنْ الْمَقْبُوحِينَ. And we made them Imams who call to the fire and on the day of Qiyamat they shall not be assisted. And we caused a curse to follow them in this world, and on the day of Qiyamat they shall be of those made to appear hideous.

(Surah Qasas 28:41-42) Ali Ibne Ibrahim, Kulaini, Saffar, Ibne Mahyar and others with many chains of narrators have narrated from Imam Sadiq and Baqir (a.s.) that there are two types of Imams according to the book of Allah, because Allah has said: And we made of them Imams to guide by our command... (Surah Sajdah 32:24) That is they guide people according to Allah’s command and not according the wish and will of the people and they give preference to the commands of Allah rather than their own.

At another place He says: And we made them Imams who call to the fire… It means the leaders of disbelief and deviation who prefer their own opinion to that of Allah and give judgements according to their whims and fancies against the orders of Allah. In Basairud Darajat there is a tradition from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the world was never devoid of a good Imam and a bad Imam.

The good character Imam is the one who is mentioned in the first verse and the bad character Imam is one who is mentioned in the second verse. In another tradition he says: Only a just Imam reforms the people and not an unjust Imam.

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