Had the Holy Imams been allowed to play their political role...

Had the Holy Imams been allowed to play their political role that was assigned to them by the Holy Prophet (S) according to a Divine decree, the Muslim nation would have certainly attained inclusive happiness, dignity, and glory, and Muslims would have preserved their unity and integrity and there would have been no division, mutual dispute, clashes, massacres, annihilation, humility, or subservience…[^19] (17) For this reason and on account of the numerous narration-based and reason-based evidences in the books of Islamic doctrines, the Shi`ah believe that it is obligatory to follow the (a.s) school of thought and comply with their approach, because it is the very approach that the Holy Prophet (S) had prescribed for the Muslim nation and it is the approach by which he ordered people to abide.

In the famous and soundly based narration known as Hadith al-Thaqalayn (The Tradition of the Two Weighty Things), the Holy Prophet (S) has been authentically reported to have instructed the Muslim nation to abide by the Holy Imams (a.s), saying, “I am leaving with you two weighty (i.e. precious) things; the Book of Allah and my offspring—the .

If you adhere to these two, you shall never go astray.” In addition to sahih Muslim, this narration has been reported by tens of the scholars and narrators of traditions over the ages.[^20] This Prophetic decision of appointing people to be his vicegerents and successors was something common in the time of the former Prophets and Messengers—peace be upon them all.[^21] (18) The Ja`fariyyah Shi`ah believe that the Muslim nation—may Allah exalt it—is required to study and discuss these matters and refrain from ill methods of revilement, offense, false impressions, false accusations, hyperbolic statements, and buffoonery.

They also believe that the scholars and thinkers of the various sects of Islam should convene scientific conferences so that they may investigate the assertions of their Ja`fariyyah Shi`ite brethren on honest, sincere, fraternal, and objective terms in order to present the evidence that supports their views, which are in accord with the Holy Qur'an, soundly based traditions of the Holy Prophet (S), judicious reasoning, historical facts, and general political and social evaluation at the time of the Holy Prophet and thereafter.