The Prophet...

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, compared them to Allah’s Holy Book, falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it, and regarded them as life-ships and security for mankind. Of [^1] Muhammed ‘Abda, Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, vol. 2, p. 19. [^2] Qur’an, 1, 124. course, such great care of them resulted from nothing except their importance and that they were unique in man’s history.

Imam Ali, the Commander of the faithful, has talked about their noble qualities and their high tendencies, saying: “They are life for knowledge and death for ignorance. Their forbearance tells you of their knowledge, and their silence tells you of the wisdom of their speaking. They do not go against right nor do they differ (among themselves) over it. They are the pillars of Islam and the asylums of (its) protection.

With them right has returned to its position and wrong has left its place and its tongue has been severed from its root. They have understood the religion attentively and carefully, not by mere heresy or from relaters, because the relaters of knowledge are many but those who understand it are few.”[^1] In addition to these abilities and talents they had, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, singled them out for the caliphate, for they were worthier of it than others.

Traditions ensured by many ways of transmission have been reported from him in this respect. An example is his saying: “This religion is still standing until the Hour (the Day of Resurrection) comes. There will be over them (Muslims) twelve caliphs.

All of them are from Quraysh.” He, may Allah bless him and his family, has also said: “There will be after me twelve commanders (emirs).” And he has said: “All of them are from Quraysh.” Traditions similar to these have frankly indicated that the caliphate is limited to them, that they are life-ships for the community and that they guide it to good and lead it to the Garden.

An example of the twelve pure Imams the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, had appointed as successors after him and entrusted with propagating his message is Imam al-Hasan, has darling and elder grandson. He installed him as an Imam over his community.

He has said concerning him and his brother (al-Husayn): “Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are two Imams, whether they rise or sit down.” After ‘Imam Ali had been struck with the sword by Abdurrahman bin Muljim, he appointed al-Hasan as the Imam after him.