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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Hidden Truth about Karbala Chapter 10: The Caliphate The Prophet (S) was the religious as well as the temporal leader of the Ummah.

The Qur’an quotes with approval instances of such combination of religious and temporal authority in a single individual, namely the Divinely appointed Prophets.[^1] Since the office of Prophethood ended with Muhammad (S), both the temporal as well as religious authority ought to have remained with his successor, because the administration of the affairs of the Ummah depended upon the interpretation of the Qur’anic Injunctions in the light of the Prophet’s traditions*.* The Prophet’s successor should have to be, per force, a person who not only is an able administrator but also a person well versed in the interpretation of the Qur’an in order to administer the Divine Laws as interpreted by the Prophet (S).

In the Qur’an, such persons are called the ‘ Imams ’. The Qur’an reveals that the ‘ Imams ’ are the sole authority under whom, on the Day of Resurrection, each group will be collected and called forth.[^2] Guidance of humankind in accordance with the Divine Commands is the responsibility of the infallible Imam (a.s.).

The Qur’an reveals, “ We have appointed them Imams in order that they might guide in accordance with Our Commands .”[^3] At another place, the Qur’an reveals that the reason why they were chosen as Imams is their unshakable faith and Divinely endowed Wisdom to enable them to guide mankind:“ We have chosen from among them Imams who at Our Command shall guide men to the right path, for they are patient and steadfast and have certain [definite] knowledge of Our signs .”[^4] Since the Imams are successors to the Prophets, their station is achieved only after the individual has already attained all the high ranks.

Thus, Abraham, already a Prophet holding the special status of a ‘friend’ [ Khaleel ] was conferred the ultimate honorific title of ‘ Imam ’ . The sixth Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “ Before appointing Ibrahim as the Prophet, God the Almighty appointed him as his devout servant. Before ennobling him with His friendship, He bestowed on him the rank of Messengerhood. Before granting him the rank of Imamate, He made him His sincere and devoted friend [Khaleel].

It was, therefore, after Ibrahim had attained a whole series of high ranks that he was bestowed the honor of ‘Imamate’.