Allah Himself appointed Prophet Dawud (as) as caliph on the earth- " O Dawud !

Allah Himself appointed Prophet Dawud (as) as caliph on the earth- " O Dawud ! Verily; We have made thee (Our) caliph on the earth ... " (38:26) In every case Allah attributes the appointment of the caliph or the Imam exclusively to Himself. Likewise, the call went to Prophet Ibrahim (as): (Allah) said: "Surely I am going to make you an Imam for men." (Ibrahim) said: "And of my offspring?" He said: "My covenant will not include the unjust.

" (2 : 124) This verse leads us to the correct answers of many important questions concerning Imamate . a. Allah said: " Surely I am going to make you an Imam for men. " This shows that Imamate is a divinely-appointed status; it is beyond the jurisdiction of the ummah . b. " My covenant will not include the unjust. " This clearly says that a non- ma'sum cannot be an Imam.

Logically, we may divide mankind into four groups: Those who remain unjust throughout their lives; those who are never unjust; those who are unjust early in their lives but later become just; and those who are just early in their lives but later become unjust. Ibrahim (as) had too high a position to request Imamate for the first or the fourth group. This leaves two groups (the second and the third) which could be included in the prayer. However, Allah rejects one of them; i.

📌e., those who are unjust early in their lives but later become just. Now there remains only one group which can qualify for Imamate -those who are never unjust throughout their lives, i.e., ma'sum . c. The literal translation of the last sentence is as follows: My covenant will not reach the unjust . Note that Allah did not say, the unjust will not reach My covenant, because it would have implied that it was within the power of man-albeit a just one-to attain the status of Imamate .

The present sentence does not leave room for any such misunderstanding; it cleary shows that receiving Imamate is not within human jurisdiction; it is exclusively in the hands of Allah and He gives it to whom He pleases. Then as a general rule, it is stated: And We made them Imams who were to guide by Our command ... (21:73) When Prophet Musa (as) wanted a vizier to help him with his responsibilities, he did not appoint someone by his own authority.

He prayed to Allah: "And make for me a vizier from my family, Harun (Aaron) my brother" (20:29-30). And Allah said: " You are indeed granted your petition, O Musa! " ( ibid. , 36).

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