That Divine selection is made known to the ummah through the...

That Divine selection is made known to the ummah through the prophet or the preceding Imam. This declaration is called nass (specification; determination; designation of the succeeding Imam by the prophet or preceding Imam). An Imam according to Shi'ite belief, must be mansus min Allah , i.e., designated by Allah for that status. E. Miracles If one has not heard nass about a claimant of Imamate , then the only way of ascertaining the truth is through a miracle ( mu'jizah ).

[^5] Generally speaking any man may claim that he is an Imam or a prophet's caliph and infallible, but a miracle is the only…