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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Commander of Faithful Imam Ali (a.s) Publisher's Word "…ALLAH ONLY DESIRES TO KEEP AWAY FROM YOU UNCLEANNESS, O PEOPLE OF THE HOUSE,…" Holy Qur'an (33:33) "And We desired to bestow a favor on those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them Imams, and to make them the heirs," Holy Qur'an (28:5) All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, Who sent His Prophet, Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Mustafa (s.a.w.), as a Mercy to the Worlds.

Praise be to Allah, the Most Generous, Who also gave to mankind, the Guides, who would continue to keep us on the Straight Path after the death of the Seal of the Prophets (s.a.w.). This idea of guidance is called Imamate, and without adherence to it, one has no hope to gain Divine Satisfaction for any of his prayers or deeds in this world, and no reward in the hereafter. Why is Imamate so important that if we do not believe in the Guides and follow them we cannot hope for life after death?

Imam Ali (a.s.) is referred to in the Holy Qur'an many times. All of these references are positive, praising, and respectful. How could it be that the final word of Allah, Almighty, praises this Imam, and yet for centuries he was cursed on the minbars of the mosques throughout the Muslim empire? The answer to these questions can be found by any sincere researcher with an open heart who earnestly wishes to know.

As for the Muslims, they have been misguided to the point that only through Allah's intervention can they throw off their useless and evil alliances and affiliations of the past which will only lead them to a place where repentance will do them no good. May Allah, for the sake of His Prophets and Imams, bring them out of the darkness they have fallen into because of treachery, ignorance, greed, jealousy and pride.

This book, which you now hold in your hands, is such a small and weak attempt to explain the person of Amir al- Mu'minin Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) that only volumes of work could begin to do him justice. And the whole question surrounding this great man is grounded in exactly that one word "Justice". A note of importance is the difference in the meanings of Imam and Caliph.

The Imams refer exclusively to Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) and his sons Imam Hasan and Imam Hussein (a.s.) and the nine sons descended from Imam Hussein (a.s.). They were chosen by Allah, the Almighty and were not selected by the people.