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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Uyun Akhbar Ar-Ridha Volume 2 Chapter 46: On What has been Narrated by Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) Regarding the Proofs for the Divine Leaders (a.s.), and the Rejection of the Boasters and Those who Believe in God Turning Over the Affairs - May God Damn Them 46-1 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Al-Jahm, “One day I attended a meeting with Al-Ma’mun and Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was also present there.
The theologians and rhetoricians from various sects had gathered there. One of them asked the Imam (a.s.), “O son of the Prophet of God!
What is the proof of Divine Leadership which proves the validity of one who claims it?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Divine Leadership of one who claims it is proved) by what has been written and by the proofs.” The man asked, “What is the proof of a Divine Leader?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is knowledge and the fulfillment of our prayers.” The man asked, “How can you tell what is going to happen in the future?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is due to the Trusted Covenant which we have inherited from God’s Prophet (S).[^1]” The man asked, “How do you become aware of the people’s secret intentions?” The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Have you not been told about the saying of the Messenger (a.s.)?: ‘Fear the insight of the believer since he looks through a God-given light.’” The man replied, “Yes.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “All believers have an insight with which they look through a God-given light according to the degree of their faith, insight and knowledge.
God has given us - the Divine Leaders - as much insight as He has bestowed upon all the believers. And in His Mighty Book, the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘ Behold! In this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand.’ [^2] And the first of ‘those who by tokens do understand’ was God’s Prophet (S). Then the next one after him (a.s.) was Ali - the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.).