The Importance of the Choice of the Right Imam According to...

The Importance of the Choice of the Right Imam According to the declaration of the Holy Qur’an every individual man and woman, is individually charged with the responsibility of choosing an 'Imam' or guide for himself or herself in this life for it has been clearly announced that every people will be called on the Day of Judgment along with his or her 'Imam' : “On the day (of Resurrection) We shall call every people witht their (respective) 'Imam' (Guide).” (17:71) Confirming the above announcement and warning mankind particularly the Muslims against any failure in this regard, the Holy Prophet had said: “ He who died and did not know the Imam of his age, had died the death of ignorance.” The above apostolic saying, besides giving out the importance of the significance of knowing by every one, the 'Imam' of his age, discloses the fact that in every age there will be an 'Imam' and no age until the end of the world can be without an 'Imam' in it.

Every Individual Responsible for His Own Choice Having shown man the right course and giving a additional guiding notes directing him to the right path, man has been left to be gratefully guided aright or ungratefully get astray, rejecting all the divine guidance: “Verily We have shown man the Way, be he thankful or be he unthankful.” (76:3) Since the truth has been made clearly manifest against false-hood, it has been declared that there shall be no compulsion in faith:- “There is no compulsion in religion; the right way has been made clearly manifest from the error.” (2:256) Man has also been repeatedly warned against the unwarranted undertaking by the false leaders of the faith, to bear the burden of the sins of their followers: “No bearer shall bear the burden of the other.” (2:48, 6:165, 36:18, 39:7, 53:38) Every individual has bcen warned that the least vice will be punished and the least virtue will be rewarded:- “So he who doeth an atom weight of good shall see it.And he who doeth an atom weight of evil shall see it.” (99:7, 8) The Door of Pardon for Sincere Repentance open Having harnessed the brute or the self in man with the heavy responsibilities, and the individual accounting for the choice of the right course and faithfully following it, the All- Merciful let the door of His Merciful Pardon, open for those who sincerely repent and amend their mistaken conduct: “Say (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad!) O’ My servants who have been prodigal to their own selves, despair ye not of the mercy of God.