Also that they had abundant knowledge...

Also that they had abundant knowledge, piety, and devotion to religion, so no one before or after them has such outstanding qualities. The high Position of the Imams As for the high position of the Imams and their great place with Allah, no one knew it except them. Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, talked about it in many places. The following are some of them: He, peace be on him, said: “Allah created from His magnificent light Muhammad, ‘Ali, and eleven (Imams) form his (‘Ali’s) sons.

They glorified and sanctified Allah. They were the Imams from among the grandsons of Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.[^3]” Abu al-‘Ala’ al-Ma‘arri, the wise man of al-Ma‘arra, mistrusted the people except the Imams of the Household, peace be on them, and believed in their high position. He said: And the persons whose high rank shined before the creation of Mars and Scales before the heavens were created and their bodies were ordered to move.

He, peace be on him, said: “We are the Imams of the Muslims, the proofs of Allah over mankind, the lords of the believers, the leaders of the luminous ones, and protectors of the believers. We are the safety for the people of the earth as the stars are safety for the people of heaven. With us He (Allah) prevents the heaven from falling on the earth, and with us He prevents the earth from swinging its people (from side to side).

The earth has not been void of the proof of Allah publicly acknowledged or secretly since Allah created the earth. The earth will not be void of the proof of Allah till the Hour starts.

Were it not for that, Allah would not have been worshipped.” A person rose and asked the Imam: “How can the people make use of the hidden one?” The Imam answered the person with a convincing proof, saying: “As they make use of the sun when the clouds cover it.[^4]” Yes, by Allah, the Imams of the Household were the Imams of the Muslims and the proofs of Allah over all the creatures.

Were it not for them, no worshipper would have worshipped Allah, no monotheist would have professed His unity, and no sunna of Islam would have been established. The Imams were the stored sign and the door through which the people were tested. Whoever knew and obeyed them was safe, and whoever denied and disobeyed them went astray.