I repeat the saying...

I repeat the saying: Establish the prayers, pay the charity, enjoin the good deeds, and forbid the evil deeds. Behold! The greatest case of enjoining righteous deeds is comprehending my saying, conveying it to whoever is not present, urging him to accept it, and advising him against violating it, for it is an order from Allah, the mighty and the majestic, and from me.

There is no (value or effect for) enjoining (other) recognized deeds and forbidding the detested deeds except with (the recognition of) an infallible leader1. 1 The term پginfallible leadersپh refers to the divinely appointed leaders whom Allah protected from sins.

This term, however, should not imply that they are unable to commit a sin; rather it means they voluntarily seek Allahپfs protection, and consequently Allah provides them with His shield and protection which strictly hold them back from sin. According to the Holy Quran and the traditions, whoever truly seeks Allahپfs protection, Allah shall protect him.

For instance, Allah, the mighty and the majestic, states: پgAnd whoever seeks protection (............) from Allah, he will be, indeed, guided to a straight way.پh (3:101) He also states:پgAs for those who believe in Allah and seek protection from Him, He shall soon enter them to mercy and grace from Himself, and shall guide them to him (who is) a straight way.پh (4:175) Also, پgSurely the watchful are in a secure position.پh (44:51) Moreover, پgAnd whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah, He will make for him an outlet, and will give him from whence he thinks not.

And whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him; O people! The Quran informs you that the Imams after him (i.e., Ali) are his descendants, and I have already informed you that they are of me and of him, for Allah, the mighty and the majestic, says in His Book, پgAnd He made that a Word enduring in his posterity, and I said: پgYou will never go astray so long as you adhere to both (the Quran and my family). O people! (Observe) piety! (Observe) piety!

And be wary of the Hour2 as Allah, surely Allah attains His purpose; Allah indeed has appointed a measure for everything.پh (65:2-3) 1 Chapter 43, Verse 28 of the Holy Quran. The Word in this verse has been interpreted as leader (Imam) as well as leadership (Imamate). cf. Kamal al-Din, p. 323, Hadith 8, p. 358, Hadith 57; al- Tafsir, Ali Ibn Ibrahim al-Qummi, vol. 1, p. 313; vol. 2, p. 274. See the Hadith that is quoted later in the footnotes concerning this verse.