That is...

That is, they don’t believe that anybody can possess the conditions of Prophethood, receive revelation from Allah and claim Prophethood among the people. Rather, they believe Prophethood to be person-oriented and consider the appointment of a Prophet as a prerogative of Allah and deem a Prophet to be from the side of Allah. But in the case of Wilayat, Imamate and leadership of the Ummah, most of the Sunnis and some of the Sufis (Gnostics) reckon it to be position oriented.

They opine that anybody can attain the status of Imamate and leadership through worship, self-development and treading the path of gnosticism. Thereafter, he has some effect in the world of creation and is effectual in it and also takes control of the reins of the people in his hand, particularly those who tread the path of Sufism, and becomes their pivot, guide and master.

They regard the door of Wilayat as open for anybody and think that he who has the capacity of treading the path of Sufism (Sair-o-Suluk) under the guidance of a pivot (qutb) can reach to this venerable position. Often, they use the term Wilayah for Imamate, and like the former, they consider Imamate as an attainable position for the students of their schools. Hasan Askari (a.s.), then wittingly or unwittingly, they subscribe to the theory of longevity.

Traditions Concerning Longevity of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.) We have numerous traditions from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as well as the infallible Imams (a.s.) regarding the longevity of Imam-e-Zaman (a.t.f.s.). In these quotes, just as the Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.) and his successors (a.s.) have talked about occultation itself, its peculiarities, etc., they have spoken about longevity as well.

For instance, .« إنُّ لِقائم منّا غيبه يطول امد.ها » “Surely for the Qaem among us, there is an occultation, the duration of which will be long.61” This tradition is from Imam Sadeq (a.s.). In another quote, Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.), the fourth Imam, says, “In Hazrat Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), there are a few characteristics of the previous prophets.

Among them is longevity, which was available in Hazrat Adam (a.s.) and Hazrat Nuh (a.s.)62.” The aforementioned statement is found frequently in the traditions of the Messenger of Islam (s.a.w.a.) and the infallible Imams (a.s.).