الأفلاك » “If you were not there, I would not have created the universe.

الأفلاك » “If you were not there, I would not have created the universe.”8 Allah the Almighty created Hazrat Adam (a.s.), the father of humanity, as a role model from all aspects and ordered the others to emulate him and strive to be like him. But as time passed, and other human beings tread on the face of the earth, they failed to emulate their role model, as was expected of them for the fulfillment of the divine promise, and much to the disappointment of the righteous.

Yet, Allah the Benevolent, by sending the other Prophets (peace be on them) to them, indicates that the appointment of His Caliph on the earth is not rendered null and void. Rather, He would send more such people on the earth, who would not only be like His first Caliph, but more perfect. Some are of the opinion that such verses are only for the gradual finalization of Allah’s Promise.

Hence, in the Holy Quran, first He says, .« إني جاعل في الأرض خليفه » “Surely I am going to appoint a Caliph in the earth” and thereafter the Prophets (peace be on them) reminded the people. And when the series of Prophethood reached to Hazrat Dawood (a.s.) and Hazrat Sulayman (a.s.), Allah says, .« و. لَقد كَتبنا في الزّبورِ من بعدِ الذّكر أنُّ الأرض ي.رِثُها عِبادي.

الص.الحونُ » “Surely I have written in the Psalms after the Old Testament that surely the earth, My righteous servants shall inherit it.”9 To understand the above verses in their right context and comprehend their relevance, let me cite an example. You loosen the nuts and bolts of this taperecorder, dismantle it completely, mix it with some additional screws that do not belong to it and tell somebody to assemble it once again in the desired order.

Now, if somebody like me, who is totally ignorant about its technicalities, takes it in his hand, he will never manage to sort out its nuts and bolts with the additional screws or assemble it. But if it is given to somebody who is an expert in this field, immediately, he will get on with the task of separating its nuts and 8 Behaarul Anwaar, vol. 15, p. 28 bolts with the additional screws and within no time, he will assemble it and hand it over back to you.

Similarly, the Quranic verses concerning Imamat and Qaemiyyat are as scattered as the parts of the tape recorder in the above example. As we are unacquainted with Allah’s Book, we do not know as to which verse talks about Imam-e- Zaman (a.t.f.s.).