ভূমিকা

We are those beautiful names as the Almighty Allah does not accept any deed of the people except through our identification and recognition.”[^1] We say: Perhaps the Imams are compared to the ‘beautiful names’ because they are the proof and guidance of the people towards Allah and they are the signs of divine power and might just as the name is a means of identifying the person to whom it belongs; Allah knows best.

In a reliable report from Abdus Salih, His Eminence, Imam Moosa bin Ja’far (as) is reported to have said: “Verily, the Proof is not established by Allah on His creatures except through an Imam who is recognized.”[^2] I say: His Eminence intends to highlight the necessity of establishment of proof by Allah and the recognition of Allah is not possible except through the existence of the Imam (as).

Therefore it is incumbent on the people to recognize the Imam and his appointment is necessary for Allah. In an authentic report is mentioned a sermon of His Eminence, Abu Abdillah Sadiq (as) wherein he is describing the qualities of the Imams (as). In that sermon it is mentioned: “Verily, Allah to Whom belong Might and Majesty, has unveiled His religion through the Imams of right guidance of the Ahlul Bayt of our Prophet (s.a.w.s.), and has made clear through them the direction of His path.

He has opened through them the innermost part of the springs of His knowledge. Thus, whoever among the community of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) has recognized the rights of his Imam which are obligatory has found the taste of sweetness of his faith and has known the superiority of the goodliness of his Islam, since Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime, has set up the Imam as a sign for His creatures and has made him a Proof for those who receive his provisions and those of his time.