Hesham...

Hesham: So, from what you have said, do you want me to understand that God Almighty has created and designed the mind to guide the organs and remove doubts. Amr: Yes! It is so. Hesham: So the mind is a necessity, otherwise the organs could not work independently. Amr: Yes. Hesham: Please Sir! Proclaim your opinion with fairness and justice on this point also.

If Almighty has not left the organs of man's body without the guidance of the mind, how is it possible that Almighty God could leave millions of His creatures without an IMAM to guide and solve their problems arising out of doubts and conflicts? Should not our common sense accept this fact? On hearing this logic argument. and having no answer to give, Amr Bin Ubeid kept silent and went into deep thinking.

Hesham was a deeply learned person and one of the closest companions of Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a) from whom he had obtained his knowledge. 'IMAM' is an Arabic word which literally means 'Leader' or 'Guide'. Any leader or guide can be good or bad, true or false. Therefore, it is essential for every Muslim to know what makes and who is a true and good Imam.

The Holy Prophet has said: “If a man dies without recognising the Imam of his time, he dies the death of ignorance.” It is of utmost importance that the Imam must be appointed by a Prophet under the command of God, nobody can be an Imam either by claiming to be so, by inheritance or by the wealth or power which he may have. It is essential that an Imam possess certain characteristics and qualities so that a clear distinction can be made between a true and false Imam.

Some of these are as under: An Imam must be free from every defect - Physical as well as Mental; He must be born of legal Marriage; He must be Ma'sum (Infallible-Sinless) like the Prophet - from birth to death; He must possess all knowledge and be the wisest of all human beings of his time; He must know all the languages including those of animals also; He must be able to perform miracles; He must be bold, brave and most courageous; He should be most generous and be able to help needy and weak persons.

In short, an Imam is the Holiest, most Pious of all - after the Holy (S) Previous…