Then in a lower grade the obedience belongs to God's Messenger...

Then in a lower grade the obedience belongs to God's Messenger, whom God has charged him to authourity and responsibility, and he can settle the affairs of people through God's inspiration. Then in the lower and the third step, man is to obey his ULI-L-AMR who is the truthful leader and the righteous Imam.

As for their differences; Muslims have to refer to Allah, whose [ 541 ] BOOK which is the Holy Qura"n is among them and they may also refer to Allah's Messenger whose conduct and methodical way is well known to them.

WHO ARE THE VALI-L-AMR All the Shiite commentators, unanimously, understand VALI-L-AMR to mean the righteous Imams, who are all innocent and infallible, and are chosen by Allah through His Messenger for the leadership of Muslims, and for the settlement of their sacred and secular affairs. And also those who are authorized for various positions by the righteous Imams are to be obeyed, but on conditions.

There has been an extensive dispute and hot arguments about the question, that who are the VALI-L-AMR among different sects and schools in Islamic world which makes many voluminous books, and yet the dispute and variance still exists!

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّـغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَن يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَـلا بَعِيداً(( 60 )) 60- HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY HAVE BELIEVED ON THAT WHICH HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU, AND ON WHAT HAS BEEN SENT BEFORE YOU, THEY WANT TO RESORT TO DEVIL (FALSE GOD AND IDOLATERS) FOR JUDGEMENT, WHILE THEY ARE ORDERED TO DISBELIEVE IN THEM,AND SATAN WANTS TO LEAD THEM ASTRAY INTO FAR ERROR.

[ 542 ] THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO.60) The immediate reference was to one of the hypocrites who had a difference and dispute with a Jew. The Jew asked to refer the case to Mohammad (AS) for judgement, but the hypocrite who pretended to be a Muslim, disagreed with the prophet's judgement, and preferred KAAB- IBN- ASHRAF a chief Jew, hostile to the apostle; for that purpose! Then to this effect the verse was sent down.

THE GOVERNORSHIP OF DEVIL This is a complementary to the last verse. Therein, man was enjoined to obey God and his Messenger, and here, he is warned to avoid evil and hypocrisy. Though revealed for the especial case mentioned above, but the words are general, because hypocrisy always and in all ages will exist.

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