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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al Kafi (volume 4)(part 2) Chapter 86 : the Case of Those Who Would Accept the Religion of Allah But Without Accepting the Imam, Leader With Divine Authority H 970, Ch. 86, H 1 A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad (from) ibn abu Nasr from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following. "The words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, "Who strays more than one who follows his desires without guidance from God?. . .

"(28:50) The Imam (a.s.), "It refers to those who take their own opinions as their religion without an Imam from the Imams of guidance (Leadership with Divine Authority)." H 971, Ch. 86, h 2 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-'Ala' ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following.

"I heard abu Ja'far (a.s.) say, 'Whoever follows the religion of Allah worshipping assiduously without an Imam, Leader with Divine Authority his toil will not be acceptable. In fact, he is lost and confused and Allah disdains his deeds. Such person's case and example is like a sheep that has lost the shepherd and the flock that runs back and forth the whole day. As the night would fall that sheep would see a flock of sheep with a shepherd.

The (lost) sheep would then join the flock affectionately that in fact is only a deception. The sheep would pass the night in their shelter but when the shepherd would lead the flock to the pasture the lost sheep would feel lost and away from the flock and the shepherd,. thus, run back and forth in search of the flock and the shepherd. Then it would find a flock of sheep with a shepherd and affectionately join them but, in fact, suffer a deception.

This shepherd would shout at the lost sheep saying, "Go and find your own flock and shepherd you are lost, confused and without a flock and shepherd. The lost sheep then would run back and forth in confusion, fear and frustration without a shepherd to guide to the pasture and to the shelter. While the lost sheep is in such confusion a wolf would seize the opportunity and would kill the lost sheep for food.

Thus, by Allah, O Muhammad is the case of a person from this 'Umma (nation) who would live without an Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, who is clearly supported with evidence and is just in his dealings.