Being an Adil is a condition not only for the Imam of prayers...

Being an Adil is a condition not only for the Imam of prayers; every Mu'min must be an Adil If he is not, it shows the weakness of his Iman (Faith). Q.66: HOW TO ORGANIZE A JAMA'AT WITHOUT A QUALIFIED IMAM? We are a group of a former American Sunni Muslims who have recently converted to Shi'a Ithna-'asheri faith.

What are we to do concerning electing a leader and establishing an organized Ummah, when we are told by Shias that only the 12th Imam, or a Mujtahid, or one with proper written Islamic credentials can lead a community and act as Imam of all congregational prayers?

We have read all the Qur'anic verse and sayings of our Holy Prophet commanding us to follow the leadership of Ahlul-Bait (12 Imams) for proper spiritual guidance and success, but none of the Imams (Ahlul-Bait) are here to give us guidance, to lead us, to direct us, because they have all died except Imam Mahdi. And even Imam Mahdi (a.s.) can't give us guidance because we cannot see, hear or bodily feel him since he is in seclusion.

Furthermore, we don't have access to the traditions of the 12 Imams so when it is said that the correct interpretation of the Holy Qur'an can be had only through the Ahlul-Bait "one of the 2 weighty things", "The ark of salvation", what meaning or relevant does this saying have to us in the U.S.A.? There are no Mujtahids in this country. There is no one who has credentials to be Imam in any respect according to the belief of Shias.

So, please kindly tell me what the 6 non-Arabic speaking recent converts are supposed to do as an 'ummah' to maintain a muslim Jamaat and establish a mosque under the aforementioned difficulties. Should we just give up the hope of starting an 'ummah' ourselves for religious matter?

And, lastly, should we discontinue our congregational prayers even when the Holy Prophet has emphasized the importance of, and greater blessings to be received from, prayers in Jama'at and making regular Jum'ah prayers on Friday? A. The position of our newly-converted Shi'a brethren in U.S.A.

is like that of those Muslims of Mecca who, after the Hijra of our beloved Prophet (saw.) and before the conquest of Mecca, had to suffer the atrocities of the pagans of Mecca and could not get any help from the Prophet (saw.). The community will have to remain steadfast in the way of Allah and pray to him to give them "Tawfeeq" (help) and strength to succeed in this test with full honour.