And He taught Adam all the names (or things) and then He...

And He taught Adam all the names (or things) and then He presented them to the angels. He said: Tell me the names of these if you are truthful. They answered: May You be praised, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the One Who knows and the Wise. Then He said: Adam, tell them their names.

When he had told them their names, He said to them: Have I not told you that I know the unseen in the heavens and the earth and I know what you are showing and what you are keeping hidden "(II 31-33). God, the Exalted, informed the angels that Adam was more entitled to the vice-regency (khilafa) than they were because He had informed him of the names and he was the most excellent of them in knowledge of things informed (to him).

He, may His names be hallowed, (also) said in the story of Talut:" Their prophet said to them: God has sent Talut to you as a king. They asked: Shall he have (the right of) kingship over us while we are more entitled to kingship than he is? He has not brought any extent of wealth. He replied: God has chosen him to be over you and has increased him extensively in knowledge and substance. God bestows His kingship on whom He wishes. God is (all) embracing and One Who knows "(II 247).

Thus (God) made the manner of his right to precedence over them,, by virtue of what He granted him in the scope of his knowledge and substance, and His having chosen him above all of them. These verses are in agreement with rational evidence that the one who is more knowledgeable has more right in the area of the Imamate than those who do not equal him in knowledge.

Thus they also give evidence for the necessity of the precedence of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, over all the rest of the Muslims in the succession (khilafa) of the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, and in the Imamate of the community because of his precedence, peace be on him, over them in knowledge and wisdom and their falling short of his rank in that.