Another point derived from this is that the effectiveness of...
Another point derived from this is that the effectiveness of the Imam’s morals and manners on the hearts of the believers is a sign of faith. Another thing that proves the importance of this is the emphasis with which the Holy Prophet (S) has all times shown in informing the people about the special qualities of His Eminence. So much so that he is even having precedence over the other Imams (as) in this regard.
However this is only for the fact that it is necessary for all the people to have cognition of the special characteristics of Imam Mahdi (aj). On the basis of this it is obligatory on all believers to know the Imam of the Time (aj) with his distinguishing features so that they may not be deceived by the false claimants of this holy office. In this book we have brought together all that is mentioned on this topic.
📌Readers are requested to consider each of the subtopics and the Almighty Allah will indeed guide them to the right path. Note : At the beginning of the book, we had a section regarding the obligation of recognition of the Holy Imam (as) and there it implied knowing him, along with his name and genealogy and we have explained therein that ones deeds are not accepted if not accompanied with recognition of His Eminence.
Whereas here the topic of our discussion is proving the obligatory nature of recognizing the manners and morals of the Holy Imam (as) collectively, so do not forget this subtle point. From both the views, it is obligatory to recognize our master (as) and this is amply proved through traditional reports that we have quoted so far.
In addition the following reports also prove the same: In Usool Kafi, through correct chains of narrators, it is narrated from Zurarah from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) that he said: Know your Imam as it would cause you no harm whether the matter is advanced or postponed.[^2] In the same book, through his own chain of narrators the author has narrated from Fudail bin Yasar that he said: I asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as) regarding the following verse of Qur’an: يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ..
📌(Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam. (Qur’an, Surah Isra 17:71) He said: O Fudail, know your Imam, for if you recognize your Imam properly, the advancement or postponing of this matter will cause you no harm. Because one who recognizes his Imam but he dies before the advent is having the same position as one who sat in the Imam tent; rather it is like one who sat under his banner.