The Holy Imams (‘a) drew the attention of their followers to...

The Holy Imams (‘a) drew the attention of their followers to the following aspects: (1) Islam, the substance and goals of its message The essential feature identifying the virtuous community was propagating the concepts and terms of the Holy Qur'an and presenting its spiritual and moral content together with the goals of its message.

This stems from the fact that the (‘a) wanted the virtuous community to live within the Muslim community as part of it, undertaking responsibility, having an effect on it, and leaving no stone unturned to achieve the objectives of the system of the virtuous community. Moreover, the (‘a) wanted the individuals of the virtuous community to act as good and righteous examples for the Muslim nation.

(2) Historical Roots and Past Divine Messages The (‘a) confirmed the fact that the existence of the virtuous community was not accidental in the history of Islam being created by exceptional political circumstances which led to depriving the (‘a) of the leadership of the Islamic government; rather, the virtuous community is a group that from its roots is an extension and goal of past divine messages, exactly like Islam which, as a religion, aspired to confirm its historical roots by verifying all past divine messages and connecting with the call of Prophet Abraham (‘a).

(3) Loyalty to the (‘a) The (‘a) built up in their followers profound loyalty, which included love, support, commitment, covenant, and affiliation to them politically, intellectually and in conduct, which was a distinctive feature differentiating them from other sects and groups. They also instructed their followers to undertake the responsibilities of this affiliation and to patiently bear difficulties.

Such superlative loyalty is necessary because the (‘a) represent the natural extension of the sealing of prophethood (through the (S)), the survival of the divinely commissioned leadership (of the Holy Imams (‘a)), and the vicegerency of Almighty Allah on earth. They also represent the original line of Islam, which corresponds with the actual understanding of Islam and its sciences, as well as the actual revelation and interpretation of the Holy Qur'an.

(4) Human Nature, Social Dignity, Respect and Honor The (‘a) taught their followers that harmony with human nature, nobility in conduct and fear of God are the criterion of dignity, success and superiority in worldly life and in the sight of Almighty Allah, Who grants elevated ranks to whom He wishes.