ভূমিকা

But the end of Divine guidance does not mean the end of Divine leadership also. The same notes say that Imamat and Prophethood are two different assignments and two different states. They are often separable. Many Prophets only conveyed revelations. They were not the Imams. Similarly the Imams of the Prophet's House have not been the Prophets. Anyhow, Ibrahim and Muhammad were the Prophets and the Imams both (Peace be upon them).

The Qur'an says: "I am going to Make you Imam for the people." (Surah al Baqarah 2:124 ) Our contention that Prophethood is guidance and Imamat is leadership has been derived from the Quran, which says: "The Messenger has only to convey the message of Allah." (Surah al Maidah 5:99) But we know that the duty of an Imam is to supervise, to lead and to take care of those who accept his leadership. According to the Shi'ah belief, as Prophethood is conferred by Allah, Imamat is also granted by Him.

In this respect there is no difference between Prophethood and Imamat. The distinguished Prophets have been guides as well as leaders. The end of Prophethood means the end of Divine guidance in the sense of showing the way and delivering the message, but Divine leadership or Imamat shall never come to an end. Difference between Guidance and Leadership According to one definition the leader is he who makes it easy for his followers to achieve the required goal.

The guide on the other hand not only shows the way, but also often provides the means of traversing it and reaching the goal. As a matter of fact a person may hold simultaneously both the assignments of a guide and a leader, or may hold only one of them. As we have already said, Prophethood is a sort of guidance and Imamat is a sort of leadership. It is possible that one person may be both a guide and a leader.

It is also possible that someone may be only a guide and not a leader like all our genuine preachers.