The Quran says in the chapter ‘Women’...

The Quran says in the chapter ‘Women’: “If they had referred it to the Messenger and to those in authority among them, those of them whose task it was investigate would have known the mailer.” (4:85) Of course, its interpretation requires a separate chapter. But at a cursory view we come to know that the term, ‘those in authority’ purports to the Imams, immune of sins. The Prophet had often said that the Quran was with them, and they with the Quran are inseparable from earth other.

In this respect readers may refer to the traditions ‘Taqalain’, ‘Safeena’, and ‘Imam’ and several other ones. In another tradition the Prophet says: “In every generation to come out of my nation, there are just people alongside the members of my House, who cleanse the religion from deviation of the arrogant and wrong of the wrong doers.” History of Leadership and Caliphate This issue has always been much in attention.

The prophet hood was still in its start and the Revelations had started coming down, this issue too made its appearance as a matter of no less magnitude. There is a story of a man who approached the Prophet and told him that he would embrace his faith on one condition and that was that he becomes leader after the Prophet (S). The Prophet (S) rejected the man.

In the meantime, it is true that in the current of some great events of historical significance the religions view of Shi’ism sometimes used to palpitate and sometimes the Islamic rays have had so glared through the prism that its reflection has astonished the viewers and captured their attention. It is a historical fact that governments came to power, which were quite incompetent and not fit for the leadership.

Although bad they were imposed on the people because they facilitated the ground which became easily accessible for the leadership. Leadership thus obtained their rule over the people. People were helpless. They could do nothing beyond disdaining and cursing them. The governments in spite of the power could not rule over the dominion of hearts. In the lifetime of the Prophet (S) nobody dared to show his true identity. As there was no opposition openly, the underground movements took root.

What they could not accept was the leadership of Ali (as), announced many times and again by the Prophet. Secret plots were concocted. The Prophet himself was to be assassinated. After the death of the Prophet (S) what was underground became open.