Can Islamic society attain contentment and happiness without...

Can Islamic society attain contentment and happiness without divine supervision and leadership? So if there is a need for the divine, sinless leader, and Islamic society wants a divine educator, how can it be said that this matter has been ignored by Islam and that the people have been left to themselves? In short, the same philosophy which demands the appointment of the Prophet also precisely demands that God should introduce and appoint a successor through the Prophet.

The Prophet of Islam (a.s.) said in the latter part of his life: "O People, I swear before Allah that I have explained what will make you nearer to heaven and what will take you far from the Fire." With this explanation, how can it be said that the Prophet of Islam did not appoint his immediate successor? 2. Is the Qur'an not Sufficient? The Qur'an is the fundamental basis for every kind of Islamic concept.

Like a mighty rock, all the fruitful buildings of Islamic knowledge have been made steady on it. It is the clear spring from which all the streams of insight flow. The credibility and prestige of other religious foundations rest on it. But, on the basis of the proofs we shall give, one cannot be content with the Qur'an alone to solve the problems of leadership, the differences which crop up in Islamic society, or to satisfy the needs of the Muslims people.

Firstly because the Qur'an and its great and abundant contents need commentary and explanation. Since all the verses are not alike in clarity, unacquainted readers in the first moments of their journey may become lost and not take the path to their destination.

So the Prophet himself or those appointed by him who have a , spiritual link with what is beyond the external world, must be a guide in this valley also, so that they can interpret and explain the Qur'anic verses according to Allah's purpose. For if not, ordinary people will sometimes interpret incorrectly and will end up far from the truth.

The Prophet himself has said, "Anyone who interprets the Qur'an according to his own opinions will have a place in the Fire." It is recounted that a thief was brought into the presence of the Abbasid caliph Mu'tasim so that he might be punished according to the punishment prescribed in the Qur'an. The command of the Qur'an is: "Cut off the hand of a thief." But Mu'tasim did not know from where the hand should be cut. He asked his Sunni "ulama.

One of them said, "From the wrist." "From the elbow," another said. Mu'tasim was not satisfied.