It is rather that the possessor of inerrancy while having...

It is rather that the possessor of inerrancy while having freedom to choose and to act is prevented by his awareness of the majesty and constant presence of God from approaching the sphere of sin. He has had such success in establishing the dominion of piety over his soul that he cannot even conceive of sin in the purified sanctuary of his mind so that the possibility of his actually committing a sin is reduced to zero.

Generally speaking the commission of any undesirable act is the result of not knowing how ugly the act is and how harmful its consequences are. Even if one is aware to a certain extent of the ugliness of the act and his faith seeks to warn him and alert him to the danger he is overpowered by his desires and loses all self-control and is drawn to impurity and sin.

It is only attention to the damaging consequences of one's deeds the restraining force of piety and a powerful sense of obedience toward divine law that create a certain immunity in man; there will then be no need for any other means of restraint and control. Muhammad b. Abi 'Umayr says: "I asked Hisham the celebrated pupil of Imam Ja'far al-S adi q peace be upon him whether the Imam possessed the quality of inerrancy. He answered that he did and I then asked him to explain inerrancy to me.

"He said: 'Several things lie at the origin of rebellion and sin greed envy lust anger and so forth - and not one of ( 167 ) these can penetrate the being of the Imam. How might he be greedy considering that he has everything at his disposal including even the treasury of the Muslims? How might he be envious for only he who is aware of a station higher than his own can be envious and no station higher than the Imamate can be conceived?

As for anger it is impossible that the Imam be angered by any worldly concern for God has entrusted to him the implementation of His laws. But in connection with anything touching on the hereafter anger in not at all undesirable.

The Imam will never fall prey to lust for he is well aware that the pleasures and desirable things of this world are transitory and valueless when compared to the reward that God shall bestow on His worshippers on the Day of Resurrection." ( 1 ) People will submit fully to the requirements of religious duty in response to the summons of their leader and unquestioningly accept his commands and instructions when they regard all his orders as being the command of God without having doubt on the matter.