It is inconceivable that after equipping man with the urge...

It is inconceivable that after equipping man with the urge to attain perfection and bestowing on him the potentiality of ascent to lofty degree God would not lay before him the path leading there or deprive him of the guide that lie needs.

On the contrary God's infinite grace necessitates that He should demonstrate to man the path for attaining the truths of religion and assist him by placing before him a comprehensive scheme ensuring his welfare in this world and his eternal bliss in the hereafter. This comprehensive scheme embracing all dimensions of human existence is precisely what God has conveyed to mankind by means of His chosen messengers. According to the creed of monotheism none but God can rule over the created universe.

In the world of man which is but a part of the universe sovereignty must similarly belong to God. It is true that within the sphere of his acts man has freedom of choice based on the free will that has been allotted to him but in order for him to harmonize himself with the universe of which lie is a part he must act in accordance with God's commands and refrain from encroaching on His sovereignty.

If lie fails to respect the laws brought by the ( 143 ) prophets a disharmony and lack of concordance between man and the universe will arise and he will inevitably find himself deviating from his intended course.

In lust the same way that obedience to revealed law and to the Prophet who may be regarded as the quintessence of all the monotheistic movements in history is the same as obedience to God the one who wishes to rule monotheistic society as the successor of the Prophet must possess the same inner attributes of communication with God; only then will obedience to him accord with man's purposive advance.

From the time that the Messenger of God peace and blessings be upon him and his family founded the government of the righteous and prepared the way for the creation of a pure and luminous society he undertook also the educative programs he had elaborated.

However since the life of the Prophet was transitory like that of other men it was necessary that as soon as that great educator had departed a successor should come to the fore a righteous and worthy man possessing all the attributes needed to lead the Muslims who would continue the directive and educative role exercised by the Prophet in the most desirable or even ideal form.