But some friends like Kathir were particularly sensitive to...

But some friends like Kathir were particularly sensitive to using such concepts as the Imam-ul-Huda (Guiding Imam) for the Caliphs. This is why he insists that he did not use the term "Guiding Imam" for Abdul Malik, which demonstrates the extreme interest of the Caliph in being called the Guiding Imam. The insistence on and interest of the caliphs in being called the Guiding Imam was more than ever observed during the Abbasside era.

Marwan ibn Abi Hafaseh Omavi' was an eulogizer and a mercenary poet of the Umayyad and Abbasside courts. Surprisingly, he was a court poet during the Umayyad and became a court poet when the Abbasside came to power! Since he was a renowned and well-versed poet, the rulers used to buy him by offering good money to him.

Whenever he eulogized the Abbasside, he did not confine himself to the expression of their courage, generosity, and other characteristics, rather he used to attribute their lineage to the holy Prophet (S) to acknowledge their desired positions and statuses! The following is one of his poems: "How is it possible that the ones who are maternal descendents of someone, inherit His uncles' inheritance?" It means that: "the uncle of the holy Prophet (S), Abbas, has a definite inheritance.

Why do the descendents of the holy prophet (the infallible Imams), who are the sons of His daughter Hazrat Fatima (sa)', want to inherit that inheritance of Abbas (i.e. Abbaside caliphate)?" Just see, the bone of contention is the Caliphate; it is a real cultural and political war.

In response, the renowned Shiite poet, Ja'far ibn Affan Tai, says: "A daughter inherits half of the father's wealth in Islam, but an uncle does not inherit anything from the wealth of one who has a daughter; hence you do not have any inheritance to claim!" These were only few examples about the sensitivity of the infallible Imams to any claim on the Imamate. [^1]: Usul Kafi, Vol. 1, P. 193 [^2]: Bihar-ul-Anwar, Vol. 48, P. 239, Tradition 48 [^3]: See Bihar-ul-Anwar Vol.46, P.