That is why the Almighty Allah started the institution of Imamate after him...

That is why the Almighty Allah started the institution of Imamate after him; which is systematic and continuous because it cannot be allowed that the heritage of the prophets and messengers, the sciences of Muhammad, his Shariat, duties, practices and commands should be destroyed or be abrogated while no messenger was to follow the Holy Prophet (S).

The Imam is not like a prophet or a messenger, and neither do they call for the Shariat of anyone except (S); that is why it is not allowed that there be a period of Fatara between two Imams. Fatara is allowed only between two messengers and not between two Imams. Hence it is obligatory that there should be an Imam who is presented along with proof.

In the same way it is necessary that if there is a period of Fatara between two messengers during that period it is necessary that there should be an Imam and successor who is the proof on the people so that he may call the people to the teachings of that messenger that has come from the Almighty Allah and that he may awaken the people from the slumber of ignorance and mentioned those things that they do not know so that they may know that Allah, the Mighty and Sublime has not left them in vain and that he has not erased their remembrance from the surface of the earth and He has not left them in any doubt with regard to their religion and He has also not left them in perplexity with regard to the duties that He has made obligatory on them.

Prophethood and messengership is the Divine practice (sunnat) while Imamate is an obligation on the Almighty Allah. Thus a sunnat can be stopped in some circumstances but the obligation cannot be over after the Messenger of Allah (S). Thus Imamate is that great duty through which recommended and obligatory duties may be established. The religion can be perfected and the bounty can be completed.

Because after the Holy Prophet (S) the series of prophethood came to an end, therefore now the Holy Imams (a.s.) are those personalities who can guide the people to the right religion. And they make the way of salvation compulsory and save them from destruction. They teach them the divine laws that they may have forgotten. They guide the people through the book of Allah to achieve guidance. It is through them that religion is protected and kept above doubts.

And falsehood does not enter the fulfillment of the obligations specified by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime and the laws of Allah shall endure forever, there shall no change in them.