The search for an interiorized individual religion...

The search for an interiorized individual religion, spiritual effort through the strength of walaya, “Knowledge,” and “Certitude” in the hope of establishing “contact” with the hidden imam were practiced by very few, often persecuted groups. Political ambition and power, defined by the imams -asws as being destroyers of the “true Religion,” were from then on presented as guarantees of its just application.

The religious “system” worked out by the Safavids succeeded in putting into place a “process of substitution”: the jurist-theologian took the place of the imam; 723 principles of jurisprudence replaced the teachings of the imams; walaya, love/submission/fidelity-that all initiates owe to their initiating Master-was transformed into taqlid , servile imitation of the all-powerful jurist; love for the imams was transformed into a morbid, dolorous cult whose violent group demonstrations were approved and perhaps even encouraged by clerical authority; an official, institutionalized clergy replaced the “invisible companions” of the Awaited imam -asws .

This process took place in a specific direction: its aim was to drag Imamism into the political arena, apply it on the collective level and crystallize it as an ideology. 724 [1] Sulaim bin Qais Hilali, pp.60. [2] Amir-ul-momaneen a.s. says, ‘Eemaan’ is believing in from heart, iterating it from the tongue and demonstrating it through acts of worship, Nahjul Balagha. [3] Just and Divine path. [4] Divine right to guide in both worldly as well as religious affairs.

[5] Divine authority [6] Followers of the successful sect. [7] Tauwaqqaf [8] Who would enter into paradise [9] Religion. [10] After Hijjra-Islamic calendar, [11] Knowledge about the reliability of those men who are in the chain of tradition narrators. [12] analyses [13] Abu Hamza narrates from Imam Mohammed Baqir a.s. that Imam a.s. said, ‘Only that would worship Allah swt who acquires His swt.

recognition (Marafat) but the one who does not recognise Allah swt , only humiliates himself while worshiping. I asked, what is the recognition of Allah swt ? Imam as replied, ‘Marafat’ of Allah swt is to substantiate Him and His Prophet as , love of Imam Ali as and acceptance of his master-ship (Immamat) along with guardianship of other (masoom) Imams as ’ as well as rejection of their enemies. That’s how one gets to recognise Allah swt . (Usool-e-Kafi, vol. 2, Kitabul-Hujjat, tradition 1, pp.