Imamat
71 sayings · page 1 of 2
Awaiting betterment (in life), is servitude to God if coupled with patience.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 253; Page No. 41 link
Whoever dies without having an Imam has died a pagan [pre-Islamic] death.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 464; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 536 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
It is the duty of an Imam to rule in accordance with what Allah has revealed, and that he delivers what he has been entrusted with. If he does that, then it is the duty of the people to listen to him and to obey him and to hearken [to his call] when they are called.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 14313; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 540 link
There is no obedience due to one who disobeys Allah.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 14872; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 543 link
Verily the number of successors after me is as the number of chiefs of Moses.
Kanz al-`Ummal, no. 14971; Mizan ul Hikmah page No. 549 link
If nothing remains save one single day from the life in this world, God will prolong it so much that a man from my household will rise to fill the earth with equity just as it was filled with injustice and enormity- a man whose name and whose father's are respectively mine and my father's.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 1002; Page No. 141 link
The narrator asked Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.), "What is the meaning of this verse: 'Who is it that will offer of Allah a goodly gift, so He will multiply it to him manifold'?" [ Surah Baqarah 2:245] Imam (a.s.) replied, "It implies doing good to an Imam." The narrator says that his father too heard such a tradition from Imam (a.s.).
Sawab al-A`amal, Page 140 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
None can uphold the command of Allah, Glory be to Him, save one who is neither neglectful [in carrying out his duties], nor runs after his personal gains, nor follows coveted desires.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 18, p. 22 and p. 274; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 538 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Among the definitions of the custodianship of an Imam whose obedience is obligatory is to know that he is immune from committing mistakes, errors, intentional wrongs, and from all sins, petty and grave. He never makes mistakes or sin, and neither is he ever diverted from the issues that endanger the religion by any sort of diversion. He is the most knowledgeable of all people about what Allah has made lawful and unlawful, His obligations, recommendations and rulings. He stands needless of the entire world whilst they all need him. And he is the most generous and courageous of men.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 68, p. 389, no. 39; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 538 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
You certainly know that he who is in charge of the honor, the lives, the booty [enforcement of], the commandments and the leadership of the Muslims must not be: a miser, as he would avidly crave their wealth, nor an ignorant man as he would then mislead them with his ignorance, nor crude in his manner for he would estrange them with his crudeness, nor one who deals unjustly with different places thus preferring one group over another, nor one to accept bribes in his ruling lest he forfeit people's rights and pass judgments without them, nor one to abolish recommended practices whereby he would ruin the community.
Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 131; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 539 link
Im?m Hasan ibn 'Al? ibn Ab? T?lib (a.s.) in his letter to the inhabitants of Kufa said, 'By my life, an Imam is only one who rules by the Book, a maintainer of justice, bound to the right religion, who controls himself for the sake of Allah.
Kitab al-Irshad, v. 2, p. 39; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 539 link
Im?m Muhammad ibn 'Al? al-Baqir (a.s.) explaining the characteristics of an Imam, said, '[He must be] of legitimate birth and well-bred, he neither gets distracted and nor does he play.'
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 375, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 539 link
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida [a] said
Certainly Allah has made me an Imam for His creation, so He has made it mandatory upon me to take into consideration myself, my food, my drink, and my clothing like that of the weak people [of the community], so that the poor may follow me in my poverty and the wealth of the rich does not embolden them to intimidation.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 40, p. 336, no. 17; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 540 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Verily there is no obligation on the Imam except that which has been devolved on him by Allah, namely to convey exhortations, to strive to give good counsel, to keep the prophetic practice alive, to enforce penalties on those liable to them and to issue shares [of taxes and charity] to those who deserve them.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 7, p. 167; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 540 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Now it is obligatory upon a ruler that the distinction he achieves, or the wealth with which he has been exclusively endowed, should not make him change his behavior towards those under him. Rather the bounties that Allah has bestowed on him should increase him in nearness to his people and in kindness towards his brethren.Beware then that it is my duty towards you that I should not keep anything secret from you except during war, nor should I decide any matter without consulting you except with regards to the commands of religion, nor should I postpone the fulfillment of any of your rights nor desist until I discharge it fully. And that all of you are equal to me in your rights. When I have done all this, it becomes obligatory upon you to thank Allah for this bounty and to obey me.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 17, p. 16]; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 541 link
Verily your Imams are your representatives before Allah, therefore be careful whom you follow in your religion and your prayers.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 23, p. 30, p. 46; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 541 link
Your Imams are your leaders before Allah, therefore be careful whom you follow in your religion and your prayers.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 23, p. 30, p. 46; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 541 link
Allah, Blessed and most High said, 'I will certainly punish every Muslim community who accepted the leadership of a tyrant leader who is not chosen by Allah.
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 376, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 542 link
Whoever associates with an Imam chosen by Allah a leader whose leadership is not endorsed by Allah, [is tantamount to having] ascribed a partner to Allah.
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 373, no. 6; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 542 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Certainly the worst of people before Allah is the oppressive leader who himself has gone astray and misleads others. He destroys the prophetic practice and revives abandoned innovations. I have heard the Messenger of Allah (SAWA) saying, 'On the Day of Resurrection the oppressive leader will be brought without any helper or anyone to advance excuses on his behalf, and then he will be thrown into the Fire of Hell, where he will turn as the hand-mill turns, then he will be confined to its depth.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 9, p. 261; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 542 link
Im?m Muhammad ibn 'Al? al-Baqir (a.s.) regarding Allah's verse in the Qur'an: "On the Day of Resurrection you will see those who attributed lies to Allah with their faces blackened", said, '[It refers to] whoever says: I am an Imam, whereas he is not an Imam.'
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 372, no. 1; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 543 link
One who claims the Imama unrightfully is an infidel.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 25, p. 112, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 543 link
O Ali, four things are truly back-breaking: a leader who disobeys Allah whilst his command is obeyed
al-Khisal, p. 206, no. 24; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 543 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
The Prophet (SAWA) dispatched an army, over whom he appointed a commander and ordered them to listen to him and to obey him. He [the commander] set ablaze a fire and ordered them to jump in it. Some people refused to enter it, saying, 'Verily we flee from the fire', whilst others intended to enter it. The Prophet (SAWA) was informed of this, about which he (SAWA) said, 'Had they entered it, they would have remained therein forever [i.e. the Hellfire].' And he said, 'There is no obedience due to [one who calls to] Allah's disobedience. Rather obedience is due [when calling] for the good.
Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 5; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 544 link
Verily the grinding stone of Islam will turn, so turn alongside the Qur'an wherever it turns. Soon the ruler and the Qur'an will combat each other and separate from each other. In fact there will be kings who will rule over you with one ruling and adhere to a different ruling for themselves. If you obey them, they will lead you astray. And if you disobey them, they will kill you.' They asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what should we do if we witness such times?' He said, 'You must be like the companions of Jesus, who were cut into pieces with saws and were raised up on crosses. Dying in obedience [of Allah] is better than a life in disobedience.
al-Durr al-Manthur, v. 3, p. 125; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 544 link
If three hundred and thirteen people, the number of fighters at Badr get together in support of an Imam, it is obligatory upon him to rise up [against the unrightful leader] and bring about a change.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 100, p. 49, no. 18; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 545 link
O Sadir! By Allah, were I to have followers as many as these goats, it would not be permissible for me to desist [from revolt].' Sadar narrated, 'We disembarked and prayed, and when we finished the prayer, I looked at the goats and counted them, and there were only seventeen!
al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 243, no. 4; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 545 link
Im?m al-M?hd? (a.s.), when Sa'd b. 'Abdillah al-Qummi asked him the reason why people cannot elect an Imam for themselves, replied, 'Would he be a righteous man or a corrupt man?' I said, 'Righteous.' He said, 'Is it possible that the selected individual be actually corrupt, for no one really knows what passes through another's mind, in terms of their righteousness or corruption?' I said, 'Yes'. He said, 'That is the reason why.'
Nur al-Thaqalayn, v. 2, p. 76, no. 283; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 545 link
Verily I leave behind among you the two weighty things, which as long as you continue to adhere to, you will never go astray after me, and one of which is greater than the other. The Book of Allah is the rope stretched from the heavens to the earth, and my progeny, my household. Behold, verily they will never separate from each other until they meet me at the Heavenly Waters.
Bihar al-Anwar, v. 23, p. 106, no. 7; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 546 link
Indeed the example of my household among you is like that of Noah's Arc; whosoever embarked it was saved and whosoever chose to remain behind it was drowned.
Bihar al-Anwar, v.23, p. 105, no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 546 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Look at the people of the Prophet's household. Adhere to their direction, follow their footsteps, because they will never remove you from guidance, and will never throw you into destruction. If they sit down [i.e. desist from revolting], you sit down, and if they rise up, you rise up.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 7, p. 76; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 546 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Lo! Verily the example of the family of Muhammad (SAWA) is like that of the stars in the sky. When one star sets, another one rises. So you are in a position that Allah's blessings on you have been perfected and he has shown you what you have wished for.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 7, p. 84; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 547 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
We are the tree of prophethood, the settling place of the divine message, the place frequented by angels, the mines of knowledge and the springs of wisdom.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 7, p. 218; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 547 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Verily the Imams are the vicegerents of Allah over His creation, and they make the creatures know Allah. None will enter Paradise except he who acknowledges them and who himself is acknowledged by them, and none will enter Hell except he who denies them and is himself denied by them.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 9, p. 152; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 547 link
The narrator asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) about the verse, "On the Day of Judgment you will see the faces of those who associated lie with Allah to be black." Imam (a.s.) replied, "This verse is for one who claims to be an Imam while he is not." The narrator asked, "Is it so even if he is Alawi and Fatimi?" Imam (a.s.) replied, "Yes, even if he is Alawi and Fatimi."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 270/271 link
"A person who claims to be an Imam while he is not, is an infidel."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 271 link
"One who claims to be an Imam while he is not, has associated lie with Allah, His Messenger and me."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 271 link
"Allah will shorten the life of those who claim to be an Imam except for the true one."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 271 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
We [the Prophet's household] are like the saddle-cushion in the middle. He who slides behind has to come forward to it, while he who has slid too far forward has to return back to it.
Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha by Abi al-Hadid, v. 18, p. 273; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 547 link
Im?m Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-S?diq (a.s.) mentioning the status and qualities of the Imams said, 'Allah has made them the [source of] life for mankind, the lamps in the darkness, the keys to expression and the pillars of Islam.'
al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 204, no. 2; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 547 link
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