Lesson 8: Imamat (Leadership) in Islam PDF

Lesson 8: Imamat (leadership) in Islam 1. **Imam and Imamat semantics:** Imam literally means leader and, in some uses, commander. So Imamat means leadership. Imam and Imamat, in different Islamic science fields, have related uses and meanings. Some Sunni scholars define Imam as Imamat as gener...

Lesson 8: Imamat (leadership) in Islam 1. **Imam and Imamat semantics:** Imam literally means leader and, in some uses, commander. So Imamat means leadership. Imam and Imamat, in different Islamic science fields, have related uses and meanings. Some Sunni scholars define Imam as Imamat as general guardianship and leadership for people affairs in this world as well as hereafter. Some others, in order to differentiate it from Nobovat (prophet'hood), have said: *"Imamat is the general leadership on people for their affairs in the world and hereafter and it belongs to a specific person as prophet's successor."* Another definition says: "Imamat is for prophet's successor to keep the religion and it is essential for all people to obey Imam." 2. **The relationship between Imamat and caliphate:** In some thinkers' opinion Imamat and caliphate are used in a same meaning. Imam is a high ranking human who is entitled caliph too because of his relationship with Allah and the prophet. According to the Quran, Imamat is a divine title which (its responsibility) is higher than Nobovat. However, being the successor of the prophet of Islam, which is called caliphate too, is under the condition of having the qualities in both appearance and inside. If the caliph of the Holy prophet of Islam has these qualities, he deserves Imamat as well. 3. **The Importance of having Imam and Imamat:** *Say: \'Do any of your partners guide you to the truth? \' Say: \'Allah, He guides to the truth. Who then is worthier to be followed He who guides to the truth or he who cannot guide unless he (himself) is guided? What is the matter with you, how then can you judge? *(10:35) We have to know that no one except Allah and prophets (appointed one) are aware of these qualities. So Allah says: وَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمْ آيَةٌ قَالُوا لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ حَتَّى نُؤْتَى مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللَّهِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا صَغَارٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَمْكُرُونَ (6:124) *When a sign came to them they said: \'We will not believe in it unless we are given that which the Messengers of Allah have been given. \' But Allah knows best where to place His Message. Humiliation with Allah shall befall the sinners as well as a terrible punishment for what they devised.* (6:124) In choosing imam by people there are two possibilities: 1. All people agree on a person's Imamat 2. Some people agree and some disagree with his Imamat The first possibility is not usually out of reach, as we know in choosing the caliphs there were no agreement between people.\ For the second possibility we should consider the role of Allah and his prophet. There should be a definite reason that Allah and prophet has appointed the person as the Imam because of the fact that Imam is the successor of Allah and the holy prophet. Not the representative of people. So, Allah and the holy prophet must appoint and confirm the Imam. If the person is chosen by people, he is not Imam.