THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT

By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

I would just discuss about the verse, wherein Allah Subhanau Wa

Taala.said:

[In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful...
“And (remember) when his Lord tried Abraham with (His)
commands, and he fulfilled them, He said: Lo! I have appointed thee a
leader for mankind. (Abraham) said: And of my offspring (will there be
leaders)? He said: My convenant includeth not wrongdoers.”]

We are still discussing about these verses that these reach Allah Subhanau
Wa Taala. The Almighty Allah says: He tested Abraham several times for
The prophet Abraham was able to complete them. So after he
complete them: Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said that I am
appointing you as a leader of mankind. Allah Subhanau Wa Taala did not
say that I am appointing you as a leader of Mouminin or Muslims. He
says . It is for the humanity. Even that Christians and the Jews and non
Muslims all of them are included in it and they are the believers of this
notion. That the prophet Abraham and all the Imamms and of all mankind -
he is their leader. So Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said the first; that
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said that I am appointing you as a
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

leader of mankind. This is the divine plan that Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is
the one who appointed Abraham. Now He is like a counsel who has to sit
down and appoint Prophet Abraham. And that’s why the followers of Ahl-e-
Baet, also we believe that the Imam is or the Imam has to be appointed by
Allah or by the prophet or by the Imam to appoint the coming Imam or the
previous imam has to appoint the coming Imam. Because this Imam is in
position as not a position that people have to come and sit down and choose
who they want to be an Imam. And one of the reasons that we say that is
Allah subhanau Wa Taala says that I am the one appointing you.
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said to Abraham “Go and have a counsel and
have a Muslim to appoint you as a leader” Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said
that I am the one making you/appointing you as a leader. And
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said : I am appointing you as an
Imam.
What is the meaning of (Imam)? In Arabic, when we say the word
( ) Imam comes from the world ( ) amam. Amam means in front. So
when we say Imam is the one who is in front. And the basic meaning, the
first meaning of the word Imam as that this word is used for a person who
leads people for prayers. And he is called Imam because he stands in the
front of the people. And then people do whatever he does. When he goes to
Rukoo( ) people go to Rukoo. That’s what a prophet said one of the

that Imam what he always says therefore people are to

imitate and copy him: when he goes to Rukoo, people also go to
Rukoo with him. when he goes to Sujood, they also go to Sujood. This
is the Imam which both the schools of thought are agreed on this word. That
this is the word Imam. So that’s why if you come to the word Imam which
is the one who is the leader who is in front. And the word Imam, it can be a
good leader, a good example for people and it can also be bad example for
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

people and the word Imam and Qura’n also spoke of them. The Quraan has
used in several verses when he says the word Imam that leader of the
believers. And sometimes also Qura’n uses the word Imam meaning the
leader that’s of the Satan. And the Quraan mentions that on the Day of
Judgment people will be called by their Imams. Quran says
that on the Day of Judgment people will be divided into groups
and groups. So Allah Subhanau Wa Taala wants to call them by the groups.
The group will be called by their Imams/leaders at the Day of Judgment and
also some of them will be called in the groups of the Shaiytaan who is their
leader. Therefore, Quran explains that there are two kinds of leaderships.
Two kinds of Imams there are Imams of Hudaa and Imam of Zalaal-Imam of
guidance and imam of misguidance.
That’s why Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is talking about the Imam
which is the leadership or the guidership. The leadership of their heroes. So
anyway the fact of the meaning of the word Imam that what we said is the
Imam who leads the prayers. And then there is another meaning of the word
Imam, who is when they said the word Imam they name a leadership. And
these words offer world issues. And that is one of the understandings of
some groups of our Sunnies brothers. Sunnies call word Imam. They name
one who is leader and takes care of people at first in this world. They call
him Imam. That is number 2. Number 3, some say Imam. If the meaning of
the word Imam is the word as a person who is a leader of the people and first
of this world and the affairs of their religion. The first was about these
world affairs. And the second one is the meaning of the word Imam and
they want who take care of their leader who takes care of the affairs of
people of their religion and affairs of the world as well.
This is also said by some groups of Sunny Scholars. The word Imam
means a leadership which takes the responsibility of people’s issues in this
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

world financially either, socially, or any part of their life in this world
included their religion. That is taking care of the people preaching people
logic laws and implementing geological social justices always educates the
people individually as well as educates the people in general. And this is no
justice also including what they call after this life.
And if you see this fourth one includes anyone’s single part of a
man’s life that the Imam has the responsibility of taking care of people’s
affairs not only in this world but also after this life and the Day of Judgment
as well. So these call of Imama is deeper that produces the meaning of the
word Imam. And this is what they are the followers of Ahl-e- Bait says
about the word Imam, about the meaning of the word Imam. So therefore,
when you look at the word Imam according to these understandings
according to this definition which is the first definition of word Imam that
means that the Imam’s possibility is to establish guardian, establish justice or
in general as to make sure that taking people to their destination which is
close to Allah Subhanau Wa Taala. And that takes each and every part of
imambians life. And that is the exact responsibility of Imam, heavier than
prophet. And this is why followers of Imam Quran based philosophy say
that first and foremost level of Imam with this definition is much higher than
the level of the prophets. Because some of the prophets Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala said their responsibility is to go and talk to people and that’s it.
Whether they understand or not. They follow it or not. Or they follow or not.
Their responsibility is to say it and that’s it. But if you look at the
responsibility of an Imam in this definition, that is much higher than the
responsibility of a prophet.
Therefore, the position of Imam is much higher according to our
understanding. If you do not apprehend that what is the position of Imam
then you must come to know that Quran gives an example is like a sun that
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

comes here to give the light and light to the plants. Exactly the same
position is of the Imam. That the Imam whose responsibility is to give the
life to the human beings but with spiritual life. Exactly in the same way the
sun comes to give life to the plants in order to reach us. The Imam also has
responsibly to give internal life to the people and this what the Quran said
Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala only describes The Prophet Muhammad –
that Allah is the one who sent blessings open to you
and he is the fountainhead of all blessings to you ,
in order to take you out from the darkness to the light-
and at the same time he is so merciful to the believers.
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala just got in to the prophet. That is how the
prophet is. And he delineates in this verse that you see the nature of Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala. We see there are other blessings Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala sent to the prophet which is through the internal which you and I can
see. And that is Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said that sending the blessings is
divine for the mankind. And at the end we are not taking the belief is from
out of darkness to the lightness. And who does the Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala sent the prophet and the Imam. And they are responsible to take Iman
from darkness to the lightness. Therefore in general the word imam here as
a leadership of the mankind who takes the responsibility of people’s issues
in this world and after this world either in this world either their religious
affairs or the worldly affairs is both responsibility of Imam in this case.
So Allah Subhanau Wa Taala says here that I am
appointing you as an imam. Here according to this verse Allah Subhanau
Wa Taala has made prophet Abraham and Imam after he was made a
prophet. And this is one of the other reasons that we say the position of
Imam is not higher than the procedure of the prophethood. What? Because
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

Allah Subhanau Wa Taala appointed Abraham as the Imam after he was a

prophet and a messenger. This is what the Imam Jafar Sadiq said in this
hadith that Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala appointed Abraham as a servant before he as appointed as a prophet
that the first was the first step of Iman to be whatever you want to be in the
sight of Allah Subhanau Wa Taala the first that is Imam to be a servant of
Allah whatever you want to be in the sight of Allah Subhanau Wa Taala,
that the first of imam to be a servant. Allah Subhanau Wa Taala promoted
him and then did he become Nabi he became a prophet.
after he was a prophet for a while Allah Subhanau
Wa Taala promoted him and then he became Rasoola he became a
messenger. In this we have Rasool and Nabi. Our Rasool is much higher
than the Nabi and Nabi is a prophet that Allah Subhanau Wa Taala sent to
the group of people in order to go and continue spreading the message that
the previous prophet preached the sacrosanct values of being a pious
messenger to believers to those people-. In other words the word prophet is
a prophet that Allah Subhanau Wa Taala sent to the people to go and help a
messenger in order to believe the book that was given to him. But there was
a messenger is the one Allah Subhanau Wa Taala sent to people would be a
book a constitution with him. So in other words as Rasool is the one who
has been sent with the book and the prophet is the one who has been sent
without a book. So at that point you can have more than one prophet at the
time that you can not have more than one messenger at a time. More than
one at the time that you can not have more than one messenger at a time.
That you can have one prophet and one messenger at the same time or one
messenger and thousands of prophets but you can not have two messengers
at the same time. Because each messenger comes with the book and each
book is different from their era. So when the books come and if they are two
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

they give conflict between the two prophets and two messengers. By the
prophet their responsibility is to have the messenger to spread the word of
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala.
So, therefore, the level of the position of the messenger is not higher
than the level of a prophet. That’s why the Imam said here
that Allah Subhanau Wa Taala appointed him as a messenger
as he appointed as a prophet. That he was a prophet for while then he
became a messenger. He was promoted to the level of a messenger. Then
we then Allah Subhanau Wa Taala after a
while after he became a messenger Allah Subhanau Wa Taala promoted
prophet Abraham and then he became as a friend of Allah Khalil-u-llah.
Then then after a while after he became Khalik
the son of Allah Subhanau Wa Taala then Allah Subhanau Wa Taala wanted
to promote Abraham. Then imam said of the prophet
Abraham in achieving the victory Allah Subhanau Wa Taala
said I am making you, I am appointing you as an Imam for
mankind. Then Imam Jaffar Sadique said Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala made him imam. So then imam’s position for Abraham
was the last level that was Abraham bestowed upon you can see prophet
whose prophethood came before being the messenger. And the messenger
also comes and then after being a messenger than the other level which is the
much higher level of higher than the prime messenger hood which is the
Khalil (friend). Then after became Khalil of Allah the friend of Allah there
the last position of Allah Subhanau Wa Taala will give the Imam a
prestigious position which is the highest position in Islam. And that’s why
our scholars what they say that our Imams are much better than the other
prophets. If we included the one of the reasons is this because
prophet Abraham has to pass these themes, has to be a good saver, has to be
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

a good prophet, has to be a messenger, has to be a Khalil and then because

an Imam. That our imam from the day one they were Imams. They needn’t
have to go through all these procedures in order to become an Imam. They
are better than them and that is one of the reasons and other reasons other
too the one of the reasons is that you see prophet Abraham as Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala Oh lord show me how you
bring life how you bring the dead back to life. will you believe
Abraham said I believe but I just want to make sure , I just
want to have some Iman in my heart . Allah Subhanau Wa Taala told
prophet Abraham that go and get some birds and slaughter them and put
their meat together, mix their meat together and then put them on the top of
mountain then call them they will come to you as you call them.
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala wanted to show Abraham how he raised the dead
after they die. This is the level still requires to know with depth that how
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala raises or brings the dead back to life. Now we go
to Imam-e-Ali when they ask him If Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala will take the cover from where we see the day of
judgment that this is the day of judgment , that the people go to hell , people
go to the paradise, he says my (Iman), my faith will not even increase. Is
there going to be some other entity that is Iman which is going to increase
his Iman. That you go to the prophet Abraham he says I still
want to increase Iman.
So you see two people one of them. Other one is prophet Abraham
according to the Quran which is much better. Of course the teacher who is
Imam Ali that is one of the reasons we say our Imam almost better than the
messengers, exact the prophet Muhammad. The prophet Musa also he asked
to see Allah Subhanau Wa Taala as well. Allah Subhanau Wa Taala told
him to look at there mountain as the mountain moves then you see me that if
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

not. He went and was waiting Allah Subhanau Wa

Taala appeared on the mountain and the mountain and then the
Musa fell down and was unconscious. It was the prophet Musa. So I don’t
need the kind of this thing for the increase of my Iman, is already a need in
order to increase his Iman. Quran so many places at the end Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala said to Ulama that there should be the reason that
prophet Abraham has attained that high position they said the reason is that
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala tested him to slaughter his own son to test him
difficulty of doing so that you can ask someone to do is to kill his son. In
the situation that son is the message who helps him. Is the son whom all life
then you ask him to slaughter his own son. Then prophet Abraham was
about to and Allah Subhanau Wa Taala lifted that responsibility from him.
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala tested Abraham in this untoward command to
slaughter his own son, but he did not. So if he deserves that higher position
he gets totally for one of them. He went to slaughter his son but he did not.
That the other passion not only that he was slaughtered also his son was also
slaughtered. And to be slaughtered his son became ready. Prophet Abraham
wanted to slaughter his son but he did not. Now you may intellectually get
Imam Hussain who was killed (martyred) and his son Ali ul Akbar his son
Abdul Rabiya were all killed (martyred) for the sake of Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala. It was the one who was slaughtered. Because this one deserved the
high position because he wanted to have it and this one not that he wanted he
did it. And in the way of the high culmination of Islam and for the sake of
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala his own child also Ali ul Akbar was also killed on
that day. And his own little child who is Ali Abdul Rabiya that three month
old child also was killed on that day for the sake of Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala which one was of the too much better. Of course the one who
sacrificed his life and his family. And that is one of the reasons that we say
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

our imams are also much better than Iman. Anyway the Supreme being
appointed the prophet Abraham as an Imam of the all level of because of the
test that he passed. Therefore, the last position among the dead is the
position of noble prestige. Then at the end the Quran it is said
-prophet Abraham asked his Allah Subhanau Wa Taala
will include entire his descendants as Allah Subhanau Wa Taala said
that the injustice done to him that tyrant among the
heretics will never get to the position. Well Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is
talking about here. which is opposite of the word al-dhlaalah
opposite of justice, zulum- injustice and the adaala as justice. For adaala
we just apprehend the spirits of justice because in its roots for the meaning
that the word adaala is to put some thing where it is supposed to be.
some people say no the adaala was the
justice which is to give each and everyone what they deserve. They are
right. That’s why we call it justice.
And then to know the word justice is the equality among people that
this is not right. So the correct and correct definition of the word justice in
Islam is to deal each and everyone of what they deserve what they are
supposed to get. And it should bear the witness which will call injustice or
just for the evident distinguish. That is what the al-zulum and al-zulim.(
) So Allah Subhanau Wa Taala says - -what Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala. meant to that. In Arabic for more clarity we have-
-we have injustice among some can do injustice to himself that the
prophet Adam says in the Quran Oh lord I have done
injustice to myself. Injustice to himself! And some times among us do
injustice to somebody else. But the Quran Allah Subhanau Wa Taala has
invited no nation to injustice to themselves or injustice to others. It means
that injustice in general whether Iman is injustice to himself or injustice to
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

other people or other creatures is all come under word zulum which is
injustice in general. So, injustice to himself or injustice to others that does
not deserve that position and this one of reason what we say that Imam has
to work, has to be infallible. Because if a person who is not infallible either
he has done injustice to himself or injustice to somebody else and that is
some people under the impact of Iman that injustice to himself or to others
that he does in deserve that position which has the leadership of mankind.
This is where the infallibility of the Imam of lies with strongest possible
proof of being infallible because of the imam’s congenital nature was to be a
leader of Iman. It has to be an example, has to be infallible in order to be
able to lead the people because he is going to be an example for people.
He is going to be the speaking Quran, the working Quran, the material
of the Quran so therefore that imam has to be worth infallible since his life
and the words what he utters in his life is the true verbatim of the Quran.
And there could be no speck of any doubt in this regard. Exactly the Quran
is infallible, Quran that does not carry any mistake. Quran said Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala said in the Quran
-now in pursuance to the Quran
look by the sight of the Quran or to follow up the Quran because this Quran
was revealed from the lords of the lords - Rabul Alamin.
So the Quran that is infallible does not make any mistake. So the
teacher of the Quran has to be infallible as well. The teacher of this Quran
has to be far from any ambiguous or fallible errors that that does make no
respect. As the reason of the word because this is
between Allah Subhanau Wa Taala and mankind that the leader of Allah
Subhanau Wa Taala appointed by him has to be and example and good
example to the multitude. That is why we see that lot of our Imam. We
have used this verse right of the day of the prophet (PBUH) to show to the
 THE DIVINE CONCEPT OF IMAMAT
By
Shaikh Jalilu Issah

people that preview of Khulafaa (caliphates). And that is injustice to Allah

Subhanau Wa Taala and zulum. Because even worshiping something other
than Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is zulum. Messenger said and the Quran
said that if associated something to Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is sheer
injustice. The prophet Luqman said to his son; - oh my son
do not associate anything what Allah has prohibited strictly. Then he said -
-because to associate him Allah with ill partner is a grave
injustice. That the Quran says to that the grave injustice
that worship something other than Allah Subhanau Wa Taala is grave
injustice and mortal sin. And the preview of Khulafaa, that they are
worshiping the idols which mix the injustice in an unjust. So, therefore that
disqualified according to the Quran.
Now because Quran says Quran said no say that no
injustice when worshiping something else and to associate them with Allah
is an injustice. Quran said - -Quran described it as a grave injustice.
Allah Subhanau Wa Taala what he said -the injustice, the
unjust the Qura And then you do the association of Allah Subhanau Wa
Taala, the partner is a great injustice. The Quran says and those even those
Khulafaa they have done injustice to themselves according to the Quran.
That this disqualifies them from that position. That’s why we say that the
position of being in the pinnacle of sin/error-free domain has to be by the
imam who is infallible and that is one of the reasons there we say they are
infallible. Because if they are not; then Allah or the prophet will drive them
by nails. And then the punishment in order to penalize them by nailing is
the sound proof that they are infallible in true letter and spirit.