The Status of Imamat (Divine Leadership) In the Islamic Thoughts

Abstract

Imamat is one the principles of religion of Islam. There fore it should not be considered as a secondary topic. According to the contents ol" the "Verse of Perfection" in the holy Qurʹan (5:3), despair of the disbelievers, perfection of religion (Islam), completion of the Divine bounties, and Divine consent to grant Islam as a religion were all accomplished after estalishmcnt of the Imamat Institution, and acknowledgement of the appointment of Amirul Momenin Ali (p.b.u.h) as the Imam and successor of the holy Prophet. 3 The religion of Islam is based on 5 pillars; that its last and complementary pillar is Imamat. It is the last Divine precept. The recognition of the Imam is a religious duty, and acceptance of the guardianship of the "holy Imam" is a condition for approval and ratifiealion of the devotional and religious services of the believers; without such an approval, none of the religious services and devotions arc accepted. The respected writer of the essay, by virtue of the Islamic words and traditions, reminds of the importance of Imamat and Divine leadership. According to the views of 21 of the Shia scholars, have affirmed Imamat as one of the basic principles of religion of Islam