Classes on Theology

1. Classes on Theology Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer Masumeen Islamic Centre May 22nd, 2012 Week Fourteen

2. Imamah – Divine Leadership • Last week: • The termination of the chain of prophecy without the nomination of an Imam is against Divine wisdom • This week: • The Appointment of an Imam (Proofs from the Qur’an and Ahadith) • The Knowledge and the Infallibility of the Imam • Imam Mahdi AS-AJTFS

3. Imamah – Divine Leadership • The Appointment of an Imam: • الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتمَْمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتىِ وَ رَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْاسْلَامَ دِينًا • “Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessings upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion”. (al-Māi’dah: 3) • The perfection and completion of bounties is due to the Divine nomination of the successor of the Prophet SAW • “O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people.” (al-Mai’dah:67) • Dawatul Dhul Ashira • “O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.” (al-Nisā’:59)

4. Imamah – Divine Leadership • The Knowledge and the Infallibility of the Imam: • وَ إِذِ ابْتَلىَ إِبْرَاهِمَ رَبُّهُ بِكلَِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنىّ‏ِ جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَ مِن ذُرِّيَّتىِ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى الظَّالِمِينَ • Said he," And from among my descendants? “He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.” (al-Baqarah:124) • “O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.” (al-Nisā’:59) • “Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O people of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.” (al-Ahzāb:33)

5. Imamah – Divine Leadership • Knowledge of the Imam: • Bestowed with Divine knowledge and taught the secret sciences in an intuitive manner • Imam as-Sadiq AS: ‘Is he who possesses knowledge of the Book, (but only) some of it?’ I said: ‘No, rather he who possesses knowledge of the Book, all of it.’” He said: “Then he pointed with his hand to his chest and said: ‘The knowledge of the Book, by Allah, all of it, is in our possession; the knowledge of the Book, by Allah, all of it, is in our possession.’” • Imam as-Sadiq AS was asked: Tell me how would an Imam be able to answer any question? He replied: Inspiration, revelation or perhaps both.”

6. Imamah – Divine Leadership • Imam Mahdi AS • This belief of the ‘Mahdi’ can be found in all the difference sects • Qur’an: • Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors… (24:55) • And We desired to show favour to those who were abased in the land, and to make them imams, and to make them the heirs (al-qasas 5) • Certainly We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah:" Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth (al-anbiya 105) • Ahadith: • مِنْ صَحِيحِ أَبِي دَاوُدَ وَ صَحِيحِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ بِإِسْنَادِهِمَا عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَوْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ إِلَّا واحدا [يَوْمٌ وَاحِدٌ] لَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ عَدْلًا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ جَوْراً

7. Imamah – Divine Leadership • Questions regarding al-Mahdi AS: • How can there be an Imam who is not present amongst the people? • Qur’an: • And We made an appointment with Moses for thirty nights, and completed them with ten] more [; thus the tryst of his Lord was completed in forty nights (al-A’raf 142) • Just because we are not aware of the benefit of an Imam in occultation does not mean there is no benefit • Occultation does not mean that the Imam AS is not able to help us in different ways • Specific and chosen people have an audience with the Imam AS

8. Imamah – Divine Leadership • Questions regarding al-Mahdi AS: • How is it possible for a human being to live so long? • Qur’an: • Certainly We sent Noah to his people, and he remained with them for a thousand-less-fifty years. Then the flood overtook them while they were wrongdoers (Ankaboot 14) • Science has proven that those who live and eat properly can live for a very long time • Requires a better understanding of Allah SWT’s power • They did not regard Allah with the regard due to Him (al-An’aam 91) • Allah SWT has described in the Qur’an about Prophet Yunus • فَلَوْ لَا أَنَّهُ كاَنَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَلَلَبِثَ فىِ بَطْنِهِ إِلىَ‏ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ • And had he not been one of those who celebrate Allah's glory, he would have surely remained in its belly till the day they will be resurrected (as-Saafaat 143-144)

9. Questions?