Abstract:
Having a leader and a guide who draws people nearer to righteousness is a blessing and grace of God. The concept of Imamate in Shi‘i Islam deems it necessary to have a guide who will lead the Muslim society after the Prophet’s death by presenting true Islam as well as being a political leader. This guide is appointed by God and possesses qualities of piety, knowledge, wisdom, and infallibility. Part IV of this series verified that the Shi‘a understanding of Imamate is compatible with the Qur’an in that God refers to Himself as having rule, governance, sovereignty, and the power to choose, and people are asked to obey Him, the Prophet, and those “vested with authority among the people” (i.e. the infallibles). This part studies the group of verses that refer to the profound concept of witness, including his roles and qualities. According to these verses, there must be a witness amongst every generation of people. The Qur’an indicates that the witness who
followed Prophet Muhammad (s) was from him and had knowledge of the Book; these qualities can only be found in Imam Ali (a).
Machine summary:
"Part IV of this series verified that the Shi‘a understanding of Imamate is compatible with the Qur’an in that God refers to Himself as having rule, governance, sovereignty, and the power to choose, and people are asked to obey Him, the Prophet, and those "vested with authority among the people" (i.
The Qur’an indicates that the witness who followed Prophet Muhammad (s) was from him and had knowledge of the Book; these qualities can only be found in Imam Ali (a).
Imam Ali was a witness from the Prophet (‘minhu’) The Qur’an says: Can they be (like) those who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth teach, as did the Book of Moses before it, - a guide and a mercy?
This verse clearly indicates that in addition to God, there was a witness between Prophet Muhammad and the unbelievers who is introduced as the one who had knowledge of the Book.
Thus, the one to be taken as a standard in a) understanding Islam, b) understanding what to do, c) upholding the actual task of protecting the Book, and d) judge and rule according to the Book after the Prophet (s) is Imam Ali. Conclusion The most outstanding groups of people as said in the Qur’an are the prophets, the truthful, the righteous, and the witnesses.
The verse of Mub hala, the chapter Bar ’a, and the chapter The Ra‘d attest that this witness - who followed the Prophet and had knowledge of the Book - was none other than Imam Ali."