1. Introduction
EventuallytheinevitableoccurredandthesouloftheProphet(a.s.)flew
toitseternalabode.ForinthewordsofthepoetNizāmi,`hewhohasnot
died and will never die is only God'.
Itwasclearthatwiththedeathofthisgreatmanastormwouldblow
upoverthepeacefuloceanofIslam,andthatturbulentwaterswouldbe
churnedup.The ambitiouswouldtryto benefitandto getasmuchas
theycouldfromthisturbulenceandcommotion,tofishinthesetroubled
waters.Onthe otherhand, weknow thatthe greatmassof peoplebe-
lieveinanythingtheysee;theyhavealwaysbeenthusandhavealways
beenfuelforafirethat anyonemaycaretokindle.Theyneedconstant
trainingandcontinualtakingcareof,andwithoutaneducatortheycan-
not reach their own perfection.
Nowwemustaskifsuchasociety,insuchconditions,needsaleader
whocantakethereinsofcommandintheplaceoftheProphetornot,so
thattheresultofallthepainstheMessengerofAllahtookshouldnotbe
dissipated?Istherenot aneedfor aknowledgeable,political authority
whoisthoroughlyacquaintedwiththe Divinelawsandwhocanguide
and lead the people on the right path in the right way?
The Shi‘abelief holdsthat the LoveofGodandHisinfinite wisdom
demandthataftertheProphetthepeopleshouldnotbewithoutaleader.
Suchaleadermustbesinlessandwise,sothathiscorrectnessofspeech
and action may be a guarantee and a true sign of a superior man,
someone selected byGod. He musttake the reins of the Muslim com-
munityinhishandsandleadandguidethemwiththeextensivewisdom
andforesight,withouterror,andthishemusttakefromtheProphetof
Islam.Becausethereis noreasonforGod,Whowasconsiderateof the
peopleinthetimeofthe ProphettochangeHisjudgmentandtowith-
draw His loving concern.
Howcoulditbe possiblethatGod, WhobyHisGracecreated thou-
sandsof elaboratedetailsfor the protectionand growthof ourbodies,
hasneglectedtoappointagoodlysuccessortotheProphet?Doesnotthe
bringinginto existence ofthe bestof communities,whichis theaim of
Islam,needtheselectionofthebestofleaders?Isnottheappointmentof
a sinless leader, educator and Imam the basis of the contentment of