Prophets for every nation, Imaams for every time? The theoretical foundation of Imaamah rests on the supposition that an Imaam is sent for every time. This is why according to the Shias Imaamah continues to this day, since it is a continuous institution that can never be broken. However, it is interesting to note that the Quran does not say anything at all about there being a correspondence between time and a Divine Imaam, or even between time and a Messenger. Yet, we do find the following Verses in the Quran: To every people (was sent) a messenger: when their messenger comes (before them), the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. (Quran 10:4) For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, (with the Command), Serve Allah, and eschew Evil: of the People were some whom Allah guided, and some on whom error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who denied (the Truth). (Quran 16:36) Thus, the relationship in the Quran is set between a people and a Messenger, not only in these places, but in other parts of the Quran as well. The question that comes up is: If the concept of Imaamah in reality is more important than Prophethood or at least should be on an equal footing for a person to have true belief, then why do we not see this important relationship between period and Imaamah mentioned even once in the Quran? Thus again, I was puzzled between the manner Shiaism treats Imaamah and the way Allah treats it in the Quran. Not until Allah sends a Prophet? Under the same general trend, Allah has revealed Quranic Verses such as: Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent to its centre a messenger, rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We going to destroy a population except when its members practise iniquity. (Quran 28:59) and Messengers of good cheer and of warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. (Quran 4:165) In the first Verse presented, it is stated that Allah would not destroy a people or nation until a Messenger had been sent by Allah “rehearsing to them Our Signs”. From this the following can be concluded: 1. The criteria for the punishment of a people is based upon their attitude towards their Messengers/Prophets. It is noteworthy that the “sending of Imaams” is not mentioned at all, even though this is the case to be expected, given the Shia idea with respect to the centrality of Imaams with respect to the guidance of people. 2. As mentioned before, the implication in this and other similar Verses (such as Ayah 17:15) is that a people are relatively innocent of the faults they are committing until the time a Messenger comes to them.107 If there had been an Imaam among the nation, already offering guidance towards the path of Allah but being rejected by its inhabitants, then the sending of Messengers before destroying the people would have been redundant, since the Hujjah (proof of Allah) would have been present among them. If the Shia reasoning were to be applied further, it would be doubly irrelevant for Allah to send a Messenger at all, since the Imaam’s duty is greater than that of a Messenger. Moving on to the second Verse it is seen that the Quran reiterates this line of reasoning in stronger terms. It is stated that the people will not have an argument regarding their misguidance once the messenger has been sent. Again, there is no mention of an angel or an “Imaam” or any other being in this respect. While the Shias maintain that the “Imaam” is always present among the inhabitants of the earth and it is the responsibility of the people to find out who he is and follow him accordingly, the Qurans states otherwise, saying that the evidence is against the nation once the messenger is sent to them. It is amazing to note that the messenger is the prime source of guidance everywhere in the Quran... he does not “call people to the Imaam” or remind them of the “negligence they were showing the Imaam”, or any other similar statements.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 04:21:16 +0000
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