Is Imamat a matter of Inheritance?
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According to the Shi'a, Imam is chosen by Allah. It is not the matter of inheritance, for if it was the case, then Imam al-Husain (AS) should not have become Imam after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (AS). Imam al-Hasan had many children and descendants, yet non of them became Imam. Rather, his brother, Imam al-Husain (AS), became Imam after him. Also there have been some heretical sons and grandsons for some of the Imams, non of whom received the position of Imamat. This shows that leadership is not hereditary. Of course, a pure gene is necessary for the Imam, but Imam needs many other qualifications as well. Allah knows who has all such qualifications. It was just Allah's wish to put all the Imams in the Progeny of the Prophet (PBUH&HF).
In fact, if one study the history of the prophets of God, he will find that they were from the same family. Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty, said:
"And when Abraham was tested by his Lord with certain commands and he fulfilled them. Then He said: Lo! I appoint you an Imam for mankind. (Abraham) said: And of my offspring (will there be Imam)? He said: My covenant does not reach the wrong-doers (among them)." (Quran 2:124).
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيتِي قَالَ لَا ينَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ(البقرة/124)
In the above verse, Allah did not deny leadership from the descendants of Abraham, but He rather limited this position to the qualified progeny of the Prophet Abraham. Allah said that God-assigned leadership does not reach to a person who is a "Dhalim" (wrong-doer), even if such person is the descendant of Abraham. Thus being the descendant of Abraham does not necessarily make the person Imam because there should be other qualifications beside it. Those among them who were not wrong-doer (free from sin) were qualified, since they not only had pure gene, but they have gained other qualifications through hardship. As Allah had the foreknowledge of their patience and qualifications, He entrusted them with this position, and preferred them above all His creation:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ(آل عمران/33)
Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of 'Imran above (all His) creatures. (3:33)
Prophet Muhammad's lineage goes back to Prophet Ishmael (Isma'il) (AS), the son of Prophet Abraham (AS). Also Prophet Moses (AS) and Prophet Jesus (AS) were both from Prophet Isaac (AS) who was the other son of Prophet Abraham (AS). In fact ALL the prophets after Abraham were from his House. Yet, we do not claim that Prophethood is hereditary. He was Allah who chose them one by one. In other words, we do not say that the son of the Prophet should always be a prophet. There should be many other qualifications beside it, otherwise Kan'an, the son of Noah (AS), would have survived. Prophet Noah (AS) had three other sons: Aam, Sam and Yafas who were believers and who with their wives entered the Ark and were saved. They were from different mother than that of Kan'an, however. Therefore being son of a prophet or an Imam does not necessarily make the person prophet or Imam or even righteous. In short, pure gene for the prophets and Imams is necessary but NOT sufficient.
Ulul-Amr/Imam is assigned by Allah, the same way that prophet is assigned by Allah. Look at Holy Quran in which Allah frequently stated that He is the one who assigns Imam. (see Quran 2:124, 21:73, 32:24, etc.)
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيتِي قَالَ لَا ينَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ(البقرة/124)
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَينَا إِلَيهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ(الأنبياء/73)
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِآياتِنَا يوقِنُونَ(السجده/24)
There are twelve Imams who are assigned by Allah as the successors of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF). There is a widespread tradition in the Sunni documents which states that the number of Imams after the Prophet are twelve. (See for instance, Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English version, v9, p250, tradition #329; Sahih Muslim, English version, Chapter DCCLIV, v3, p1009, traditions #4477, #4478; Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v4, p501; Sunan Abu Dawud, v2, p421
Allah assigned these twelve Imams, not just because they were from the House of the Prophet (PBUH&HF), but because they were, in their times, the most knowledgeable, the most illustrious, the most god-fearing, the most pious, the best in personal virtues, and the most honored before Allah; and their knowledge was derived from their ancestor (the Prophet) through their fathers, and also by direct teachings from Allah through inspiration (Ilham).
The successors of the prophets (except the successors of Prophet Muhammad) were also prophets, and thus they were all assigned by Allah. Also Quran tells that some prophets, with the order of Allah, assigned Imams (who were not prophets). Let me give you some verses of Quran:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى إِذْ قَالُوا لِنَبِي لَهُمُ ابْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ....(البقرة/246)
Didn't you turn your vision to the chiefs of the children of Israel after Moses? They said to a Prophet (that was) among them: "Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the cause of Allah." (Quran 2:246)
Anyone who has been specifically assigned by Allah as king is an Imam. A prophet can also be Imam/king but not all the prophets were Imam. If one becomes a divinely appointed king/Imam, it does not necessarily mean that he will physically govern. The above verse of Quran is about Talut (AS) Below is another verse of Quran which provides more details:
Their Prophet[1]
said to them: "Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as king[2] over you." They say: "How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to have authority and he has not been given wealth enough?[3]" He (i.e., their Prophet) said: "Allah has chosen him[4] above you and has gifted him abundantly with knowledge[5] and bodily prowess; Allah grants His authority to whom He pleases.[6] Allah cares for all and He knows all things." (Quran 2:247)
The first part of the above verse (marked 1) proves that the community had a prophet and Talut was among the people of that community, so that their Prophet was the prophet of Talut also. Thus Talut was not a prophet.
The part marked 2, shows that Allah appointed Talut as Imam/leader/king. Part 3 shows that divinely appointed king is not chosen based on wealth. This kingship is primarily spiritual, and of course Talut is the most qualified person to govern physically also, but the latter depends on the adherence of people to them while the former position (spiritual leadership) is always fixed for the Imam. Electing Imam/king is not the duty of People, and as Part 4 suggests, Allah chooses king/Imam for He knows who is the most qualified for such eminent position. King here means the person who has authority by Allah. This is proved by Part 6 of the above. The person who has this authority is replete with knowledge and wisdom as Part 5 testified. In the next verse, we read:
And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the Covenant with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron carried by angels. In this is a Symbol for you if you indeed have faith." (Quran 2:248)
Also in another verse, Allah mentions:
أَمْ يحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ فَقَدْ آتَينَا آلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَآتَينَاهُمْ مُلْكًا عَظِيمًا(النساء/54)
Or do they envy mankind for what Allah has given them of His bounty? But We have bestowed the House of Abraham the Book and Wisdom and bestowed upon them a great kingdom. (Quran 4:54)
Again this kingdom is Imamat since only very few members of the House of Abraham physically governed
