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WHO CAN BE THE PROPHET'S SUCCESSOR?
The passengers of this aeroplane have boarded, but the pilot hasn't come yet. It seems he has fallen sick and is unable to come.Who will be put in his place to fly the passengers to their destination? One of the passengers?....The Stewardess?....A passer-by?....Who?Will they select someone to take the place of the pilot who doesn't have the awareness and vision of this skill?Would the passengers have confidence in him? Would they fly with him?Who can become the pilot's replacement?Definately it must be someone who knows how to fly a plane and has the "insight and awareness" of this skill.Now, with regard to this example, can you say:Who can be the "Imam"?Who can be the Prophet's replacement?How must the Prophet's replacement be?Can someone who doesn't have the vision and awareness to guide the people, be the Prophet's replacement?Is someone who doesn't know the rules of religion properly, who sins and makes mistakes, be worthy of successorship?Would people have confidence in him?Who knows better which person is capable of succeeding the Prophet?...God, or the people?Of course, God knows better and that is why He appoints the capable person to be the Prophet's replacement and orders the Prophet to place his divine vision and awareness at his successor's disposal. The Prophet acts according to God's command and picks the person out to be his successor and introduces him to the people as such.The successor of a Prophet is called an "Imam".The Prophet, according to God's command, selects an honest and trusworthy person to be his successor and to perform his tasks after him.The Imam is a trustworthy and honest person selected by God for Imamate and Leadership of Mankind. The Prophet, according to god's command, introduces this person so that by words and deeds he guides mankind towards God, and the people take example from him and follow him in the way they live their lives.The Prophet, with the permission of god, places his vision, knowledge and awareness at the disposal of his successor for him to correctly lead and guide the people. The Imam knows the laws and instructions of religion (as God and the Prophet have taught him), and communicates this to the people. The Imam, like the Prophet, is a perfect example of religion and acts perfectly in accordance with religious instructions.The Imam, like the Prophet, sees the ugliness and foulness of sin and because of this vision and awareness he never commits sins, rather he is disgusted by them.Because the Imam, like the Prophet, commits no sins and makes no mistakes, people have confidence in him and are able to follow his words and actions.The Imams (twelve Imams) are all infallible. This means that:They commit no sin, they are perfectly honest and trustworthy, and they fully and correctly communicate the laws and instructions of religion to the people. (That is, they never make mistakes or forget anything).
