Divinely Appointed Leadership

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Imama is the [structural] system of the [Muslim] community.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Islam is based on five: prayer, alms, fasting, the obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj), and the divine guardianship [of the Imams from the household of the Prophet]. And no other issue has been called for as much as divine guardianship.

Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, ‘Imama is the light, and that is the purport of His saying [in the Quran]: “So have faith in Allah and His Apostle and the light which We have sent down”. He (AS) said, ‘The light is the Imam.

Imam al-Ridha (AS) said, ‘And it was revealed in the Prophets farewell pilgrimage, during the end of his life: “Today I have perfected your religion for you…” and the issue of Imama is the completion of the religion.

Imam al-Ridha (AS) said, ‘Verily Imama is the growing basis of Islam, as well as its lofty branches.

Imam al-Ridha (AS) said, ‘Verily Imama is the reins of religion, the ruling system of the Muslims, the prosperity for the world and an honour for the believers.