Consent of the Infallible Imam of each era …

Part 1

In history of Islam was a sincere man from the offspring of the Prophet (SAWA) called Zayd son of Ali son of Hosain son of Ali son of AbiTalib (SBUT) … he was a half brother of Imam Baaqer (SBUH).

He truly detested the usurpers of the Allah Bestowed Right of AmirulMo’menin (SBUH) … and was deeply heart broken from all the injustice imposed by the bani-Umayya upon the AhlulBayt (SBUT) and the rest of the offspring of the Prophet (SAWA) and the people … his heart restlessly bled from all the injustice and he sincerely gave his life in this very cause … but he did not claim to be the fifth Allah Chosen Imam …

In the first vol. of the Arabic Osul Kaafi and …, it is narrated that Zayd ibn Ali ibn Hosain went to see his brother Imam Baaqer (SBUH) while holding letters from people of Kufah asking Zaid to rise against the bani-Umayya and offering to help him in the matter. He told the Imam that people had sent him those letters because they were aware that they were of the offspring of the Prophet and that they had read in the Qur’an that loving and obeying the progeny of the Prophet was incumbent upon them, and that they were also observing all the predicament and inconvenience of the family of the Prophet (SAWA).

The Imam (SBUH) responded that surely obedience of the true Imam had been obligatory in the past and was in the present and would be in the future. The Imam stressed that obeying only ONE of them was obligatory while loving all the offspring of the Prophet was necessary.

[Let us pay attention that Imam Baaqer (SBUH) was clarifying and emphasizing the fact that obedience of all the offspring of the Prophet is not obligatory, only the obedience of the Allah Chosen Infallible Imam of each time is incumbent upon the people.]

The Imam (SBUH) then stated that Allah had always done those things- which were decreed to be inevitable and imperative- with a determined measure and in an orderly limit and a specified time. The Imam then warned Zayd to be careful and not to be deceived by unbelieving people who could not help him against God. The Imam also warned him not to make haste, for Allah never did any thing before its decreed time because of people’s haste, and the Imam (SBUH) told him not to ever take precedence over Allah which would cause him to fall and be entangled in difficulties.

Zaid stated that the Imam, being of their family, was to be he who fought in the cause of God and protected and defended his family and nation. The Imam then asked his brother Zayd whether he had a proof regarding himself in this matter from the Book of Allah, or from the Prophet, or from a case similar to it [in the lives of Prophets …]?

Then the Imam clarified that Allah had specified the Halaal and Haraam, and the obligatory and recommended; and that He had never left His Imam in doubt regarding His commands so that he might do a task before its time or do jihad untimely.

[A major difference between the Allah Chosen Infallible Imam with the rest of the people (even other offspring of the Prophet, scholars and …) is that the Infallible Imam is guided by Allah and knows the time and place for every task; thus taking precedence over the Infallible Imam of each era or falling behind him is the same as taking precedence over or falling behind the commands of Allah. Therefore obviously, only walking with the Infallible Allah-Chosen Imam and doing what he commands is the same as obeying Allah.]

The Imam (SBUH) then by stating examples from Qur’an in which a time is specified for doing or not doing things- such as killing animals, which is not allowed while being Muhrim in Hajj but allowed afterward, and fighting, which is not allowed during the four Haraam months, and …- clarified that:

In religion, there is a specified time and place for every action. [Which only Allah and His Chosen Ones have such Knowledge.]

The Imam (SBUH) asked a very profound question from his brother, whether the killing of animals was more significant or the killing of humans which Allah has prohibited?

[It is vital to understand that not all the wars waged in the name of Islam have necessarily been considered as Jihad by Allah! Only when and if the Infallible Proof of Allah at each time gives Divine Permission (based on Divine Knowledge, Benevolence, Wisdom and …) then originating a battle is allowed and is considered Jihad, otherwise it may be considered as murder and unnecessary hardship and suffering of the people … We cordially invite our friends to read the article “Human life” and the footnote regarding the event of Harrah in the article “Confessions of a British spy” Part 6A in this site: kindfather.com]

The Imam (SBUH) then told Zayd if he truly had any proof from Allah and was sure regarding what he was doing, to do as he wished, otherwise the Imam warned him not to proceed to do some thing in regard to which he was bewildered and confused about, and not to decide the downfall of a power which its time had not yet come.

Then the Imam clarified that when truly the time for the downfall of a power comes all binds will be disrupted, matters will become available uninterruptedly, and Allah will disgrace and degrade the holders of power and their followers.

Then the Imam said that he sought refuge from a leader who did not know the time for his tasks for that would mean that his followers might be more knowledgeable than him! The Imam then kindly addressed his dear brother and asked if he really wished to be a cause for glory and might of those who had disbelieved the signs and communications of Allah and followed their desires and opposed the commands of the Prophet of Allah, those who- with no proof and without being appointed by the Prophet- had been claiming to be imams! [I.e. AbuBakr, ‘Umar and the bani-Umayya …]

[Let us ponder for a moment … the Imam (SBUH) is stating that any untimely move against the oppressors not only will not result in their downfall rather it also adds to the power and glory of the oppressors …, perhaps in their own view and in the eyes of their followers and others …]

Then the Imam told his dear brother that he would confide him to Allah for he was going to be hanged in Kufah … Tears started to pour from the Imam’s eyes and he said that Allah would take vengeance from those who tore the curtain of their sanctity and denied their Right and revealed their secrets and attributed them to other than their ancestor and said things about them which they did not say those things themselves.

In another  Hadith Abu Ja’far Ahwal (Mohammad ibn ‘Ali No’maani Kufi) known as Mu’min Taq- a companion of Imam Sajjad (Zayd’s father) and Imam Baaqer and one of the most devoted, knowledgeable and praised companions of Imam Saadeq (SBUT)- has said that once Zaid, while reminding him that he was of the offspring of the Prophet (SAWA), asked Ahwal to join him to fight the bani-Umayya. Ahwal kindly refused; he told Zayd that if on earth was an Allah-Chosen Imam besides him then following Zayd would be the same as falling in perdition, and not following him would be same as attaining salvation. Ahwal also told Zayd that his father, Imam Sajjaad (SBUH), had told Ahwal not to fight the bani-Umayya …

[Thus Ahwal, a renowned scholar educated by three Imams (SBUT), implicitly and kindly reminded Zayd that obeying the Infallible Allah Chosen Imam was obligatory but following him without the consent of the Infallible Imam was not …]

Then Zayd informed Ahwal that his Mawla in Medina had told him that he would be hanged in Kufah and that the Imam (SBUH) had a book in which his being killed and hanged was written …

Ahwal went to see Imam Sadiq (SBUH) during Hajj and told him all that had happened and the Imam said that he surely closed all the possible ways to move for him …  (From Usul Kafi of Shaykh Kolayni, vol. 1; …)

A similar Hadith has been narrated by Zoraarah ibn A’Yan, another very trusted and highly praised companion of Imam Saadeq (SBUH) in Ehtejaaj of Shaykh Tabresi (second vol. of Persian translation) and …

To be continued …