The Need for the Imam — Page 15
D ar u rat-ul-Imam 15 with him with regard to religious verities, the truth is always on his side. This is because the light of intui- tion helps him understand the true verities. No one else is granted this light with such brilliance. 16 So just as a hen sits on its eggs and hatches young chicks, and transfers her qualities to them by keeping them under her feathers, so does the Imam, through his spiritual knowledge, mould his companions, and strengthens them in faith and in Divine knowledge. But such encompassing knowledge is not essential for other recipients of revelation and righteous people, because they are not entrusted with the training and education of mankind. It doesn’t matter much if such pious people and seers suffer from a little ignorance and lack of knowledge; for they are not the captains of a ship, and are themselves in need of one. They should not utter such absurdities as to say, 'We do not stand in need of this spiritual captain, we are compe- tent enough on our own. ' They should remember that they do need him, just as a female needs a male. Hence, God has created everyone for a purpose. And anyone who claims to be an Imam while he has not 16 That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases. — Al-Jumu‘ah , 62:5 [Publishers]