The Need for the Imam — Page 42
42 my signs if you do not think that I am the H akam. It is useless to argue against me, for I have come at the time of the divergence of creeds. Only the debate about the [person of] H akam is open to all, and I have elaborated upon it. God has given me four signs: 1. I have been given the sign of eloquence and mastery in Arabic, as a reflection of the Quranic miracle of eloquence, and no one can challenge me on this. 2. I have been given the sign of expressing the truths and verities of the Holy Quran, and no one can chal- lenge me on this. 3. I have been given plentiful signs of the acceptance of prayers, and no one can challenge me on this. I can affirm on oath that nearly thirty thousand of my prayers have been accepted, and of which I have proof. 4. I have been vouchsafed the sign of the knowledge of the unseen, and no one can challenge me on this. These are the Divine testimonies granted to me. Likewise, the prophecies of the Holy Prophet sa about me have been fulfilled like manifest signs. 39 39 Persian couplet: The heavens rain signs, the earth says: now is the time; These two witnesses stand ready to testify for me. [Publishers]