Approaching the West — Page 25
A pproaching the West—25 orphans and the widows, and remained above any party- politics. That’s why they are known in Isl ā mic history as Khulaf ā ’-ur-R ā shid ū n–“the rightly guided Successors” of the Messenger of All ā h. Im ā m / Im ā ms in the Qur’ ā n In the Sh ī ‘ah tradition, instead of using the title Khal ī fah, the Successors to the Prophet are called Im ā ms, and institution of Im ā mat starts with ‘Al ī ibn Ab ī Ṭā lib as the first Im ā m who was a son-in-law of the Prophet, married to Prophet’s daughter F ā imah. After ‘Al ī , his two sons, Ḥ asan and Ḥ usain, are the succeeding Im ā ms. The religious and spiritual leadership remains within the family of the Prophet. The title of “Im ā m” is also taken from the Qur’ ā n. “Im ā m” in singular form has been used only once in the Qur’ ā n and that too in reference to a promise made by God to Abraham: … I will make thee a Leader [Im ā m] of men. … (2:125) In other places, the plural form of Im ā m “a’immah” is used in the Qur’ ā n. At three places, the Im ā ms are the Israelite Prophets like Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and the kings: And we made them leaders who guided people by Our Command… (21:74) And We made from among them leaders, who guided the people by Our Command, whilst they themselves were steadfast and had firm faith in our Signs. (32:25)