The Need for the Imam — Page 40
40 The Need for the Imam lieved in metaphorical descent. Some thought he would descend in Damascus, others in Mecca, and still others in Jerusalem. Some expected him to ap- pear in the army of Muslims, and some thought he would descend in India. All these differing beliefs and statements called for a Hakam [Arbitrator] to come and judge between them. And I am that Hakam. I have been sent to break the Cross, in the spiritual sense, and to remove these differences. These were the two reasons that necessitated my ad- vent. Although it was not necessary for me to produce any other evidence in support of my truth- fulness for necessity is evidence enough-even then God Almighty has manifested numerous signs in my support. Therefore, just as I am the Hakam to pronounce judgement in all the other differences, so am I the Hakam in the dispute over the life and death of Jesusas. I declare that the stand taken by Imam Malikrh35, Ibn Hazmrh36 and the Mu'tazilites, with regard to the death of the Messiahas, is correct, and I believe the rest of the Ahl-i-Sunnah to be in the wrong. Therefore, in my capacity as Hakam, I 35 Imam of Jurisprudence. Compiler of Al-Mu'attā (716-795 AD). [Publishers] 36 Andalusian jurist, theologian, author. (994-1064). [Publishers] 37 An Early Islamic school of thought. (800-900). [Publishers]