Imams mentioned in the Quran
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our
brothers/sisters has asked this question:
salaam u aleykem. i am very curios to know if there is a verse regarding imamat in the quran. i would also like to know if and where imam ali proclaimed himself to be the first imam
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise
Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none
can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright.
We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,
no person, no grave, no
prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone,
and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of
His Messengers.
Your question: i am very curios to know if there is a verse regarding imamat in the quran.
There are several verses in the
Glorious Quran, where Allah Subhanah
has used the term ‘imam’. The word
‘imam’ in the Arabic language can be used to mean several things, depending on
the context of the verse. It may mean a
leader in religion, the leader of congregational prayer, a model, a pattern or example, a book of guidance and instructions, a book of evidence or records, or even a highway! It all depends on how the term has been
used.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 124:
124 And remember that
Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands which he fulfilled; He said: "I
will make thee an Imam (leader) to the nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my
offspring!" He answered: "But
my promise is not within the reach of evil-doers."
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 11 Surah Hud verse 17:
17 Can they be (like) those
who accept a Clear (Sign) from their Lord, and whom a witness from Himself doth
teach as did the Book of Moses before it,
an Imam (Book of guidance)
and a mercy? They believe therein; but those of the Sects
that reject it, the Fire will be their
promised meeting place. Be not then in
doubt thereon: for it is the Truth from
thy Lord: yet many among men do not believe!
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 15 Surah Hijr verse 79:
78 And the Companions of the Wood were also
wrongdoers;
79 So We
exacted retribution from them. They were
both on an open Imam (highway) plain to see.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 17:
71 One day We shall call together all human beings with their
(respective) Imams (leaders):
those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with
pleasure) and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 36 Surah Ya Seen verse 12:
12
Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they sent
before and that which they leave behind;
and of all things have We taken account in a clear Imam
(Book of Records or evidence).
Thus, the term ‘imam’ has been
used several times in the Holy Quran, and the meaning
of the word can easily be understood clearly in the context in which it has
been used.
Your question: i would also like to know if and where imam ali proclaimed himself to be the first imam
The only ‘imams’ or leaders that
come to mankind and proclaim that they have been appointed the ‘imams’ are the
Prophets of Allah. No one else has the
right to come to mankind and declare that they have been appointed the ‘imams’. The Messengers of Allah Subhanah
are the only people who have the right to come to mankind and proclaim and
declare that they have been appointed as Allah’s Messengers and leaders of the
believers. They invite people to
believe and worship Allah Alone, and follow them in the deen.
All the other ‘imams’ or leaders
are chosen or appointed by man himself.
Ameer-ul-Mumineen, Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Taalib
(r.a.) was chosen by the believers in
Whatever written of Truth and
benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error
is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He
is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
Burhan
