Hundred Questions - Entrusted Imam (Imam-i mustawda`)
Entrusted Imam (Imam-i mustawda`)
Q8 Imam Hasan (May peace be through him) is accepted as an Imam in several authentic works; in what status should we accept him?
A8 It is absolutely correct to accept Imam Hasan (May peace be through him) as an Imam. Therefore we accept him as an Imam and so should you. There is no reason not to accept him as an Imam. Imam Hasan was Imam-i mustawda`, and in all authentic Isma`ili works in which he is mentioned his Imamat is unanimously accepted.
Do you know why this question has arisen for an Isma`ili? It is because Imam Hasan's name is not mentioned in the geneaology of the Imam of the time. It should be understood that this geneaology belongs to the Imam's forefathers and ancestors and not to various aspects of Imamat. The difference between these two cases is that the former is concerned only with proving the Imamat of the forefathers of the present Imam, and the latter pertains to explaining the various ranks (maratib) of Imamat. Thus, if we take the genealogical tree of the present Imam further and further back, we will reach Hazrat-i Adam (May peace be through him) through Hazrat-i Isma`il (May peace be through him) and Hazrat-i Abraham (May peace be through him), in which case there will be no mention of Hazrat-i Ishaq (May peace be through him) and his children's Imamat. The reason for which is quite obvious that here we have to prove the Imam as being the son of the preceding Imam in succession, and not to explain the different kinds of manifestation and ranks of Imamat, which is a different subject.
In Isma`ilism the subject of the recognition of the Imam is of primary and paramount importance, without which at each and every step we are confronted with difficulties in the field of religion. Thus, it is necessary to pay attention to this subject, in which case one has to make a thorough and penetrating study of the history of Imamat.
There is no doubt that generally Imamat is transferred from father to son, but in special cases there are other possibilities also, as in the case of transference of the Imamat of Imam Habil to Imam Shith. This is a proof of the transference of the Imamat from brother to brother, and the same example is also evident in the case of the transference of the Imamat of Imam Hasan to Imam Husayn. That is, when the time comes, the luminous virtues of the imam-i mustawda` (the Entrusted Imam) become one with the imam-i mustaqarr (the Permanent Imam).
During the present age of scientific revolution in which ever-new problems have been cropping up about religious beliefs, it may also be asked if it is possible for there to be more than one Imam at the same time or not, whereas at present or in future many human beings may live on various planets of the universe? Here we need an answer the proof of which already exists in the true religion. The answer to this question is already in the true religion, i.e. there were [four bearers of light] simultaneously: the holy Prophet Muhammad (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) as natiq or speaking Prophet, `Ali as asas and Hasan and Husayn as Imams. Thus, if several inhabited worlds are found simultaneously in this universe, it is necessary for there to be an Imam in each one of them, because the existence of every world depends on the present Imam's existence. Nonetheless, more than one Imam are like one Single Soul (nafs-i wahidah). In this wellgrounded explanation there are many clear examples in establishing the Imamat of Imam Hasan (May peace be through him).
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