Recognition of Imam Part I - The Literal Meaning of the Word 'Imam'
The Literal Meaning of the Word 'Imam'
In verse (9:12) God says: “And if they break their pledges after their treaty (has been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the Imams (leaders) of disbelief – Lo! They have no binding oaths in order that they desist.”
This verse shows that the word a'immah, the plural of 'Imam' is also used for the leaders of disbelief. Thus, the literal meaning of the word 'Imam' is a 'leader' or 'head'. The leader or head of a group is the foremost and greatest of them. If, for instance it is said that a certain person is the disbeliever's leader, it means that there is no greater disbeliever than him; it is he who is the source and means of disbelief and infidelity and responsible for the entire disobedience and deviation of the disbelievers. Contrary to this, if someone is regarded as the leader of the believers and if he truly is the head, it means that there is no mu'min greater than him; it is he who is the source and means of faith and the entire faith and guidance is due to him. Such a leader of the believers can only be the Imam of the time.
Since the above verse establishes that there are always leaders of disbelief and infidelity, without whom the darkness of disbelief cannot spread in the world, it is also inevitable that there always have to be leaders of religion and faith, without whose existence and presence, the light of religion and faith cannot continue with the [passing of] time.
Another point of wisdom implied in this verse is that all Muslims throughout the world should be organised, agreed and united under the command of one existing and present leader or Imam. For, it is said in the above-mentioned verse: “You (all Muslims) fight the Imams of disbelief” (9:12). This Divine command cannot be accomplished unless there are the leaders of faith against the leaders of disbelief, whose command the world of Islam accepts. If someone claims that at present there is no such leader of faith who can organise all the Muslims, this would tantamount to saying, God forbid, that He commands us to do impossible things without rhyme or reason, or that this command of jihad (holy war) is related and confined to the Prophet's time. How is it possible that God has now removed the main means (Imam) of an important pillar like jihad from the religion of Islam? Reflect carefully in the light of Divine justice and equity!
Muslims need a leader or an Imam for the jihad of knowledge, if not for the physical jihad. Reflect on the miserable and helpless state of the world's Muslims and give the main reason for their present condition everywhere. What other reason can be given except that the Muslims who were united and in agreement during the Prophet's time, are today divided and scattered into sects. Centuries have elapsed in this condition despite the fact that God had given them a timely warning to avoid this dangerous disobedience by commanding: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and do not be scattered into sects [for there is the danger of letting go of this Rope]” (3:103). The responsibility of scattering into sects rests on the Muslims, not on the Rope of God that it did not bring them together by force at one place. For in this verse God does not say: “O My Rope, keep all Muslim men and women attached to your recognition and do not let them be scattered into sects”. On the contrary, He says: '(O the community of Muslims) hold fast, all of you together, the Rope of Allah, and do not scatter into sects” (3:103).
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