UNPACKING THE MOST INTRIGUING QUESTIONS IN THE QURAN
Tuesday 12 May 2020 (19th Night of Ramadan 1441)
Ahlul Bait (a.s) Masjid, Ottery, Cape Town
Mowlana Syed Aftab Haider
E. IMAMAT IS INTRINSIC TO THE SURVIVAL OF SOCIETY
The final key point of this discussion is regarding the question we get asked, about the Imamat (leadership) that we Shia have made part of our faith not being mentioned in the Holy Quran, according to them. Even though we have proven that Imamat we believe in is described in the Holy Quran, I wish to now delve further into the aspect of leadership from a rational perspective.
The survival of any society depends on leadership. Good leadership succeeds. Corrupt leadership destroys. This is a simple, rational, common sense matter. Leadership is not a deeply philosophical concept. We all believe in the finality of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), who was also the Imam (leader) of the Muslim nation (Ummah).
Revelation came to an end with his departure from this world, but did guidance also come to an end? Do we not need a guide to lead us socially, politically, culturally, spiritually and academically after revelation came to an end? Were we simply left as sheep without a shepherd after the passing of Rasulullah (SAWA)? How is this possible that the Holy Quran, which is a complete revelation, can abandon a key issue such as leadership?
Leadership is a matter of life and death of a nation. How is it fathomable that it is not explained in the Holy Quran? If this is the position we adopt, then we are saying that Islam does not have a system of leadership, nor does it have any political philosophy or ideology, because we can decide whichever way we want to go. Naturally, this is not possible to accept.
