That is qualities and special merits of the Imam according to authentic traditions. They are numerous, and we have mentioned some of them in Hayat al-Qulub and in this treatise as well.

Al-Kulayni has narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) through authentic chains of narrators that there are ten qualities of the Imam.

(1) He is born clean, navel detached and circumcised.

(2) Immediately after his birth, he places the hands on the earth and recites the dual testimony of faith.

(3) He does not have nocturnal seminal discharge.

(4) He never becomes ritually impure through sexual relations.

(5) His eyes sleep, but his heart is always awake, and he is aware of all that is going on.

(6) He does not yawn or stretch.

(7) He sees from the back of his head like he sees from the front.

(8) His faeces smell of musk. The Almighty Allah has commanded the earth to conceal it.

(9) When he wears the coat of mail of the Holy Prophet (S) it fits him perfectly. And if anyone else does so, it exceeds his height by more than a hand span.

(10) The angel speaks to him till his last days.

Ibn Babawayh has narrated from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) that the Imam is the most intelligent of the people and is well-versed in knowledge and wisdom. He is most pious, forbearing, generous and valiant among the people. His worship is more exalted and more than that of others. His body does not cast a shadow. Perhaps it may imply that absence of shadow occurs once in a while and the Messenger of Allah (S) never had a shadow. No one can see the urine and faeces of the Imam and whatever is expelled is immediately concealed by the earth, so that no one may see it; and it smells better than musk.

The Imam is superior to the lives of all; and people should accord more preference to him to their own selves and should sacrifice their life for him on every occasion or present themselves for it. The Imam is more affectionate to the people than their parents and his humility before Allah is more than that of all the people. He practices more of what he preaches and is more distant from what he forbids others; his supplication is always accepted; such that even if he invokes, a mountain can split.

He is in possession of the weapons and kit of the Prophet; especially the sword, Zulfiqar, which had come down from the heavens. He has a written document with him containing the names of all the Shi’a to come till Judgment Day. He also has a scroll containing the names of all the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) till Judgment Day.

The Imam has in his possession a Jamia; a scroll measuring seventy cubits in length and a sheep skin in breadth. When it is rolled up, it becomes as thick as the thigh of a camel. It contains all the laws the people need. He also has in his possession the big Jafr and small Jafr. One made of goat skin and the other of sheep skin. Laws and penalties are mentioned in it and even the punishment for a bruise a person inflicts on another is stated. It also contains crimes punishable by one lash, half lash or one-third of a lash. The Messenger of Allah (S) has dictated it and it is written in the hand of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).

The Imam is also in possession of Mushaf of Fatimah az-Zahra’ (‘a), which contains the names and circumstances of all the rulers of the world to come till Judgment Day. It is attributed to this infallible lady, because when the Messenger of Allah (S) passed away, Lady Fatimah (‘a) was shattered by the separation from her father and oppressions by the hypocrites. So, the Almighty Allah sent Jibra’il (‘a) to console that infallible lady. He narrated the future events to her, and it was all written down by Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a). It is said in another tradition that there is a pillar of effulgence between the Imam and the Almighty Allah, in which the Imam observes the circumstances of the people and sees in it whatever was unclear to him; and becomes aware of it.

According to reliable chains of narrators, it is narrated from Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (‘a) that the Imam can be recognized through some qualities:

First Quality

The preceding Imam issues express textual declaration for him like the Messenger of Allah (S) did regarding the Imamate of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).

Second Quality

He provides a convincing reply to all that is inquired from him and if he is not asked, he takes precedence in informing the people.

Third Quality

He informs about the future events.

Fourth Quality

He is proficient in all the languages of the world, and he replies to everyone in his own language.

Fifth Quality

He is not ignorant of the language of any beast and fowl.

It is clear from authentic or rather widely related traditions that the Imams revived the dead by way of miracles when exigency demanded as Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) had revived the dead several times. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) and Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) made Abu Basir regain his sight; they also cured lepers.

It is mentioned in reliable traditions that all the miracles the Almighty Allah had bestowed on all the prophets separately are all given to the Messenger of Allah (S) and the Holy Imams (‘a). These personalities were capable of covering long distances in a short time. On the contrary, they circled the earth in a span of less than a day.

They have in their possession the books of all prophets like Taurat, Injeel and Zabur and the scrolls of Adam (‘a), Sheeth (‘a), Idris (‘a) and Ibrahim (‘a); the tablets of Musa (‘a) and relics of all the prophets: like the staff of Musa (‘a), shirts of Ibrahim and Yusuf (‘a) and the rock of Prophet Musa (‘a), from which twelve springs burst forth; the ring of Prophet Sulaiman (‘a) and his carpet; all these relics were in the possession of the Holy Imams (‘a) and presently all of them are in possession of the Master of the Affair (Sahib al-’Amr).

The Almighty Allah has bestowed a cloud to them, which they can mount; to travel through the realms of the heavens and the earth. They were cognizant of the 72 great names of Allah; for whichever issue they recited it, it was definitely fulfilled. Asif Ibn Barkhiya had knowledge of only one of these names, with which he brought the throne of Bilquis to Prophet Sulaiman (‘a) from a distance of two-month travel in a blink of the eye.

Their sciences were of various kinds: sometimes they heard the voice of the angel and sometimes Ruhul Quds, who is a creature much greater than Jibra’il and Mika’il. He came face to face to them and informed them. Sometimes they were inspired by the Almighty Allah directly. The voice of the angels, resembling the sound of a chain striking in a tray, reached their ears.

It is mentioned in numerous traditions that our best knowledge is what is bestowed to us every moment from the unlimited knowledge of Allah. The angels and spirits come down to the respective Imams of the time during the Night of Power, salute the Imam and inform them of whatever is decreed for that year.

Imams possess knowledge of the past as well the future and they are in possession of all the knowledge that has come down to the earth. They are the heirs of all the sciences of all the prophets and are face readers/examiners (Mutawassimeen). Whoever’s face they see, they are able to know his faith, disbelief (kufr) or hypocrisy from his forehead; whichever tree, leaves or particles an Imam sees, he immediately becomes aware of its realities.

The whole Qur’an and its apparent and esoteric knowledge till seventy layers is bestowed to the Imam as he is given all the effects of the Messenger of Allah (S): like weapons, coats of mail, mounts (horses and mules etc.), rings and all apparent and hidden relics came into the possession of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and reached all the Holy Imams (‘a) [and presently are in possession of the Last Imam (‘a)]. He also has in his possession a leather case containing the knowledge of all prophets, successors, and scholars. It is known as white Jafr (Jafr Abyaz). They have one more case containing all the weapons of the Messenger of Allah (S) and it is known as the Red Jafr (Jafr Ahmar) and the Master of the Affair (Sahib al-’Amr) would open it.

It is mentioned in many reliable traditions that every Thursday, the holy soul of the Messenger of Allah (S) and the purified spirits of all previous Imams and the soul of Imam az-Zaman (‘a) are permitted to rise to the heavens. They reach the divine throne (Arsh), circle it seven times and pray two units of Prayer at every leg; after which they return to their bodies with extreme freshness and unbounded knowledge and the good bad deeds of every person from this Ummah are presented to souls of the Messenger of Allah (S), the previous Imams and Imam az-Zaman (‘a) every morning and evening, every week and every month.

Doors, walls, and mountains do not obstruct their knowledge and whatever occurs in any part of the world is known to these personalities through the Almighty Allah. At the time of his passing away, the Messenger of Allah (S) entrusted all his sciences to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).

Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) says: At that time, the Prophet taught me a thousand chapters (doors) of knowledge through each of them another thousand doors opened. The Prophet told me: When you give me funeral bath, shroud, and anointing, you should make me sit and ask me whatever you want. I did that and that time also he taught me a thousand chapters (doors) of knowledge, through each of which another thousand doors opened. In the same way, every Imam transfers all his sciences to the succeeding Imam and no one other than an Imam performs the final rites of an Imam and buries him after funeral prayer.

If an Imam passes away from the world in the east and the next Imam is in the west; he comes to him at that time through the miracle of Imamate and obtains knowledges from him and performs his last rites in such a way that other people do not become aware of it; like Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a) reached Baghdad and Imam Muhammad At-Taqi (‘a) reached Khorasan. I have mentioned these details in Jilaul Uyoon.

It has come in most traditions that their holy spirits were created from holy effulgence of Almighty Allah and their bodies and consciences are created from the essence of the throne (Arsh). When the Almighty Allah intends to create the Imam, He commands an angel to take to the respected father of that Imam a drink from under the Arsh. He drinks it. It is more limpid than water, softer than butter, sweeter than honey and whiter than milk.

That angel commands the Imam to establish relations with the Imam’s mother and his seed is established through that drink. After it has remained in the womb for forty days, the spirit is blown into it and according to another report the spirit is blown into it after four months. At that time, he hears voices of people and understands. Then an angel writes the following verse on his shoulder:

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

“And perfected is the Word of your Lord in truth and justice; there naught that can change His Words, and He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing” (6:115).

He mentions Allah in the womb and recites Surah al-Qadr and other verses of Qur’an. When he is born, he sits on all his fours and is born feet first. When he comes to the earth, he faces the Qibla and placing his hands on the earth raises up his head to the heavens to recite the dual testimony of faith aloud. Then that angel inscribes the same verse on his forehead and between his shoulders.

Then a voice comes from the Throne says: Be steadfast on truth, because I have created you for a great mission. You are My chosen one among My creatures and the repository of My secrets. You are the casket of My knowledge and My Caliph on the earth, and I have made My mercy obligatory for one, who loves you and have bestowed My Paradise to him. I swear by My might and majesty, I would burn in My worst punishment one, who is envious of you; that is in Hell, even though I might have widened his sustenance in the world. When the voice ends, the Imam recites the verse of testimony (Ayat Shahadat) till the end:

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“Allah (Himself) bears witness that there is no god but He, and (so do) the angels and the possessors of knowledge, standing firm for justice; there is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise” (3:18).

At that time the Almighty Allah bestows him the knowledge of the past and future, and he is deserving of it. Ruhul Quds visits him during the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr) and other nights. When he reaches to the majestic position of Imamate, the Almighty Allah raises a minaret and standard of effulgence in every country so that he may see the deeds of the people in that place.

According to one report, on the night he is born, light shines in his house, which is seen by his parents. When he is born, he turns to the Qibla, sneezes three times and raises his finger in glorification. He is born with the umbilical cord detached and being circumcised. He has the full set of teeth. A yellow light emanates from his hands, day and night.

It is mentioned in many traditions that their houses are places of the descent of angels, and they descend in their houses again and again.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: The angels are more merciful on our children than our we selves are. He patted on a pillow and said: Angels have reclined on these too much and it often happens that we gather their fallen feathers and make amulets for our children. Imams are divine proofs on all Jinns. Hosts of Jinns arrive to meet him and inquire from him about the laws of their religion and the lawful and the unlawful of their faith. The Holy Imams (‘a) allot duties to them and send messages to other places through them.

A Jinn once came to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) in the form of a huge python when he was speaking from the pulpit in Masjid Kufa. The Imam asked him who he was. He replied: Amr Ibn Uthman, whose father you appointed as the Caliph for Jinns; he has just passed away. The Imam appointed him in the position of his father.

These are apparent brief circumstances, which most people can understand; but they do not know the facts behind strange circumstances and hidden secrets. Neither do they have the capacity to bear them, except a proximate angel, messenger prophet or a perfect believer, because the Almighty Allah has already tested their faith and had illuminated them with the effulgence of faith.

It is mentioned in traditions of the Imams: Do not regard us as partner to God and do not believe in our divinity. Other than that, you can say anything regarding excellence and perfections.

The Almighty Allah has said:

قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا

“Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted, though We were to bring the like of that (sea) to add thereto” (18:109).

It is mentioned in traditions that we are the words of Allah as our perfections cannot be encompassed.

As some poet has said:

The water of the sea is not sufficient to write your merits, because the register of deeds is so thick that all its water is not sufficient to wet the fingers in order to count its pages.