Tradition

اَمَّا الْحَوادِثُ الْواقِعَةُ فَارْجِعُوا فيها اِلى رُواةِ اَحادِيثِنا

Imam Mahdi (‘a) is narrated to have said: “Refer to the narrators of our traditions during the various events that will take place in the Greater Occultation.”1

Brief Commentary

Society cannot be properly organized, nor can its full potential be realized without proper leadership. For this reason, God has never left his servants to themselves without a form of divine leadership and guidance. There have always been divine leaders amongst us who have helped guide us towards the way that is best.

Even during the time of the occultation of Imam Mahdi (‘a), there were select deputies, as well as general deputies who would guide the people through him. These were men of faith and knowledge who were and are well acquainted with the Quran and the Sunnah of the Ahl al-Bayt. These are the necessary qualifications for such a position and anyone else who claims this position is not qualified in the least.

• 1. A section of the famous letter from the Imam (‘a) as taken from various sources.