Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaaid ad-Duaa Lil Qai’m vol. 1

Sixth: The Right Of The Master Over His Servants And Protégés

It is mentioned in Ziarat Jamia regarding the Holy Imams (as): “And the chiefs of the guardianship…”

In a tradition from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) narrated through Sunni channels it is reported that he said:

“We the sons of Abdul Muttalib are the leaders of the folks of Paradise, I and ‘Ali and Ja’far and Hasan and Husain and Mahdi (aj).”

I say: The matter of the leadership and mastership of the Holy Imams (as) with regard to us is proved for us and the meaning of the leadership of those great personalities denotes: They are having more authority on us in all matters than us, just the Almighty Allah says:

“The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves.” (Qur’an, Surah Ahzab 33:6)

And in Kifayatul Athar it is narrated from Imam Husain bin ‘Ali (as) that he said:

The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said to ‘Ali (as): “I have a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves, after that you ‘Ali are having greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after you it is Hasan, who has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him Husain has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him ‘Ali has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him Muhammad has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves.

Then after him Ja’far has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him Moosa has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him ‘Ali has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him Muhammad has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. Then after him ‘Ali has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves.

Then after him Hasan has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. And Hujjat Ibnul Hasan has a greater claim on the believers than they have on themselves. They are the righteous Imams and they are with the truth and the truth is with them.”[^1]

A somewhat similar thing is said in Kafi and Kamaluddin.

And it is narrated from His Eminence, Abul Hasan ar-Reza (as) that he said:

“People are our slaves in obedience.”[^2]

Seventh: Right of the teacher on the pupil

That the Master of the Time (aj) and his purified forefathers are those who are well versed in knowledge is mentioned in some traditions from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (as). And also Allah, the Mighty and the High has also ordered that people may ask the family of revelation whatever they want, as they are the people of remembrance (Ahle Zikr):

“So ask the people of remembrance if you do not know.” (Surah Anbiya 21:7)

Eighth: Right of the Imam on the followers

In Kafi it is narrated from Abu Hamza through his own chain of narrators that:

I asked His Eminence, Abu Ja’far Baqir (as) what is the right of the Imam on the people? He replied: “It is his right that they must hear what he says and obey him.”

And in a sermon of Amirul Momineen (as) recorded in Raudatul Kafi it is mentioned as follows:

“So to say, Allah, the Mighty and the High has given me a right upon you and made me your Wali al-Amr (person of authority) and the Almighty Allah, may His remembrance be exalted, has given me a position that is higher than yours. So much so that He said: Thus the most important of the rights made obligatory by Allah are those of the ruler and leader on the subjects (followers).”[^3]

These were some of the rights of the Master of the Time (aj) on the people and some of them will be explained to you in the coming chapters, Insha Allah Taala.

[^1]: Kifayatul Athar/311, Usul al-Kafi; Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini; Vol. 1/187, Kamaluddin; Shaykh Saduq; Vol. 1/270

[^2]: Usul al-Kafi; Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini; Vol. 1/187

[^3]: Rauda Kafi; Muhammad bin Yaqoob Kulaini; Pg. 35