Shaykh Abu Ja’far said that our faith regarding the numerical strength of Prophets and their legatees was that there was a total of 124,000 Prophets and the same number was true about the number of their heirs or legatees. There was at least one successor to every Prophet. They were appointed by the Prophet under the supervision of God1.

We also believe that the Prophets came with truth from their Lord. Therefore, their word was God’s word, submission to them was submission to God and defiance towards them was showing defiance to God. These Prophets never called for a thing other than what was commanded by God. Among the group of Prophets there were five, who were the leaders of this assemblage. They were the recipients of Wahy, and owners of the books of legislation, and they were called grand Prophets. Their names were as follows:

1. Noah (‘a),

2. Abraham (‘a),

3. Moses (‘a),

4. Jesus (‘a)

5. and Muhammad (S).

أُولُو الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ

“Messengers of inflexible purpose” (46:35).

However, Muhammad (S) was the leader of this group, who came with truth from his Lord and authenticated the previous Prophets. Those who had denied him would taste horrible chastisement on the Day of Judgement while those who had faith in him, respected him, aided him in his mission and accepted the guidance that followed him, were those who could be called successful people.

It was also important to believe that God had not created any being that was more eminent than Muhammad (S) and his holy progeny. These were the people who were most dear to God, and they were those pure persons who declared the unity of God before rest of the creation on the Day of Alust (the occasion of acceptance of God, before the physical creation of the Universe, when everything had its spiritual existence). It was then that God took covenant from His creation that they would accept Him as their Lord. Then God appointed them as His witness on that covenant.

وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَا

“And [God] required them to bear witness of themselves (saying): Am I not your Lord? and they said: Yes, verily” (7:172).

On the same day God appointed Muhammad (S) as the Prophet on all Prophets, and awarded him with their cumulative qualities. The perception of God as known to Muhammad (S) was beyond all the creation. This was why He was the first to acknowledge Lord God as his God.

It was our faith that God would not have created anything including Adam, Eve, Angels and the other inhabitants of the Universe, if he had not created Muhammad (S) and his holy progeny. It was also our faith that after the Prophet, God’s sign in the Universe were the twelve Imams, of whom the first was Ali (‘a) then Hasan (‘a), Husayn (‘a), Zayn Al-’Abidin (‘a), Muhammad Al-Baqir (‘a), Ja’far As-Sadiq (‘a), Musa Al-Kadhim (‘a), Ali Ar-Ridha (‘a), Muhammad At-Taqi (‘a), Ali An-Naqi (‘a), Hasan Al-’Askari (‘a) and the twelfth Imam Al-Mahdi (‘a).

Master of the time - Imam Al-Mahdi (‘a) was God’s sign and His representative. He was in occultation but he was alive and present in the cities. We also believed that these Imams were that ‘Ul Al-’Amr (people of authority) whose obedience was commanded by God. They were witness of the people, entrance to the knowledge of God, a route to reach Him, a guide to those who sought God’s awareness, treasure of His knowledge, interpreters of His Wahy and the constituent of His unity. All of them were free of errors and mistakes. They were free from the bondage of sin.

اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا

“God has removed all impurity, oh Ahl Aal-Bayt, and made them absolutely pure” (33:33).

These were those people whom God had sanctified from all kinds of malign and refuse, and kept them purified as clarity required. These people were the holders of miracles and rationale, and they were the cause of peace and concord for the residents of the earth, just as the stars were for the populace of space.

These people in this Ummah were like Noah’s Ark. All those who managed to get on board, had been saved. Moreover, they were also like the example of Bab al-Hitta (the gate of forgiveness) of the Israelites in this nation - whoever entered the gate their previous sins were completely forgiven. They were the most obedient servants of God, who did not exceed God’s commandments in any matter and proceeded according to His instructions.

لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ

“They speak not until He hath spoken; and they act by His command” (21:27).

We also believed about these people that love for them was representative of pure faith and animosity with them was open infidelity. Their decree was God’s decree, their refusal was God’s refusal, their amity was God’s amity and their enmity was enmity with God.

لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

“…In order to make it supersede all religion, though the polytheists may dislike (it)” (9:33)2.

We also believed that the Earth could not remain empty of God’s sign, which may be apparent or hidden. We also held the faith that today the sign and delegate of God was Imam Al-Mahdi (‘a), the son of Muhammad Ibn Hasan Ibn Ali Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Musa Ibn Ja’far Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Husayn Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a). He was that person, whose ancestral details were provided by the Prophet who also gave the good tiding that he would fill the earth with peace and tranquillity, the way it was filled with brutality and malice.

He was the same person through whom God would make His approved religion (Islam) to dominate over all religions of the world, even if polytheists may find it unpleasant. God would make countries of East and West to surrender to him, and no corner on Earth will be left, where the call of prayer would not be heard.

The whole world would be subdued to the constitution of God. He was the same Al-Mahdi (‘a), on whose appearance from occultation, the Prophet had predicted that Jesus (‘a) would descend from the Heavens and pray behind him. This act would be equivalent to praying behind the Prophet, as he was his Deputy.

We also believed that no one else could claim to be Qaim Aali Muhammad (‘a), even if his occultation was extended to very long times or even to the end of time, because the Prophet had identified his family tree and given a clear verdict on his authority and appearance. I have adopted this material from my book Kitab al-Hidaya.

• 1. In this chapter, the honourable author has discussed the numerical strength of the Prophets, the eminence of Prophet Muhammad (S) and Imams of Huda over rest of the creation, proof of the Imamate of Aali Muhammad and that of Imam Mahdi (‘a). We shall discuss these issues in the following pages in accordance with the requirements of time.
• 2. And smilar verses are 48:28 and 61:9.