Imamate In The Quran

Shia Islam · Mar 22, 2013

Preface:
Before embarking in presenting our topic, it is worthwhile to emphasis the following:

Since my discussion with our Quranist brothers in RF is what made me to write on this topic, I would like to state the following:

As you (dear Quranist members) want to interpret the Quran without referring to the hadith, it's important to accept that you will need to accept using extensive reasoning and intellectual means, in order to reach the required results.

Now let me begin with this preface:
we have in the Quran the following verse:

"The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.
[FONT=Arial (Arabic)][FONT=Arial (Arabic)]
اقتربت الساعة وانشق القمر

(1) [FONT=Arial (Arabic)][FONT=Arial (Arabic)]سورة القمر - سورة 54 - آية 1[/FONT][/FONT]
"

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Many early Muslims thought that after the the death of the prophet PBUHP, the end of human kind on earth was about fall. They imagined that within let's say two hundreds years, End-of-Time will happen.
AhlulBayt a.s. gave a different interpretation of the above verse....
Now, More than 1400 years have passed since the death of the prophet PBHUP...

How many more thousands of years will come before the end-of-time ?

Now let us return to the Quran. Is it not that Allah's established way to have people of direct connection to him living among humans to warn them and to guide them?

Does it go in-line with the teaching of the Quran that Allah leaves humans for thousands of year with only the Quran (that they differ on how to interpret it) and the hadith (sayings) of the prophet SAWW that has been written in the second century after his death?

Consider the situation of humanity nowaday, and imagine their situation thousands of years after today.

Is this how Allah have treated humans since Adam, and until the prophethood of Muhammad SAWW? Why will Allah treat the latest POOR generations differently?

Please put your feedback to these question before I move forward...

Gharib · Mar 22, 2013

There is a hadith of a similar nature to everyone being dead in 100 years.

I was reading through it a few nights ago and what the the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam meant was that all those living at that time would be dead in 100 years. Which explains the "everyone will be dead in 100 years"

Everything in existence is fallible except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. No one has direct connection (by way of communication) to Allah ta'ala as that signifies Prophet-hood. There can be no Prophet after Muhammed. Even Imam Mahdi will not receive any kind of revelation as he is not a Prophet, nor will Isa bin Maryam when he returns as Prophet-hood ended with Muhammed.

Union · Mar 22, 2013

Salam and thanks a lot for opening an important thread like this . If I understood you right , your answer may be hidden herewith in the following noble verse :

[003:007] He it is Who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others (which are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but only men of understanding really heed.

Hence according to the Qur'an , there are two types of verses within :

01- First category (Muhakama ) dealt with the clear verses which are comprehensible to everybody . These are the main substances of Islam (e.g., Aqida , Halal , Haram etc.) .

02- The rest are allegorical/obscure/materialistic (Mutasabiha) which are comprehensible to the men endowed with knowledge in that specific field . Examples , verses dealt with astronomy would be vivid to the scientists of that field and not the the doctors , whereas verses related to embryology etc. will be vivid to the doctors and physicians and not to others .

Having said that , if you look at the tenet of 12 Immamat , it is the basic aqida of Shia Islam and the most strong tool which divides the Sunni apart , hence it demands a solid proof from the Qur'an and it should be under Muhakama verses . It will be illogical to nullify this demand by using Mutasabiha verses as an excuse .

Shia Islam · Mar 22, 2013

Gharib said:
There is a hadith of a similar nature to everyone being dead in 100 years.

I was reading through it a few nights ago and what the the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam meant was that all those living at that time would be dead in 100 years. Which explains the "everyone will be dead in 100 years"

Everything in existence is fallible except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. No one has direct connection (by way of communication) to Allah ta'ala as that signifies Prophet-hood. There can be no Prophet after Muhammed. Even Imam Mahdi will not receive any kind of revelation as he is not a Prophet, nor will Isa bin Maryam when he returns as Prophet-hood ended with Muhammed.

Thanks for your valluable feedback.
It would nice if you post the Hadith that you read.

As for the Mahdi (peace be up him, and may Allah hasten his return), please consider the following verse:

(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
اذ قالت الملائكة يا مريم ان الله يبشرك بكلمة منه اسمه المسيح عيسى ابن مريم وجيها في الدنيا والاخرة ومن المقربين

سورة آل عمران - سورة 3 - آية 45

So angels were talking to Mary, who were not a prophetess, so why is it not possible that they will be talking with a successor of the prophet SAWW appointed by Allah?

Gharib · Mar 22, 2013

Shia Islam said:
Thanks for your valluable feedback.
It would nice if you post the Hadith that you read.

Insha Allah. I will look it up again

As for the Mahdi (peace be up him, and may Allah hasten his return), please consider the following verse:

So angels were talking to Mary, who were not a prophetess, so why is it not possible that they will be talking with a successor of the prophet SAWW appointed by Allah?

Allah has been sending the angels to humans in the shape of man. I believe a few other verses explain this such as the one which mentions Harut and Ma'rut. So too the verses that explain the story of Lut alayhi salam. As well as Jibril being sent to speak to the Prophet in order to teach the Sahaba their deen. This hadith is best known as the hadith of Jibril.

As for the hadith mentioning the angel that went to Maryam, that angel too appears to her in the form of man. She feels fear when she first sees him and then he explains that he has been sent by Allah. Moreover, the case of Maryam is different. If it wasn't why isn't she part of the Imamate? I thought those who had 'connection' with Allah were part of the Imamate?

I will post the verses and hadith once I have more time latter in the day insha Allah.

Alulu · Mar 22, 2013

Shia Islam said:
We have in the Quran the following verse:

"The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.

اقتربت الساعة وانشق القمر
(1) سورة القمر - سورة 54 - آية 1
".

Just a short question, and I hope a quick answer. Is this verse referring to the imamate according to you?
If this is not the verse, could you just post the ones that do refer to imamacy?

Shia Islam · Mar 23, 2013

Alulu said:
Just a short question, and I hope a quick answer. Is this verse referring to the imamate according to you?
If this is not the verse, could you just post the ones that do refer to imamacy?

In my first post in this thread, I have divided human life on earth into two stages, the first stage was the thousands of years from Adam to Muhammed SAWW. During this stage it was clear that mankind needed divinely guided people to lead them. And for his mercy and grace, Allah has fulfilled this need to human. Not only the Quran proves all of this, but even the bible do:
Here is an example:

“Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” < Numbers 27 >

So although Moses left the Israelites with the scripture, the tablets and the laws, there was a need for a divinely appointed leader, to be appointed by God, and without him, people will be like “like sheep which have no shepherd.”.

So if there was a need for divinely appointed leaders to guide humans during the short time span between Moses and Muhammad, then what about the thousands or maybe millions of years between Muhammed SAWW and the Doomsday?

In the coming posts I will start to show that the Quran state it clearly that Allah did not leave human without divinely appointed leaders during these last times.

Alulu · Mar 23, 2013

Shia Islam said:
In the coming posts I will start to show that the Quran state it clearly that Allah did not leave human without divinely appointed leaders during these last times.

Salam brother,

I am personally more interested in the verses that shia theology builds its imamacy creed on. And thats all, for me so to say. If you could cite them or give the names of the sura's and which ayaat I would be grateful for that. Thanks in advance.

Ma'a salama,

Shia Islam · Mar 25, 2013

Alulu said:
Salam brother,

I am personally more interested in the verses that shia theology builds its imamacy creed on. And thats all, for me so to say. If you could cite them or give the names of the sura's and which ayaat I would be grateful for that. Thanks in advance.

Ma'a salama,

Alaykum As-Salam brother,
May Allah embrace us all with his mercy,

Ok lets start,

Even without referring to the Hadith, The following verse proves the doctrine of imamate without any doubt.

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority (Alu-Al-Amr)

"يا ايها الذين امنوا اطيعوا الله واطيعوا الرسول واولي الامر منكم ..."

سورة النساء - سورة 4 - آية 59

-The verse conjoined obeying Alu-Al-Amr (those who are in authority) with obeying him and his messenger SAWW. Muslims are commanded to unconditionally obey Alu-Al-Amr. Alu-Al-Amr in this verse can only refer to the infallible imams a.s., otherwise we will be assuming that Allah is ordering the Muslim to obey orders that contain what contradict the teachings of Islam, which is impossible.

--
There are some posts (above) that I did not reply to as of yet. I will reply to them soon inshaallah.

Union · Mar 25, 2013

Shia Islam said:
Alaykum As-Salam brother,
May Allah embrace us all with his mercy,

Ok lets start,

Even without referring to the Hadith, The following verse proves the doctrine of imamate without any doubt.

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority (Alu-Al-Amr)

"يا ايها الذين امنوا اطيعوا الله واطيعوا الرسول واولي الامر منكم ..."

سورة النساء - سورة 4 - آية 59

-The verse conjoined obeying Alu-Al-Amr (those who are in authority) with obeying him and his messenger SAWW. Muslims are commanded to unconditionally obey Alu-Al-Amr. Alu-Al-Amr in this verse can only refer to the infallible imams a.s., otherwise we will be assuming that Allah is ordering the Muslim to obey orders that contain what contradict the teachings of Islam, which is impossible.

--
There are some posts (above) that I did not reply to as of yet. I will reply to them soon inshaallah.

I even can't assume let alone to see clearly where this verse is referring to 12 Shia Imams . Who stops people to assume that it is Abu Bakr , Umar , Uthamn etc. Anyway you didn't complete the verse :

[004:059] O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

The verse categorized Ulul Amr as fallible human and dismissed their authority when they differ and instructed us to turn to GOD and HIS messenger .

Whatsoever , I don't see any reason to think this verse in any way related to 12 Imams , no matter how you will try in your coming posts . If you have any other verse in your mind , let just give a try ...

Union · Mar 25, 2013

Sahih Bukhari 6.108 :
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Verse: Obey Allah and Obey the Apostle and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (4.59) was revealed in connection with `Abdullah bin Hudhafa bin Qais bin `Adi when the Prophet appointed him as the commander of a Sariyya (army detachment).

As per the above Sahih Sunni Hadith the Ulul Amr in verse 4.59 was Abdullah bin Hudhafa bin Qais bin `Adi . Do you believe that ? I am sure you don't ?

Shia Islam · Mar 26, 2013

Union said:
I even can't assume let alone to see clearly where this verse is referring to 12 Shia Imams . Who stops people to assume that it is Abu Bakr , Umar , Uthamn etc. Anyway you didn't complete the verse :

[004:059] O ye who believe! Obey God, and obey the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle, if ye do believe in God and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

The verse categorized Ulul Amr as fallible human and dismissed their authority when they differ and instructed us to turn to GOD and HIS messenger .

Whatsoever , I don't see any reason to think this verse in any way related to 12 Imams , no matter how you will try in your coming posts . If you have any other verse in your mind , let just give a try ...

In order to facilitate the research, forget about the number of Imams at this stage. Imagine that we are studying prophethood in the Quran, do we need to concentrate on how many prophets have Allah sent?

Now let us return to the verse. As explained by scholars, the part "If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle" is clearly referring to differs between the people among themselves, not between the people and Alu-Al-Amr, as when it comes to the relation between the people and Alu-Al-Amr, the verse has clearly foretold that the people must obey them as they must obey Allah and the messenger.

Union · Mar 26, 2013

Shia Islam said:
In order to facilitate the research, forget about the number of Imams at this stage. Imagine that we are studying prophethood in the Quran, do we need to concentrate on how many prophets have Allah sent?

The number of prophets is not among the fundamnetal creed in Sunni and Shia Islam , hence it doesn't have that much importance. But the number 12 counting the Aima'h is the fundamental creed of Shia , hence it is important know from the Qur'an .

Now let us return to the verse. As explained by scholars, the part "If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to God and His Apostle" is clearly referring to differs between the people among themselves, not between the people and Alu-Al-Amr, as when it comes to the relation between the people and Alu-Al-Amr, the verse has clearly foretold that the people must obey them as they must obey Allah and the messenger.

The first part of the verse establish the authority of GOD +Prophet +Ulul-Amr but the next part eliminated the Ulul Amr and finally remained with GOD+Prophet and the reason of that elimination was given 'Fa in Tanazatum Fi Shayin= Then if You differ in anything' (Q.with whom?A. Who was eliminated from the final authority ).

The translation 'among yourselves' is wrong as it is not existed in the original Arabic.

Shia Islam · Mar 27, 2013

Union said:
The number of prophets is not among the fundamnetal creed in Sunni and Shia Islam , hence it doesn't have that much importance. But the number 12 counting the Aima'h is the fundamental creed of Shia , hence it is important know from the Qur'an .

Similar that of 'the prophet', the status of 'the Imam' in Islam is so high that practically you will not find anyone who claims to be an Imam or a prophet. Have you ever met someone who claims to be a prophet or an Imam?!

Hence, what we need at this stage is to understand the doctrine of Imamah (Imamate) in Islam, before moving ahead to establishing who are the imams.

The first part of the verse establish the authority of GOD +Prophet +Ulul-Amr but the next part eliminated the Ulul Amr and finally remained with GOD+Prophet and the reason of that elimination was given 'Fa in Tanazatum Fi Shayin= Then if You differ in anything' (Q.with whom?A. Who was eliminated from the final authority ).

The translation 'among yourselves' is wrong as it is not existed in the original Arabic.

let us look at the verse. We have the following:
Verb 1: Obey
Object 1: God
Verb 2: Obey
Object 2: the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you

Obey God, and obey 'the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you'.

Note that the object of the second verb is both 'the Apostle', and 'those charged with authority among you'. It was not said :

obey the Apostle, and OBEY those charged with authority among you.

Making both of the Apostle and Alu-Al-Amr as one object show that they represent one unity that can't be divided.

As of why Ulul Amr were eliminated from the final part of the verse, it's because there is only one revelation, which have been revealed by Allah to his prophet. And the Imam a.s. Said the following :

«ما وردكم عنا اعرضوه على كتاب الله وسنة رسوله، فما وافق الكتاب والسنة فخذوا به وما خالف الكتاب والسنة فاضربوا به عرض الحائط»

roughly translated as follows:

"Whatever you receive as a hadith from us, then test it against the book of Allah and the Sunnah (Hadith) of the prophet, then whatever of it was in agreement with the Quran and the Sunnah, you take it, and whatever is contradicting the Quran and the Sunnah, you through it into the Wall"

Union · Mar 27, 2013

Shia Islam said:
Similar that of 'the prophet', the status of 'the Imam' in Islam is so high that practically you will not find anyone who claims to be an Imam or a prophet. Have you ever met someone who claims to be a prophet or an Imam?!

Hence, what we need at this stage is to understand the doctrine of Imamah (Imamate) in Islam, before moving ahead to establishing who are the imams.

let us look at the verse. We have the following:
Verb 1: Obey
Object 1: God
Verb 2: Obey
Object 2: the Apostle, and those charged with authority among you

Note that the object of the second verb is both 'the Apostle', and 'those charged with authority among you'. It was not said :

obey the Apostle, and OBEY those charged with authority among you.

Making both of the Apostle and Alu-Al-Amr as one object show that they represent one unity that can't be divided.

As of why Ulul Amr were eliminated from the final part of the verse, it's because there is only one revelation, which have been revealed by Allah to his prophet. And the Imam a.s. Said the following :

roughly translated as follows:

"Whatever you receive as a hadith from us, then test it against the book of Allah and the Sunnah (Hadith) of the prophet, then whatever of it was in agreement with the Quran and the Sunnah, you take it, and whatever is contradicting the Quran and the Sunnah, you through it into the Wall"

I disagree with your explanation . The verse should be understood by what it says . The verse clearly put the reason being 'difference' in opinions . I like to stick in that . Anyway , can't just move the second possible verse ?

Starsoul · Mar 27, 2013

Shia islam I don't see you incorporating any sound scholars opinion and hadith to support your interpretation of the Quran..If we were to interpret everything in the Quran on our own, every muslim will come up with a different understanding. There is a methodology to support interpretation of a Quranic verse, it is not based on mythical and aspiring wishes of ,lets say, even a very passionate knowledgebale muslim.

That sadly is the problem with the shia/ahmadi/ismaili/other sects' understanding of the Quran as I feel. They neither use the siaqo sabaq ( the context) of each verse's revelation, nor do they employ the hadiths of the Prophet saww when he explanied or demonstrated by action /word or symbol the correct implication of the verse and ignore all methodologies employed by the sahaba karam and the great Imams in understanding the Quran.
You will always see them trying to take meanings out of every verse themselves (since their elders interpret it that way) and they tend to tell you" see, see! this is what it means!". I'm so sorry to say that is the least convincing way of attempting to render tafseer to the Quran, and the most erroneous way perhaps as well..If you want to see something a certain way, you will always see it that way.

Shia Islam · Mar 28, 2013

Starsoul said:
Shia islam I don't see you incorporating any sound scholars opinion and hadith to support your interpretation of the Quran...

Thanks for your input.

Please note that I have deliberately avoided mentioning any Hadith in my interpretations, as this topic was written in response to a Quranist ...

As of how Shia Muslim interpret the Quran, they follow what the prophet SAWW commanded; that is to refer to his household imams a.s.

The following hadith, which no Muslim can deny, proves that AhlulBayt a.s. are the ones who should be referred to when interpreting the Quran:

إني تارك فيكم ما إن تمسكتم به لن تضلوا بعدي ؛ أحدهما عظم من الآخر : كتاب الله حبل ممدود من السماء إلى الأرض وعترتي أهل بيتي ، ولن يفترقا حتى يردا علي الحوض ، فانظروا كيف تخلفوني فيهما

“I will always leave among you that which if you ADHERE TO you will never go astray after my death. One of them both is greater than the other: they are the Book of Allah, a rope stretching from the heaven to the earth, and my ‘itra, my Ahl al-Bayt. Both (the Qur’an and the Ahl al-Bayt) shall never separate from each other until they meet me at the Lake-Font. Therefore, watch carefully how you treat them both after my death.”

Shia Islam · Mar 28, 2013

Union said:
I disagree with your explanation . The verse should be understood by what it says . The verse clearly put the reason being 'difference' in opinions . I like to stick in that . Anyway , can't just move the second possible verse ?

Before moving forward, let us see the consequences of interpreting the verse as saying that Ulul Amr are fallible humans:

1. this means that there is no separation of authorities in Islam ...where Allah has order us to follow Ulul Amr in all the matters...

2. you said that when people differ with Ulul Amr, they should return to the Quran and the Sunnah, but Alul Amr will also claim that they are applying the Quran and the Sunnah. They are the ones in power. So who will decide whether the truth is with the side of Alul Amr, or with the other side?!

In summary this interpretation will lead to having rulers with absolute power, and as it's said absolute power corrupts absolutely, and this is what happened in the course of the history of Islam.

Alulu · Mar 28, 2013

Shia Islam said:
Alaykum As-Salam brother,
May Allah embrace us all with his mercy,

Ok let’s start,

Even without referring to the Hadith, The following verse proves the doctrine of imamate without any doubt.

“O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority (Alu-Al-Amr)…”

"يا ايها الذين امنوا اطيعوا الله واطيعوا الرسول واولي الامر منكم ..."

سورة النساء - سورة 4 - آية 59

-The verse conjoined obeying Alu-Al-Amr (those who are in authority) with obeying him and his messenger SAWW. Muslims are commanded to unconditionally obey Alu-Al-Amr. Alu-Al-Amr in this verse can only refer to the infallible imams a.s., otherwise we will be assuming that Allah is ordering the Muslim to obey orders that contain what contradict the teachings of Islam, which is impossible.

Salamou aleikoum,

First my brother it is important to cite the whole verse, I think you do agree with that. This is the whole verse in Arabic (assuming you also speak this language):

{ يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي ٱلأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلآخِرِ ذٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً

I asked for qati'iyaat ayaat or the so-called "muhkamaat". The verses in the Quran that are so evident that they can only be understood in one literal way which suffices for all to understand their meaning. One example is "Allah is 1".
This verse regarding the words "wa uwli al-amr" can linguistically mean anything or any person in the Arabic language.....literally it just means "the person(s) in charge". Therefore it can never belong to the "mukhamaat", that can only be understood in one simple way because of the very clear words used. Do you agree with me on that?

Just a comparison:
1) Tawheed and Allah's oneness --> very clear in many verses = muhkamaat
2) Day of Judgement --> very clear in many verses = muhkamaat
3) All the prophet --> very clear in many verses = muhkamat
...etc etc
4) "Imamate" --> not clear in the same way = mutashabihaat, because "persons in charge" can mean anyone or anything in the verse mentioned and its not clear who it is actually. But important beliefs (aqidah) are build upon Quran verses that are very easy to understand, and only in one know. Minor beliefs (furu') is something else and therefore we can differ in them.

Lastly, but very important. The verse continues as followed: وَأُوْلِي ٱلأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ
"wa owli al-amri minkoum fa-in tanaaza'tom fi shay2in faraddaho ila Allahi w ar-rasouli in kontoum to2minoun"
"And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day"

Referring it to Allah and the messenger...no such thing as "refer it to the imam's as well who are ma'soumin (protected from sinning)". No, only Allah and the Messenger we refer back to when we differ among each other, this verse commands us literally to do that. The reason for that is clear as well. This is why the command to obey owli al-amr is obviously not unconditional, only obeying Allah and the prophet is. In any case, who "owli al-amr" is is not mentioned in this verse, and secondly this verse actually clarifies that when we differ we refer it to Allah and the prophet only, because they speak and spoke full truth.

Last question: is "imamacy" in Shi'a creed a fundamentel belief to be considered a Muslim?

Ma'a salama

Shia Islam · Mar 28, 2013

Alulu said:
Salamou aleikoum,

First my brother it is important to cite the whole verse, I think you do agree with that. This is the whole verse in Arabic (assuming you also speak this language):

{ يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي ٱلأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلآخِرِ ذٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً

I asked for qati'iyaat ayaat or the so-called "muhkamaat". The verses in the Quran that are so evident that they can only be understood in one literal way which suffices for all to understand their meaning. One example is "Allah is 1".
This verse regarding the words "wa uwli al-amr" can linguistically mean anything or any person in the Arabic language.....literally it just means "the person(s) in charge". Therefore it can never belong to the "mukhamaat", that can only be understood in one simple way because of the very clear words used. Do you agree with me on that?

...

Last question: is "imamacy" in Shi'a creed a fundamentel belief to be considered a Muslim?

Ma'a salama

Wa Alaikom As-Salam warahmatullah,
Thank you for your input.

As of the verse:
{ يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي ٱلأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلآخِرِ ذٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاً

Its clear that you did not read all my posts related to it, as I have answered your related questions there.

With regard to the "mukhamaat" and the Mutashabihat topic, its important to note that the verses in the Quran are not labelled as "mukhamaat" and the Mutashabihat, what are "mukhamaat" for a scholar may be Mutashabihat for another, thats why we can find Muslims with strange beliefs even about Allah himself, where some Muslims claim, for example that Allah has a body and a curly hair!

I may tackle the topic of "mukhamaat" and Mutashabihat in this topic that discusses Imamate in the Quran.

Finally, to respond to your question of whether "imamacy" in Shi'a creed is a fundamentel belief to be considered a Muslim?

The answer is no, as Ahlulbayt imams (a.s.) made clear that anyone who say the Shahada is a muslim. Sunnis, in their side, have the following Hadith that they all agree upon:

مَنْ مَاتَ وَلمَ يَعْرِفْ إِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ مَاتَ مِيتَةَ الجْاَهِلِيَّةِ.

One who dies without recognizing the Imam of his time dies the death of the Days of Ignorance (before the advent of Islam).

We Shia also have this Hadith which we relate from the imams of Ahlulbayt (a.s.), who relate it from their father, the prophet SAWW.

May Allah SW bestow His mercy upon us all

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