Mouood Mouood English Edition
Prophet Joseph (a.s.) was Allah’s true servant who resisted against the temptations of the vizier’s wife for seven years at the prime of his life saying: I seek refuge with Allah in response to her request. While the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) are the truth itself of the straight path. They are in essence a such a manifestation of the path to Allah were that they became one with truth itself. They only saw Allah; they only obeyed Allah; and they served only Allah. For this reason, with the permission of Allah, they became a source of Grace for the world’s nations.
100. Tafsir al-Safi: 54/1
101. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 305/1, H. 65
102. Bashair al-Darajat: 62, H. 10
103. Ma’ani al-Akhbar: 32, H. 1
104. Ma’ani al-Akhbar: 32, H. 1
105. Bihar al-Anwar, 348/22, H. 64
106. Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, 259/8
Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), Allah’s Viceregents
Allama Husayn Ansariyan
Allah’s attributes are not merely verbal; rather; they are objective and having external realization. The first attributes that manifested themselves from the invisible God at His will are four according to a narration, and seven according to another, which can somehow refer to the same name. The first attributes are the Ever-living, the All-knowing, the All-Powerful, and the Speaker.
Each of these attributes has a domain and property for itself and there is a longing in them for manifestation. Since ‘Allah’ is comprehensive of all attributes, it generally holds other Attributes and does not allow an Attribute to emerge alone.
The Universe’s Need for Allah’s Vicegerent
Each part of the universe that was materialized with Allah’s Most Excellent Names is governed by that Attribute. It is so necessary beyond doubt that someone comes into existence to be a full manifestation of Allah’s Chief Name and create a balance among the concrete Names of Allah so that they will not interfere with each other.
In other words, the universe is in need of a perfect man who is the manifestation of all Most Excellent Names as well as the Chief Name so as to be able to administer all the affairs as Allah’s vicegerent with His permission. Even angels who are abstract beings and each of them is assigned with a special duty –
And there is none of us but has an assigned place (37:164) –
are in need of Allah’s vicegerent (khalifat allah) so as to control them in their affairs and to teach them what is necessary.
To sum it up, based on Quranic verses and narrations, the universe is in need of khalifat allah even if no human beings had been created. The first human being of our kind, Adam, was also in need of khalifat allah so that his affairs would be administered justly. Hence he himself was khalifat allah in order for that position to be a link between him and Allah.
Based on this imperative need, Allah chose a vicegerent for Himself and made him rule over universe:
I am going to place in the earth a khalifah – Vicegerent- (2:30)
This khalifah would rule the highest stages of the universe. Although the earth is the lowliest of the low, potentially this position is the highest in terms of ranks on the earth. This most passive element is the only element, which can collect within itself all Attributes of Allah’s and become the most active element of universe thanks to its mere passiveness.
And He taught Adam all the names (2:31)
Features of Allah’s Vicegerent
Since a khalifah knows all the Names, he can be a teacher for all creatures. Since Allah has made khalifah teacher of angels, He has made him teacher of all other creatures too.
And He taught Adam all the names and then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right. They said: glory be to thee! We have no knowledge but that which thou has taught us; surely thou art the knowing, the wise. He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names. Then when, he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I say to you that I surely know what is ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth and (that) I Know what you manifest and what you hide. (2:31-33)
A khalifah due to his knowledge and understanding of Allah’s Most Excellent Names objectively and subjectively lies at the core of the universe. He must lie in the center of it to be able to teach to the angels, administer them in relation to their affairs and urge them to do special missions. In other words, a khalifah must be perfect in terms of knowledge and capacity and superior in terms of infallibility and justice so as to be able to distinguish between the objective beautiful Names of Allah and other creatures.
A khalifah is a person who has gone through the lowest stages of existence up to its highest ones.
A khalifah is a person in whom the knowledge of the Book and the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfudh) has been internalized. He is one who is benevolent and has acquired such virtues as generosity, contentment, chastity and courage, and has become the manifestation of Allah’s Most Excellent Names.
A khalifah is one who emerges at any time with one of Allah’s Names, which is proper to that time, making that Name rule. It is at this station that he is absorbed in Allah and takes the course toward Him. After receiving the baptism of Allah, he will reach a position where he can do extraordinary works with the permission of Allah. Then his heart becomes Allah’s Throne and finds Allah sitting on it:
The All-Compassionate sat himself upon the throne. (20:5)
Merits of Allah’s Vicegerent
In a sacred Hadith (Words of Almighty Allah), we read:
I am not contained in heaven or the earth; but I am contained in the heart of my believing servant.107
It is a believer’s heart that can undertake the vicegerency of Allah’s Most Excellent Names by which Allah rules over the universe. Referring to the creation of the Holy Prophet, another sacred Hadith reads:
Were it not for your sake, I would not have created the universe.108
Ahl al-Bayt(A.S.), Allah’s Most Perfect Vicegerents
Allah’s true vicegerent is the Holy Prophet, for he is the first being to have been created, the most perfect manifestation of Allah’s Attributes and a collection of truth and Allah’s light:
The first thing Allah created was my light.109
