Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) and the Straight Path

Narrations say that the light of the Holy Prophet was created many thousand years before the creation of the universe. About the light of Imam Ali (a.s), it has been said that he was together with the Holy Prophet in the invisible World. One of these lights became Prophet and the other became Imam. In this connection, the Holy Prophet says:
Ali and I were created from the same light.110
Imam Ali (a.s.) who is Allah’s intimate friend is the heart of Allah’s Messenger as he shares with him everything except Prophethood. The Holy Prophet (S) says:
Adam and others are under my banner on the Judgment Day. When Allah judges among His servants, Amir al-Mu’minin (i.e. Imam Ali) will hold the banner.111
Therefore; if the mission of all the Prophets led to the mission of the Holy Prophet, the Imamate of all prophets is based on the Imamate of Imam Ali (a.s.) who was inwardly present with all prophets and outwardly with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.). Hence, the Imamate of Allah’s Messenger is united with the Imamate of Ali.
True vicegerents; Means of Grace
Any station that is attained by a person must be through the Ahl al- Bayt. In this relation, the Holy Quran says:
And seek means of nearness to Him. (5:35)
We are advised to “hold fast to Allah’s cord.” Ahl al-Bayt have been reported as saying:
We are the firm cord of Allah.3
It is a requirement to follow the Imamate of Ali (a.s.) and the Holy Imams (a.s.). in order to receive the Divine Grace – whether it is knowledge or daily food. The Holy Prophet says:
I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. Whoever wishes to enter the city and seek its wisdom must first come to the gate.
Aban ibn Taghlib, a trustworthy narrator, says: I asked Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.), “What for has Allah set the Shiites free from Hellfire?” The Imam answered, “On account of their acceptance of Ali’s Imamate.”112
Imam al-Ridha (a.s) is reported as saying in the famous narration of Salsalat al-Dhahab (Golden Chain),
(Almighty Allah says) There is no god but Allah is my fortress. Whoever enters it will be safe from punishment.
Imam al-Ridha (a.s) adds,
Accepting my Imamate is the requirement for entering the fortress.113
Therefore, prophethood of Allah’s Messenger and Imamate of Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Infallible Imams are the indisputable requirements for monotheism. It is for this reason that it has been said that task of one is the task of the other two.
Allah has professed His unity, Prophethood and Imamate:
Allah bears witness that there is no god but He… (3:18)
…and Allah knows that you are most surely His Apostle … (63:1)
Only Allah is your Wali and His Apostle and those who believe, those who keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate while they bow. (5:55)
Ahl al-Bayt are truly a means of Divine Grace and if it were it not for their sake, no one would be blessed with that Grace. Since they are near to Allah and are at the station of certainty, whoever wishes to reach this station must resort to them:
Allah started with you and will end with you and to you is the return of the people.114
The light of Ahl al-Bayt is such that even the angels who are abstract cannot bear their light, so, they fall in prostration when they seeing their light, thinking of it as Allah’s Light. It has been narrated that when Allah’s Messenger, accompanied by (Archangel) Gabriel at the Ascension Night reached the third heaven, the angels ran away first and then started falling in prostration, saying:
Glory and Holiness be to our Lord; Lord of angels and the Spirit. How close this light to the light of our Lord is.115
At any rate, Allah’s vicegerency among people is a features of the Ahl al-Bayt. According to a narration, Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) has been reported to say:
The Imams are Allah’s vicegerents on the earth.116
In al-Ziyarah al-Jamiah al-Kabirah, Imam al-Hadi (a.s) says:
He strengthened you with His omnipotence, equipped you with His guidance, distinguished you with His clear Proofs, glorified you with His Light, confirmed you with His Holy spirit, and chose you to represent Him on His earth.
Ali ibn Hassan says: Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) was asked about the Ziyarah of Imam al-Kadhim (a.s). He answered: Perform prayer near mosques and say,
“Peace be upon the favorites of Allah and the chosen ones. Peace be upon the trustees of Allah and the beloved ones. Peace be upon the supporters of Allah and His representatives.”117
About khalifah, Amir al-Muminin (a.s.) says:
On the Judgment Day, Allah’s vicegerent will be called, “Where is Allah’s representative on His earth.”118
In Dua Arafah, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) describes the Ahl al-Bayt as Allah’s representatives on the earth:
…and Your vicegerents on Your lands.119
107. Awali al-La’ali: 7/4, H. 7
108. Ta’wil al-Ayat al-Zahirah: 430
109. Awali al-La’ali: 99/4, T 140
110. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Saduq: 236
111. al-Manaqib: 23/2
112. Safinat al-Bihar: 553/1.
113. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 135/2, H. 4
114. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 272/2, H. 1
115. Ilal al-Shara’i: 312/2, Ch. 1, H. 1
116. Al-Kafi: 193/1, H. 1
117. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Tusi: 63, H. 92
118. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha: 271/2
119. Al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah, Prayer: 47.