The Shi'a Wall: II
"The matter of government belongs to God. He will appoint to rule whomsoever he wills." Prophet Muhammad, speaking to Bayharah.
"O Messenger of God, convey to mankind the command that God has sent you. If you do not do so, you will have not conveyed the prophetic message. God will protect you from the harm men might cause you." Qur'an 5:67 (Given by Jibril to Muhammad after the Farewell Pilgrimmage - an ayat that established that a legatee and successor should be appointed.)
On the one hand, the honored tradition of Silsila is used by the Sunni Sufi masters. I have trained under two: one from the Qadiri tariqa ,and the other, the Naqshbandi tariqa: powerful men with deep friendships established with the journalist. I remain indebted to these men for their generosity of heart.
But the underlying Sunni tradition is also one of a Khalifa. Capacity to rule is fundamental. Law has predominance. There are historical vignettes which recount how Prophet Muhammad chose his envoys and governors. Yemen - comes readily to mind. An oral test was given, the man passed the test, and he was afforded title and rank. In their own traditions, the Sunni present as a formidable presence across the globe.
But then: the powerful concept of Imamate creates that Shi'a Wall - a fortress in its own right.
Under the Sunni tradition political and spiritual Islam are two parts of a whole. They are inseparable. But for the Shi'a, this "whole" is always in the orbit of the supernatural when it comes to Imamate. And it is this belief in a present supernatural reality which makes this such a potent belief system. The Imamate combines jurisprudential prowess with political leadership under sway of mysticism. This third component is not understood because it is experiential. But we can only hope that any given Grand Ayatollah does not suddenly receive the revelation that isotopes are the best course of action. Because if that lil' thought enters his mind, he will not hesitate. It is the will of God.
Imamate is not by election. It is by divine appointment. So Shi'a Islam is a fusion experience where mysticism confirms the will of God - as discerned by the Grand Ayatollah - who has been appointed by God. The circle... is a tight one.
In the Shi'a tradition, the word wali (ruler) cannot be separated from the word mawla (master). The one who is the ruler is also the master over the souls of men. One ayat which lays out this thought is Qur'an 33:6. "The Prophet has a greater claim to the souls of the believers than the believers themselves." If you have a right over the souls of others, there is similar right over their property, and it also gives the right to absolute rule and ability to inflict punish against those who disobey the commands of the Marja'.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not only the holder of authority but he is the guardian of the deepest secrets of the Shi'a. In the truest sense, a threat against the authority of the Imamate, is a deadly serious matter. This aging Marja' will one day be placed in the ground - most likely in the city of Qom. Another will take his place.
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