Characteristics of the Imam; Social Management and Adornment with Moral Perfections

Hawzah News Agency- One of the key characteristics of the Imam and the basic conditions of the Imamate is social management and adornment with moral perfections.

Imam's Social Management

Since man is a social being and society has a great influence on his soul and behavior, it is necessary for his proper upbringing and growth towards divine closeness, appropriate social grounds to be created, and this will be possible under the shadow of the formation of a divine government. Therefore, the Imam and leader of the people must have the ability to manage the affairs of the society and establish an Islamic government by using the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah in order to utilize effective elements.

Imam's Adornment with Moral Perfection

The Imam, who is the leader of the society, on the one hand must be far from all evils and moral vices and, on the other hand, must possess all moral perfections to the highest degree, because as a perfect human being, he is considered the best role model for his followers.

Imam Ridha (PBUH) says in this regard:

لِلْإِمَامِ عَلاَمَاتٌ یَکُونُ أَعْلَمَ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَحْکَمَ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَتْقَی اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَحْلَمَ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَشْجَعَ اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَسْخَی اَلنَّاسِ وَ أَعْبَدَ اَلنَّاسِ. »

“The Imam has signs: he is the most knowledgeable, the wisest, the most pious, the most courageous, the most generous, and the most devoted of all people.” (Al-Khasal, Vol. 2, p. 527)

In addition, the Imam (PBUH) as the successor of the Prophet seeks to educate and train people. Therefore, he should be adorned with divine ethics before everyone and more than anybody else.

Imam Ali (PBUH) says in this regard:

مَنْ نَصَبَ نَفْسَهُ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَاماً، [فَعَلَیْهِ أَنْ یَبْدَأَ] فَلْیَبْدَأْ بِتَعْلِیمِ نَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ تَعْلِیمِ غَیْرِهِ؛ وَ لْیَکُنْ تَأْدِیبُهُ بِسِیرَتِهِ قَبْلَ تَأْدِیبِهِ بِلِسَانِهِ.»

"Whoever places himself as a leader of the people, should commence with educating his own self, before educating others; and his teaching should be by his own conduct, before teaching by the tongue. (Nahj Al-Balagha, wisdom no. 73)

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Extracted from the book “The Jewel of Creation”, with slight