Re: Part 1:The Imams from Ahlebayt whom Shia consider to be their divinely appointed
Brother **Texan_Dude **the word Mawla doesn’t mean leader by any stretch of imagination.
Literally means ‘Protector’, ‘Master’, ‘Benefactor’, ‘Supporter’, ‘Helper’, ‘Friend’, ‘Loved one’ Ally, Patron, counsellor .
See the following ayah.
That is because Allah is the Protector (mawala) of those who believe, and because the unbelievers shall have no protector (mawala) for them (47:11)
We can not have Allah (swt) as our leader (amir)! He is beyond this.
I am referring you back to Sermon 91 in Nahjulbalagha – where Hz. Ali (ra) has used the word’ Vizier’ (as counsellor).
Leave me and seek someone else. We are facing a matter which has (several) faces and colours, which neither hearts can stand nor intelligence can accept. Clouds are hovering over the sky, and faces are not discernible. You should know that if I respond to you I would lead you as I know and would not care about whatever one may say or abuse. If you leave me then I am the same as you are. It is possible I would listen to and obey whomever you make in charge of your affairs. I am better for you as a counsellor than as chief (Amir). Nahjulbalagha Sermon 91
Please note that at this critical point he never claimed or pushed his right to the Imamate.
If he was really chosen and commissioned for Imamate by Allah (swt) he would have said that in the above sermon. He had no right ‘postpone’ or ‘temporarily wash hands off it’. He was duty bound to remind the people of his divinely ordained Imamate. If he did not then he was not faithful to his mission. He was indeed a true follower of Islam. A great champion and hero of Islam. A great Scholar of Islam. It would be a sin to even think that he would ever let Islam down or not implement any requirement of it.
Refer to Prophet (saw)’s response when under pressure from the Quraishi polytheists Abu Talib asked the Prophet (saw) to soften his criticism of Quraishi gods.
“O my uncle! By Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandoned this course, I would not abandon it until Allah has made it victorious, or I perish therein.
Refer to the following ayahs.
Most surely, it is the Word brought by an honored Messenger, 69:40]
And it is not the word of a poet; little is it that you believe; 69:41]
Nor the word of a soothsayer; little is it that you mind. 69:42]
It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. 69:43]
And if he had fabricated against Us some of the sayings, 69:44]
We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, 69:45]
Then We would certainly have cut off his aorta. 69:46]
And not one of you could have withheld Us from him. 69:47]
And note Allah (swt) says that if the Prophet (saw) had ‘fabricated against Us some of the sayings,’ (that means changing Allah’s command) the in response Allah (swt) would have ‘We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, Then We would certainly have cut off his aorta. And not one of you could have withheld Us from him.
If Hz Ali was the Chosen Imam then he would have claimed it for he was fearless extremely brave and very true to Islam and Allah’s and Prophet’s commands.
Do you claim that Sunnis don’t love Ahlul Bayt and near relatives of the Prophet (saw)?