This Is My Faith - Al-fatlawi, Ali - الصفحة ٢٦٤ - Why Is ‘Loving The Imams (PBUT)’ Requisite?
Regarding this same Holy Verse, Al-‘Aiyashi reports from Abi ‘Omair Az-Zobairi that Abu Abdullah (PBUT) said: “Don’t you think that whose testimony over a measure of dates is not accepted in this world may never be asked by Allah for testimony in the Day of Resurrection? Will He accept this testimony in the presence of all past nations? No! Allah never meant such people”.
We have to keep in mind that they are the route and the guide to the Almighty Allah as they are acting on the behalf of the Prophet (PBUH), and so knowing the Imams (PBUT) is similar to knowing the Messenger of Allah (PBUH); otherwise people will be lost and confused. Here is the evidence to this:
Abu Ja’far Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir (PBUH) says: “Whoever exhausts himself with devotions to Allah without following the guide to Allah, none of his efforts are accepted, as he is lost and confused and Allah is ashamed from his deeds”.
Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) also says: “If the Most Gracious Allah wills, He could inform Himself to his slaves, but He positioned us as path and route and