This Is My Faith - Al-fatlawi, Ali - الصفحة ٢١٦ - The Concept of Imamate
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Imam Ali Bin Mosa Al-Riza (PBUH) says:
“Imamate is greater, more exalted, more glorified, stronger and deeper than people can comprehend with their reasoning or thoughts or choose an Imam on their own. The Most Gracious Allah bestowed Imamate upon Abraham, the Intimate Companion (PBUH) after naming him Prophet, and intimacy is the third in ranks and a quality that the Almighty Allah honored him with as He put it in the Noble Quran:
(…I have appointed thee a leader for mankind…)٢;١٢٤, then the Intimate Companion (PBUH) says: (…and of my offspring?). The Almighty Allah responds: (My covenant includeth not wrongdoers).
Thus, this Holy Verse invalidates the Imamate of a wrongdoer till the Day of Resurrection; the Almighty Allah put it among the Chosen and the Pure of his offspring. That is why, He says:
(And We bestowed upon him Isaac, and Jacob as a grandson. Each of them We made righteous۞And We made them chiefs who guide by Our command, and