Rational and Revealed principles of ontological authority

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

assistant professor of Baqir Al-Ulum University

Abstract

The issue of Imamate can be treated with two worldly and heavenly approaches. Revealed sources of Holy Quran and Hadiths as the most importantorigins of theistic knowledge see the position of Imamate as higherthan worldly and conventional one and with an ontological view identify velayat or inner authority as themost important and progressive hallmarkof Imamate. Consulting and inspiring from revealed source philosophers and mystics attempted to give rational explanation for this peculiar status of Divine Vicegerency which is much higher than exoteric and conventional positions. According to these thinkers, Imam is always divine authority in the course of creation and endowed with esoteric capacity enabling him to change and control the course of events. Thisinner authority originates from his being Vicegerent of God and subject to his existentialstatus which is common aspect of both Prophecy and Imamate. The main feature of velayat is to enjoy the proximity to God, transcendent knowledge, pure and wholesome servitude which yield creative power and generative authority.

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