Allamah Hilli on Imamate in Kashf al-Murad, Part I
It is necessary for all people to have a leader, or Imam, who guides them towards morality and abandoning corruption. This type of leader is a blessing and grace of God. In Shi‘i Islam, the concept of Imamate refers to the necessity of having a divinely-appointed leader who will lead the Islamic nation after the Prophet’s death. This Imam surpasses all people in every venerable quality such as piety, knowledge, courage, and wisdom. The infallible Imam carries the role of both continuing the task of the Prophet in presenting true Islam as well as being a political leader. This is a chapter on the responses to objections raised against Imamate from prominent scholar Allamah Hilli’s Kashf ul-Murād, expanded on from Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s Tajrid al-I‘tiqād – the first treatise on Shi‘i theology. Kashf al-Murad is one of the most widely read of Allamah al-Hilli’s publications as it is the first commentary written on Allamah al-Tusi’s work.