by In-House Scholar
Nobowat and Imamat
Nabi ( نبی)= Prophet
Nobowat (نبوت) = Prophecy
Rasool (رسول)= Messenger
Resalat ( رسالت)=Messenger with a mission/ prophetic mission
Imam (امام) = Leader
Imamat = (امامت) Leadership
Shariat= (شریعت) Laws
Whoever is in contact with God, and gets orders from him is a Nabi.
And if one is assigned to do a specific task,
this act is called Be-esat بعثت.
Like the one time Be-esat of the crow from God,
for Qabeel (Cane, prophet Adam's son)
فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ غُرَابًا - مائده31
And if someone is sent because he is missioned
for one person or more,he is called a rasool.
Imamat is one of the cases and stages,
but is not higher than Nobowat (prophecy) per se,
because if there is no Nobowat (prophecy),
a person cannot become aware of the divine laws,
and as a result of obeying the laws, reaches the status of Resalat (prophetic mission).
Whether this nobowat is for oneself,
whether this nobowat is for close to kin,
whether for a city or the residential area of that person,
or whether it is a resalat for the whole world.
What has been mentioned, is the Stages (hierarchy) which the rasool gains,
and eventually reaches the stage of nobowat, resalat and Olel- Azam
(Master of determination).
Hence it is the " Shariat"( laws) that is received by the nabi,
and makes a person a nabi, rasool, nazeer (warner/glad tiding), and Imam etc
but this same nabi and rasool, or any other person,
after being additionally tested, can achieve the status of Imamat (leadership),
which will include other responsibilities, in continuation of the path of nabi and rasool,
but it does not mean that the Status of Imamat (leadership) is higher than nabi and rasool.
The Torah of Musa (A.S) was an Imam (Leader).
The Quran is also an Imam (Leader).
The Messenger (pbuh) also reached the stage of Imamat ( Leadership).
Ali (a.s) and his eleven offsprings (a.s) also reached the stage of Imamat.
Ibrahim (a.s)also, along with some of his off springs became Imam.
As a matter of fact , according to the Quranic verse, regarding Ibrahim (a.s)
Imamat is a covenant,
but resalat is to introduce everything for all,
and even an Imam has to act under the laws which the nabi and rasool has expressed,
and is in the same framework,
and according to those laws, has reached this stage.
Also, Imamat, is a determined position from God,
and Imam is someone who is determined by God
and so the position of Imamat and the word Imam is related to God,
like the word nabi and rasool.
Hence it is not our choice to state who is an Imam
Because God said we make/produce an imam
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً - انبیاء73
And says, we inform good deeds, thru inspiration
أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ - انبیاء73
An Imam,guides people ( thru inspiration) by the command of God
يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا - انبیاء73
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا - سجده24
The whole verse indicates this
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ - انبیاء73
Hence, Imamat is in continuation of nabi and rasool,
and actually feeds on the above two and takes shape.
The difference in receiving inspiration between a Prophet and Imam is,
what the prophet receives from God is "Shariat" -Laws,
which includes abrogated, annulled, etc ,
which shapes the verses of the book,
and is a law for that nabi, rasool, Imam, and the rest of the people.
But what the Imam receives as inspirations,
Is not even, one more verse extra,
because, in this case the number of verses descending on the Imam,
will be more than the number of verses descended on the rasool, and this is impossible.
In summary, Imamat is in continuation of nabi and rasool,
and does not precede that of nabi and of a rasool
Special stages besides nabi, rasool, and Imamat,
is receiving specific knowledge from God.
Like the difference between the knowledge of Khizr (a.s) in comparison to Moses (a.s)
and God said , we have given him mercy from our side
and have taught him knowledge from our own
فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا
وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا - کهف65
When Moses (a.s) meets Khizr, he indicates,
and says I want to follow you,
so,you could teach me, from the guidance that has been taught to you,
قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا - کهف66
Another type of similar knowledge, is to become aware of a thing,
which God introduces only by the word "Book کتاب"
This book includes things that if someone like Asaf Barkhia (Suliman's Successor),
knows just a little part of it,
knows the Great Name (Esm - Azam),
with which he can gain whatever he determines.
That also, just by determining,
so whatever he wants, comes towards Asaf himself.
without even being necessary for Asaf to transfer to that location himself,
like bringing the throne of Bilquis for Sulaiman (a.s).
قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ - نمل40
In the verse above which is related to the subject
God by adding the nunation(ٌ تنوین/Tanween) for the word علم ( knowledge),
Is exactly pointing to this case that Asaf does not have all the knowledge of the book.
However we see that even such little knowledge is so powerful.
On the other hand, it is suitable to mention about this book,
the amazing position of our Beloved, meaning Hazrat Ali ( a.s),
which God says that he has been given the knowledge of the whole book,
and this is beside the position of Imamat !
وَمَنْ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ - رعد43
In Hadiths it has been mentioned that Asaf Barkhia knew one Esm - Azam
(Greater Name of God),
and it has been said the Prophet (pbuh) and the Imams (a.s),
from the collection of 73 Esm- Azam ( greater Name of God).
know 72 names of it,
and the one remaining name is with God , and no one knows about it.
Amongst other knowledge is " Book" and "Wisdom."
Which is separate from the Divine books, which is descended upon prophets,
and actually is a basis for nobowat and resalat.
Like the verse which indicates to the existence of "Book کتاب " and "wisdom حکمت "
before the deliverance of Torah and Injeel (Gospel),
the teaching of the Book , Wisdom, Torah, and the Gospel to Jesus (a.s)
وَيُعَلِّمُهُ **الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ** وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ - آل عمران48
إِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ **الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ** وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ - مائده110
And apart from these matters and degrees,
Like, :-
Al- Masani,(which the 7 verses were gifted to the prophet (pbuh) apart from the Quran), المثانی
The Mother Book ام الکتاب
Book کتاب
Wisdom حکمت
Preserved Tablet لوح محفوظ
The Mother Book ام الکتاب
Book of deeds کتاب اعمال
Book of termination کتاب اجل
Book of definite events کتاب وقایع حتمی
Book of changeable events کتاب وقایع قابل تغییر
Book of various scenarios of Qaza and Qadar (rules and measures) کتاب حالات مختلف قضا و قدره
Book of final registration of what has happened کتاب ثبت نهایی
Book of overall acts of an era کتاب اعمال کلی
Book of Laws of each era,which includes all abrogations and annulments
کتاب شریعت کل ناسخ و منسوخ
Book of Criterion of each Law, which is the thorough explanation of each one of the
"Shariat/Laws" کتاب فرقان کل شریعت
Book of each creation, with complete details of it, from the time of creation,
till the time it exists in existence, is in itself کتاب کل مخلوق مشخصات کامل
And Just for an example, this one verse is enough,
which says on behalf of God,
We have registered everything with precise details in a form of a book.
وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ كِتَابًا - نباء29
Other verses which are related to it:
Everything has been made with exact measure:
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ - قمر49
Everything with God is in precise measure
وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِندَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ - رعد48
For this reason, in another amazing verse God says:
There is nothing that is not in store with us,
and we don't send it but in a specified measure
وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِندَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَّعْلُومٍ - حجر21
And another amazing verse, which indicates to a specific Sky,
and God said, your sustenance and what you have been promised,
are in a specific sky.
وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ - ذاریات22
The fascination in Quran in never ending,
and the more you go inside it, the deeper we get.
And each word indicates to wider meaning.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ
وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
صافات182-180
In matters of priorities,
when someone receives information from God,
this person is a nabi.
Either for oneself, or for the whole existence.
If this nabi is even able to guide one person,
up to the ability to guide the whole of existence,
he will be honored for this mission,
and is sent for this matter,
and this sending means being a nabi.
Hence, the foundation of the act of a nabi
is the information the nabi receives,
and perhaps, someone is a Nabi (prophet), but not a rasool (prophet with a mission)
and perhaps someone is a rasool but not a nabi.
But in the case of an Imam,
firstly, an Imam acts on the basis of the orders which the nabi has brought,
or receives it from God himself.
So, again, the root of it, is nobowat,
and everyone needs nobowat.
Because the moment a news is received from God,
Nobody knows what to do in regards to God,
and from another side, as we have said,
it is impossible for an Imam to receive a revelation from God,
which revelation has not descended on the current prophet,
who has brought the " Shariat " (laws) for that very same Imam.
As so, in this way, the position of an Imam will be higher than that of a nabi,
and that divine choice, will need the Imam, who is after him,
so that he can understand new revelation, and this is impossible.
Hence Imam is lower than nabi.
However, till there is nobowat and resalat (prophetic mission),
even if the position of Imamat is acquired,
it has no use for the time being.
The use of an Imam is precisely when the nabi and rasool dies.
It is here that the Imam, in continuation of the Law, comes into action.
Therefore, Imamat is a stage lower than that of nabi and resalat ( prophetic mission).
As it has been explained,
for us to understand what God wants from us,
by acting on what is asked from us,
we could reach the status of rasool and Imamat.
Isn’t it necessary to be a nabi first,
or receive the information of God thru a nabi?
Definitely the answer is yes.
Hence nobowat is the origin and foundation
of all of the rest of the matters.
If Ibrahim (a.s) was not a nabi (prophet),
how could he have understood and implemented the tests from God?
Maybe this reasoning has become popular,
but does this mean that the status of Imams(a.s) is higher than the status of nabi,
and resalat (prophetic mission) of the messenger (pbuh) ?
Whereas the Imams have reached this position by obeying perfectly,
the laws which the Nabi Mohammad (pbuh) received,
and these laws were not received unless by reaching,
the status of nobowat (prophecy) by his Holiness.
In reality, if there is no nabi (prophet),
neither can there be contact with God,
nor can commands be received from God,
and positions such as Resalat (prophetic mission), Imamat,
etc would be meaningless and impossible.
Also, to reach the status of Imamat,
God tested Ibrahim (a.s) with specific words,
And when God talks about “Word کلمه ”
For sure, this “Word کلمه ” and its meaning
is lower than the signs God descended on his nabi.
According to a verse in Quran,
The book of Moses(a.s), which is Torah, had the status of Imamat (leadership)
What happens to the position of the book in comparison to these Holy figures?
Which is higher and which is lower?
Each rasool, from the time they become nabi,
till the end of their worldly lives, are busy being tested by God.
We know the descriptions of some of their mistakes in the Quran.
Imamat also carries specific stages and responsibilities of its own,
that a nabi or rasool or anyone else,
if accepted in it, can gain them.
In a simple example, we can explain Nobowat (prophecy) and Imamat( leadership) like this:
Nobowat is receiving Laws from God who is the absolute Law maker.
Imamat is the official guardian of the precise implementation of divine laws,
without the slightest act of sympathy and personal opinions.
Meaning, to think that the prophet is,for an example,
as the legislator of traffic and driving laws,
but does not directly get involved to implement the law,
and over here the Imam is an example of a traffic and driving officer,
who without considering any personal acquaintance towards anyone,
as soon as anyone commits a crime, he/she would be penalized.
We know that The Prophet Mohammaad (pbuh) said, امرت بمداراة الناس
“I have been commanded to be tolerant with people”
But in the actions of Imam Ali (a.s) we see that,
it is full with sternness in implementing the laws and limits .
The prophet (pbuh) as far as he could , would forgive people.
But Imam Ali (a.s) would deal strictly with mistakes.
This is one of many differences of Imamat and nobowat.
Nabi is the presenter of the Laws.
Imam is the officer of implementing the very same law.
Also, I would like to remind again,
according to the given explanation,
an Imam is also a nabi,
because he receives the mission and information
from God, in a form of inspiration.
So, Nobowat is the mother of all the positions,
and the necessity of it is definite.
But surely, anybody who gets a position/status from God,
requests for it,for their dear ones also.
Because getting a position from God,
apart from the meaning, of status itself,
means that God is satisfied with the performance of that person,
and the special servants of God, are seeking to gain this satisfaction,
which carries an eternal honor with it.