Imamate: The Legacy and Writings of Āyatullāh Murtaḍā Muṭahharī

In his book about the Imamate, Muṭahharī begins with the idea that the word Imām itself is not sacred. The Imām is the leader and the head of the people. In religious terminology, the ancients define the Imamate as general leadership in the matters of this world and religion. After these quick introductions, Muṭahharī speaks about three ranks of Imamate that depend on the role given to the Imām. These three ranks are drawn from the Prophet’s (s) roles in the ummah. His first role was being a prophet connected to heaven, Allah, the realm of the unseen, and revelation. In this regard, he was an explainer of the things he received from heaven. In addition, the Prophet (s) had another role, which was adjudicating between the Muslims. The Prophet (s) usually adjudicated based on apparent proofs in all but exceptional cases, judging according to objective standards. The Prophet (s) had another role related to being the ruler of the Muslims, the leader of Islamic society, the guardian of the