Status of Divine Prophets; From Receiving Revelation to Leadership of Society
Among the messengers of God, Prophet Abraham (AS) has a special status and position. His name is mentioned 69 times in 25 Surahs of the Quran. Like Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he has been introduced as a role model for humanity. Using rationality, he fought with deviation and Shirk (polytheism) in different fields. He was given the status of Imamate after passing major divine tests.
“And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam (leader) of men. Abraham said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.”
At least two parts of this verse are significant. The first part that refers to Abraham’s (AS) Imamate, and the second one in which God underlines the constant companionship of Imamate and justice. But what does Imamate in this verse really mean and how does it relate to prophethood?
As for the first question, it should be said that after passing divine tests, each prophet of God has reached some certain statuses, one of which is Imamate.
According to Nemuneh Exegesis of the Quran, prophethood is the position of a person who receives God’s revelation. So a prophet is one to whom God sends His revelation. “Risalah” is another position in which the prophet is tasked with conveying and propagating the revelation and promoting divine rules, thus educating and raising awareness in the society. “Rasul” is one who is tasked with striving to create a cultural and ideological revolution in the area of his mission.
The status of Imamate, meanwhile, means leadership and governance. In fact, an Imam is one who establishes a divine government to implement divine rules. In other words, the responsibility of Imam is implementing God’s orders while a Rasul’s responsibility is only introducing and teachings those orders.
So Imamate is a status higher and superior to prophethood and Risalah, because it requires great merits and virtues in various areas. Abraham (AS) achieved this status after he passed divine tests and, according to the Holy Quran, this was the last stage in his movement toward perfection.
Messages of the first part of verse 124 of Surah Al-Baqarah, according to Nemuneh Exegesis of the Quran:
1- Even divine prophets are tested by God. “And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain words.”
2- In order to appoint someone to a position, there needs to be testing (to prove qualifications). “And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain words.”
3- Positions should be given to people gradually and after success in each stage. “He fulfilled them.”
4- Imamate is a status that is given to someone through appointment (by God) not through voting. An Imam must be appointed by God. “Surely I will make you an Imam.”
