Concerning the Imamate. And it contains several subjects for discussion. The Imam is necessary (1) First, the Imamate is a universal authority (riyasa) in the things of religion and of the world belonging to some person and derived from (niyaba) the Prophet. And it is necessary (wajib) according to reason. For the Imamate is a kindness (from Allah) (lutf), and we know absolutely that when men have a chief (ra'is) and a guide (murshid) whom they obey, who avenges the oppressed from his oppression, then they draw near to soundness (salah) and depart from corruption. And we have s