Conditions of Imama and Qualities of the Imam

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘None can bear this responsibility [Imama] except those who are patient, and have insight and knowledge of the circumstances of this issue.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The Imam needs a wise heart, an expressive tongue and a staunch soul [i.e. authority] in establishing the truth.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘One who appoints himself as a leader of the people must first begin by educating himself before educating others; he must discipline through his own behaviour, before disciplining with his tongue.

Imam Ali said, ‘None can uphold the command of Allah, Glory be to Him, save one who is neither neglectful [in carrying out his duties], nor runs after his personal gains, nor follows coveted desires.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Among the definitions of the custodianship of an Imam whose obedience is obligatory is to know that he is immune from committing mistakes, errors, intentional wrongs, and from all sins, petty and grave. He never makes mistakes or sin, and neither is he ever diverted from the issues that endanger the religion by any sort of diversion. He is the most knowledgeable of all people about what Allah has made lawful and unlawful, His obligations, recommendations and rulings. He stands needless of the entire world whilst they all need him. And he is the most generous and courageous of men.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘You certainly know that he who is in charge of the honor, the lives, the booty [enforcement of], the commandments and the leadership of the Muslims must not be: a miser, as he would avidly crave their wealth, nor an ignorant man as he would then mislead them with his ignorance, nor crude in his manner for he would estrange them with his crudeness, nor one who deals unjustly with different places thus preferring one group over another, nor one to accept bribes in his ruling lest he forfeit peoples rights and pass judgments without them, nor one to abolish recommended practices whereby he would ruin the community.

Imam al-?asan (AS), in his letter to the inhabitants of Kufa said, ‘By my life, an Imam is only one who rules by the Book, a maintainer of justice, bound to the right religion, who controls himself for the sake of Allah.

Imam al-Baqir (AS), explaining the characteristics of an Imam, said, ‘[He must be] of legitimate birth and well-bred, he neither gets distracted and nor does he play.

Imam al-Ridha (AS), describing an Imam, said, ‘Thoroughly proficient with leadership and well-versed in politics.