The Ways of Communication between Angels and Imams (a.s.)

Communications between prophets and even some of those like Mary (a.s.) who have been chosen by God on the one hand and angels on the other is one of the important issuesdiscussed in our Qur’anic and narrative culture. In spite of its importance, this issue has been for various reasons neglected. In the present writing, employing the analytic and descriptive methodology and studying hadiths of the Infallibles (a.s.), the author tries to provide a replies for the following questions: “does Qur’anic and narrative evidence confirm the communication between Imams (a.s.) and other people who are not prophets on the one hand and angels on the other?” and “if yes, in which ways is this communication established?” In this study, the author comes to the conclusion that there are Qur’anic and narrative arguments for this communication of Imams (a.s.) and other people who are not prophets and this communication is established in two ways: either angels are incarnated or Imams (a.s.) and other people who are not prophets communicate with angels through al-tahdith (the fact of speaking to someone). al-Tahdith is angels’ speaking withthe friend of God; in this case, the angel does not see the one with whom the angel speaks and only hears his voice. To establish such a communication, the one with whom the angel speaks needs not to be a prophet. This is other than inspiration in which some points come to one’s heart.