The role of Imam (in occultation) in guidance and its principles

The issue of benefits and impacts of Imam in (spiritual) evolution of human beings is usually asked after proving the necessity of existence of imam in occultation and its reasoning based on wisdom and traditions. At a minimum, the notion of Imam's position is like other rulers plus guaranteeing justice. Such an interpretation is not only faulty in determining the position of Imamate as well as the absence of the Imam, but also confuse in analyzing the role of Imam. In the Holy Quran, the imam and his role and true position in guiding is expressed, for instance, in the verses known as the 'Shahada' in Quran. 'Shahada' which means the testimony, can be interpreted as the testimony of spiritually elite group of people in the Quran. There are different interpretations in this regard, such as the impact of 'shehada' of prophets and descendents in the day of Resurrection and Hereafter. Yet, according to the evidence from Quran and traditions it is more valid to say that such a testimony of chosen group people can happen in this world. They get informed from the acts and deeds of all people and have impact of people worldly lives. This also provides the ground for a more significant consideration based on which all creation is founded and gives meaning to the grand mission of prophets and Imams, that is the full-fledged guidance and growth and bringing every act to its best realization. The latter is what god himself has promised to bring about. In this way, the role of people who do testimony of all human's actions and their intermediary role is realization of a special kind of godly guidance. The process is in the same way as the prophets received the message from God and transferred it to humans as guiding principles.This article makes a comparative analysis of the several interpretations of the verses of the testimony, and reviews and critiques some of the ideas and explains unknown angles as to why and how the results of 'shehada'. This, thus, presented part of the explanation of the role and place of the Imam of the Time in (peoples) guidance.