An Introduction to the Criteria of recognizing an Imam

The Imamate has a unique position among Islamic teachings and so the issue of knowing an Imam and the criteria that can be used to reach that knowledge will also be an important one.But before going into the discussion of the criteria, one can get a clearer picture of the dimensions of the problem by asking preliminary questions in this field. Answers to these questions can shed light on what they have come to us from the Ahlul-Beit and help us to understand their traditions more precisely. These questions are: Whom do we want to identify and with what features? What are the Situations Needed to Know an Imam? And what are their problems? What is the role of an Imam in becoming known? What is the role of people's need and urgency for Imam in knowing an Imam? The criteria of knowing an Imam for Whom can be useful? What are the criteria for recognizing an Imam? Should an Imam meet all the criteria mentioned in the narrations or is it sufficient to attain some? Which of the criteria mentioned in the narratives related to the period of the Imam presence and which are related to the era of the Absence?