Analysis of the Principle of Imamate from the Perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei with a Comparative Study of al-Kafi’s Book of “Al-Hujjah”

“Imamate” is one of the most influential topics in the major jurisprudential discussions regarding the governance of the Islamic society, and it serves as a beneficial measure in preventing deviations within the Ummah and liberating it from the ignorance of pre-Islamic life and death. The analysis of the issue of imamate, apart from its conceptual meaning, in terms of legislative and guardianship roles within the community, is a Quranic and narrational principle reflected in the report of Kulayni from “Al-Hujjah,” and its absence leads to negligence of valuable branches, including religious democary, the appointment nature of the Imam’s position, the obligation to migrate from the tyranny of oppressive rule, and the obligation of intellectual, emotional, and behavioral obedience of the Ummah to the rightful Imam. The present research, utilizing descriptive and analytical methods, initially reveals the systematic relationship of the Leader’s statements in interpreting the verse of completing the religion and related statements around the topic of imamate. Then, by analyzing the structure of the comprehending-hadith reports from Kulayni’s book, “Al-Hujjah of al-Kafi,” it attempts to discover the intended network of the Shari’a concerning the culmination of blessings upon the Islamic Ummah and demonstrate that the Imam is the reality of divine authority on Earth. When it becomes the focal point of action for the members of the Islamic Ummah, the realization of monotheistic unity and justice in society, the connection between worldly and hereafter felicity, unity and solidarity, salvation from modern ignorance, and the elevation of the community’s internal motivation through the Imam’s supervision will be part of the fruits of it. This paper posits that perspective of the esteemed position of leadership (Ayatollah Khamenei) as the Imam of the Islamic Ummah today is comparable to a portion of the reports that Late Kulayni had during the minor occultation period regarding the principle of imamate and its requirements, and the current management of the society can be considered as a continuation of the imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt.