The Holy Quran, akin to a guiding lamp, illuminates the path for the seekers of truth and, within its luminous verses, presents the principles and foundations of the pure life to humanity. This celestial scripture is not merely a manual for servitude, but rather a roadmap for organising human relations on individual, social, and political dimensions. In this treatise, through reflection upon the divine verses and the narrations of the Infallibles (peace be upon them), three fundamental axes are examined: the difference between the Infallible and the jurist in the position of legislation and obedience; the global policy of Islam and the universality of the prophetic mission; and the governing principles of covenant and pact in the Islamic system. These reflections, rooted in the discourses of religious scholars, endeavour to clarify the exalted status of the Infallibles in legislating rulings, the global scope of the mission, and the importance of faithfulness to covenant in political and social relations. Each section of this work is organised with reliance upon the verses of the Holy Quran and the narrations in such a manner as to convey profound religious concepts to the reader with clear and firm language.
One of the fundamental issues in understanding the religious system is elucidating the status of the Infallible and the jurist in the process of legislating and implementing divine rulings. The Infallible, as the intermediary of divine grace, occupies an unparalleled status that distinguishes him from the jurist. This distinction lies not only in the position of infallibility but also in legislative independence and the absolute obedience expected of him.
The Infallibles (peace be upon them), owing to the divine endowment of infallibility, are immune from error and sin. This attribute permits them to issue rulings which may differ from the apparent meaning of the Holy Quran. These rulings, by virtue of the position of infallibility, constitute binding proof for the believers, and obedience to them is absolute and unconditional. The Holy Quran states:
"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger."
This verse commands obedience to God, the Messenger, and the 'those in authority' absolutely and without condition. The 'those in authority', in Shiite interpretation, refer to the Infallibles (peace be upon them), who possess a status whereby their rulings, even without explicit reference to the Quran, are obligatory for the believers. The Infallible is like a pure spring of divine knowledge: both legislator and one who follows the law; that is, he both enacts divine rulings and adheres to them himself.
Unlike the Infallible, the jurist lacks legislative independence. He is merely an interpreter of the Book and the Sunnah, and his rulings must be se two sources. Obedience to the jurist is conditional upon requirements such as justice, maturity, and intellect, and cannot be deemed absolute. The jurist is akin to a physician who, through expertise and justice, diagnoses the ailments of society and proposes treatments; yet these treatments are only valid within the framework of the Book and Sunnah. If a jurist claims to issue a ruling independently, such a claim is not acceptable from a jurisprudential perspective, as he is merely a deputy of the Infallible, not an Infallible himself.
The fundamental difference between the Infallible and the jurist lies in the source of the ruling. The Infallible, due to direct connection with divine revelation, may issue a ruling without explicit reference to the Quran or Sunnah, whereas the jurist is obliged to substantiate each ruling with these two sources. This distinction is analogous to the difference between the sun, which emits light itself, and the moon, which merely reflects the suns light. The Infallible is like the sun, the source of light; the jurist is like the moon, merely reflecting the light of the Book and Sunnah.
Infallibility is a precious gem granted by God to the Infallibles, protecting them from all error and sin. This attribute distinguishes the Infallible from the jurist, for although the jurist may be just and expert, he may err in deduction. Infallibility acts as a shield preserving the Infallible from the storms of error, whereas the jurist, relying on knowledge and justice, strives only to walk the path of truth.
The distinction between the Infallible and the jurist stems from infallibility, legislative independence, and the nature of obedience. The Infallible, due to the divine endowment of infallibility, occupies an unparalleled position enabling him to issue rulings that may differ from the apparent text of the Quran. The jurist, however, is merely an interpreter of the Book and Sunnah, and obedience to him is conditional. This distinction also clarifies the system of the jurists guardianship, in which the jurist acts as the deputy of the Infallible, not equal to him.
The Holy Quran introduces Islam as a universal religion whose mission is not confined to a particular nation or region but encompasses all humanity. This universality is reflected in numerous Quranic verses and narrations of the Infallibles (peace be upon them), demonstrating the superiority of the true religion over other faiths, not by domination but through guidance and persuasion.
