What Is the Relationship Between the Authority of the Jurist and the Authority of the Infallible Imam?

The most discerning, wisest, most learned and most dedicated jurist of the Two Weighty Things is the radiant lamp of the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Household. In truth, he speaks for the Two Weighty Things. So long as he preserves this standing and upholds his dignity, composure, piety, and the qualifications of the most learned and the wisest, the shadow of the divine Proof’s authority will shelter creation!

The condition for divine love and special attention is following the most discerning scholars!

Rawḍat al-wāʿiẓīn قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص أَ لَا أُحَدِّثُكُمْ عَنْ أَقْوَامٍ لَيْسُوا بِأَنْبِيَاءَ وَ لَا شُهَدَاءَ يَغْبِطُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الشُّهَدَاءُ بِمَنَازِلِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ فَقِيلَ مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يُحَبِّبُونَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ يُحَبِّبُونَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِلَيَّ قَالَ يَأْمُرُونَهُمْ بِمَا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ وَ يَنْهَوْنَهُمْ عَمَّا يَكْرَهُ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا أَطَاعُوهُمْ أَحَبَّهُمُ اللَّهُ.
Biḥār al-anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 2, p. 24

The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: “Shall I tell you about a group who are neither prophets nor martyrs, yet on the Day of Resurrection the prophets and martyrs will envy them for their standing before God, as they sit upon pulpits of light?”

He was asked, “O Messenger of God, who are they?”

He replied, “They are those who make God beloved to His servants, and make me beloved to God’s servants.”

Then he added, “They enjoin upon people what God loves and forbid them what He abhors. When people obey them, God loves those who obey.”

The most discerning and wisest scholars are vessels for divine knowledge: that is, they enjoy a special regard from Allah, Lord of the worlds. Allah Himself pours knowledge into them; in other words, from His own treasury—through God’s Proof—He pours knowledge into their souls!

Ghawālī al-laʾālī قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْتَزِعُ الْعِلْمَ انْتِزَاعاً وَ لَكِنْ يَنْتَزِعُهُ بِمَوْتِ الْعُلَمَاءِ حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ اتَّخَذَ النَّاسُ رُؤَسَاءَ جُهَّالًا فَأَفْتَوُا النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ فَضَلُّوا وَ أَضَلُّوا.
Biḥār al-anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 2, p. 24

The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: “Indeed, God does not take knowledge away all at once; rather, He takes it away through the death of the scholars, until not one of them remains. Then people appoint ignorant persons as their leaders. Those leaders give people religious rulings without knowledge, and so they themselves go astray and lead others astray.”

A good law can be established widely and effectively only under a government!

Al-Ikhtiṣāṣ قَالَ الْعَالِمُ ع مَنِ اسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّةٍ حَسَنَةٍ فَلَهُ أَجْرُهَا وَ أَجْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَ مَنِ اسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّةٍ سَيِّئَةٍ فَعَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا وَ وِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْ‏ءٌ.
Biḥār al-anwār (Beirut edition), vol. 2, p. 24

The Imam, the Knower (peace be upon him), said: “Whoever establishes a good practice will receive its reward, and the reward of everyone who acts upon it, without anything being deducted from their rewards. And whoever establishes an evil practice will bear its sin, and the sin of everyone who acts upon it, without anything being deducted from their sins.”

Establishing a good practice means enacting sound laws founded on the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Household. Such people are the objects of the Exalted Lord’s special attention and regard. It is obligatory for the ignorant to follow the eminent, wise scholars! Their authority is the authority of knowledge. Such scholars speak for the Two Weighty Things, and their authority must be upheld so long as they remain the radiant lamp of the Two Weighty Things!