آیا لفظ نیابت عام در عصر غیبت صحیح است؟

Since the people as a whole have reached no definitive consensus on one particular individual, anyone who emerges through the search for, and selection of, the most learned scholar comes to be regarded as a religious authority for meeting people’s devotional needs. And because each individual or group identifies the most learned according to its own understanding and judgment, the number of religious authorities multiplies accordingly.

Strictly speaking, calling this “general deputyship” is a loose and imprecise usage. For people throughout the world who are seeking their Imam of the Age take as their religious authority for meeting their spiritual and religious needs whichever scholar’s views they find closest to those of their Imam.