Do scholars have a role in appointing the Imam?

The Scholars — the people of decision and authority (Ahl al-ḥall wa’l-ʿaqd) — do have a role in appointing and pledging allegiance to the Imam, exactly as happened with Imam al-Qāsim ibn Ibrāhīm al-Rassī.

When the noble leaders of the Prophet’s family gathered — the ascetic of the Ahl al-Bayt, Mūsā ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Mūsā al-Jawn; Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā ibn Zayd ibn ʿAlī; al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn Zayd ibn ʿAlī; the ḥadīth memorizer Muḥammad ibn Manṣūr al-Murādī; and al-Qāsim ibn Ibrāhīm al-Rassī — they presented Abū Muḥammad, Imam al-Qāsim ibn Ibrāhīm al-Rassī, for the Imamate. He accepted and stepped forward.

Once he accepted, they established the proof (ḥujjah) against him — meaning that after his acceptance, it became incumbent upon him to rise when obstacles and excuses were removed. Without his consent, however, that would not occur.

After the Ahl al-ḥall wa’l-ʿaqd (those qualified to decide) gathered and gave their allegiance, the Imam would then rise and call the people, and it would become obligatory for the people to respond to his call.

Likewise, Yaḥyā ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥasan, Mūsā al-Kāẓim ibn Jaʿfar, and the prominent men of the descendants of al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn gathered and presented Imam al-Ḥusayn al-Fakhkhī for the Imamate. He accepted, rose, called (the people), and was martyred in the year 169 AH.

Similarly, pledges of allegiance were gathered by Ibn al-Ashʿath al-Kindī with Imam al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib. The Imam al-Ḥasan said:

“I have no reluctance to undertake the command of God, nor am I indifferent to reviving the religion of God. But you are not faithful — you pledge allegiance to me and then abandon me.”

When their commitment became firm, he rose and called (the people), but his movement did not reach completion because the Umayyads sent the army of Ibn al-Ashʿath against them before Imam al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan could reach them. He was pursued, and he died poisoned — peace be upon him.

It was also pointed out that the beginning of the Fatimid movement might have been a call around which scholars and the common people rallied — so the foundation in both cases is the daʿwah (the call to rise).

May God grant you success.

Answered by: Ustadh al-Kāẓim al-Zaydī — may God grant him success.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muḥammad and upon the family of Muḥammad