Abstract
The spiritual life the Prophet had infused into his people did not end with his life. From the first it was an article of faith that he was present in spirit, with the worshippers at their prayers, and that his successors in the ministry were his representatives. The immanence of the Master’s spirit during the devotions establishes the harmony between the soul of man and the Divine Essence. Amongst all the dynastic rivalries and schismatic strife this mystical conception of his spiritual presence at the prayers has imparted a force to the Faith that cannot be over-estimated.
Excerpt from Sayyid Amir Ali [Ameer Ali]. “The Apostolical Succession.” The Spirit of Islam: A History of the Evolution and Ideals of Islam with a Life of the Prophet. London: Christophers, 1922, pp. 122–33.
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© 2000 Mansoor Moaddel and Kamran Talattof
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Ali, A. (2000). Authority and the Problem of Succession. In: Moaddel, M., Talattof, K. (eds) Contemporary Debates in Islam. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-61955-9_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-61955-9_10
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
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