Nagib Tajdin Montreal, August 22, 1985 "Imam never disappears...

Imam must be present in this world to guide His followers in any time, for their good, to guide them to the Right Path and for the maintenance of Immat." Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Cutchh Nagalpr, 28-11-1903.

REFLECTION ON the IMAMAT OF AARON, ELEAZAR AND PHINEAS

To follow upon our article "Reflection on Immat of Melchizedek and of Terah" (26-101984), we will analyze the obvious signs here showing the presence of Imam at the time of the Prophet Moses. The advance of our analysis will lead us to consider the making of Immat by succession as well as the handing-over of the "dasond" to the Imam. Finally we will end, by using on the holy Books, to identify three Imams that have existed in this era. While speaking about the time when Immat was not declared publicly, it is interesting to note allusions at this institution in the Bible, more particularly in the Old Testament. Let us begin with the more recent sources:

IMAM AND PROPHET

"Ali was Himself the Holy Aaron, who showed the White Hand to Mose..." Riquat, "the Poem of the Manifestations", Ismailitica, p.76. "You (Ali) are for me what Aaron was for Moses..." Muhammad prophet, Hadith, Bukhari 62-9(7). Whereas the first quotation of the poet Ismalien Riquat points out to us the doctrines of the presence of Imam in this world in any time, the following one brings us to the start of this sharp subject. Indeed, this sentence pronounced by the Prophet Muhammad was the subject of a multitude of interpretations in the Muslim history. An observation is essential: if Moses was a prophet, Muhammad was too. As Ali was the Imam accompanying Muhammad, was Aaron the Imam accompanying Moses? Aaron had certain rights of which we find traces of in the Bible. This was only to show that Hazrat Ali had the same rights, the passages of the Bible treating of these rights have a certain interest if not an unquestionable interest for all the Muslims.

It is generally accepted that Moses was the brother of Aaron, which would imply according to Hadith of the Prophet that Ali would be the brother of Muhammad. However such was not the case: we know that they had a family tie less brought closer. However we know that the parents of the Prophet Muhammad had died with his birth and that he was raised by the father of Hazrat Ali. From this point of view, the relation between Ali and Muhammad are close to that which would have been like brothers. An attentive reading of the Bible gives us a precise image making it possible to refute the generally allowed opinion on the existing fraternal bond between Moses and Aaron. Astonishing is the way in which the birth of Moses is told. Indeed the Bible teaches us that a man of the house of Lvi had taken for woman a girl of Lvi. This woman gave birth to a son who was named Moses. Following the decree of the Pharaon to kill the Jewish male new-born babies, Moses is put in a basket which from goes away to drift on the river, under the vigilant eye of his sister. Until there, neither the name of the father, neither that of the mother, nor that of her sister is quoted. Even less the existence of Aaron is quoted. However Aaron had been born three years before Mose as we will see it soon. Were Moses and Aaron brothers, having for parents the same father and the same mother? The question is crucial because it evokes the distinction between the line of Immat and that of Prophecy. Indeed, we know that the Prophet Abraham had two sons, half-brothers. One having Hagar as a mother, and the other having Sarah. The elder Ismail received Immat which continued in his descent.

Schematically:

0 = bond of marriage Contradiction is obvious: it is excluded according to this diagram that Aaron of the descent of Ssmail, is the brother of Moses which is to him line of Isaac. But it is obvious that nothing is opposed so that Moses and Aaron were half-brothers. This leaves us two possibilities: 1. They had the same father but not the same mother. This possibility is to be rejected from the start because Immat passes in the male descent. 2. Same mother but two fathers: this solution is the only one to consider because it explains how Immat passed to Aaron although he was the half-brother of Moses. Indeed, by his Jewish mother, Aaron had all the rights to be regarded as Jew as well as his halfbrother, Moses.

The case does not have anything unusual - the Torah does not limit the number of wives for a man. Polygamy and the remariage created bonds from where there resulted bonds between the half-brothers and the half-sisters. Moreover the Bible clearly distinguishes "girl from her father" and "girl of his mother". For example in Lvitique XX:17, Marie, considered sister of Moses, is referred in the Bible as being the sister of Aaron: "Marie, the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took with her hand a tambourine..." (Exodus XV:20). This verse makes us think that Marie was sister of Aaron but half-sister of Moses. Several facts assure us our assumptions are correct, and a passage of the bible proves it in an irrefutable way: Deutronome 32:48-51: "the Eternal spoke in Moses and known as... you will die on the assembly where you will go up, and you will be collected near your people, like Aaron, your brother, died on the assembly of Hor and was collected near his people...". The conclusion is direct: Aaron and Moses were from two different peoples or tribes. Let us redraw the genealogy of this family to clarify not only the facts presented, but also what will follow:

0 = wife Moses married Sephora (3 *). the first reference to Aaron is made only when Mose is charged to go to the Pharaoh. According to the Bible, Exodus VIII:7, Aaron was old of 83 years and 80 years Moses at the time of this meeting. One knows the history of Moses accompanied by Aaron as from this moment. Aaron had 4 sons including two, Nadab and Abihu perished in strange circumstances.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF AARON

God called to Moses: "the man that I will have chosen will be him whose rod will flower... the following day the rod of Aaron had flowered." (Xvii:1-10 Numbers). This passage shows how God sent His Message to indicate who was the Imam. At the beginning, without being sharp with the practices of these people, Imam is presented as a leader on whom was made the divine choice. One also finds another passage (in Lvitique VIII:9) showing Moses posing on the head of Aaron the tiara, as well as the gold blade (crowned diadem) in front of the tiara, like God ordered to him. This stage is already in itself an establishment symbolic system. Priesthood was given to him by Moses on the order of God: "crowned clothing of Aaron will be after him for his sons, who will put them when one anoints them and that they will be devoted. They will be carried during seven days by that of his sons which will succeed to him in Priesthood... " (Xxix:29-30 Exodus). "Priesthood will belong to them (in Aaron and its sons) by a perpetual law (Exodus XXIX:9). It is clear that Priesthood will remain in the descent of Aaron by a divine will, in a perpetual way, which explains why Aaron was he who blessed the people and not Moses (Lvitique X:22).

The EPISODE OF GOLDEN CALF

One of the questions which one has the right to be posed is that if Aaron were Imam, why would have manufactured calf out of cast iron (Exodus XXXII:9) or gold (Exodus XXXII:24)? In fact the role of Aaron in this odd history of calf was limited to throw gold in fire. In was it responsible if it left a calf there? wasn't its noble goal to hold plain the people of Moses and to prevent it from dispersing? Aaron told them "to O my people well! One tests you by this calf. Your Lord is misricordieux. Follow me and obey my orders "(Coran XX:92). And when Moses reproaches him its behavior, Aaron answers him of TAC with TAC: "O son of my mother... cease drawing me by the beard and the head. I have fears that you would say to me then: Why did you sow dissension among the children of Israel?" (Coran XX:95). This ayat of Coran has not only the merit to release the responsibility for Aaron in this unhappy business, but also gives us a genealogical precision: the expression "O son of my mother" is full with direction and is another element in favour of our hypothesis.

RIGHT OF The IMAM TO The DASOND

God orders in the Bible, by a perpetual law, the right of Imam to receive the tithe. (Lvitique VIII:34). In Nombres XVIII:28 it is known as: "You will give the sacrificator Aaron the offering (tithe) which you will have taken for the Eternal". More clearly in Xviii:8-9 Numbers, "the Eternal called to Aaron: Here, of all the things which the children of Israel devote, I give you those which are offered to me by rise: I give them to you, with you and your sons, like law of oiling, by a perpetual law." This kind of verse is revealed in several places of the Bible, not only for Aaron but also for several Imams of Ismaliens. Only one of these verses would be sufficient to prove the right of Aaron, and after him that of its descent, to receive the tithe.

SUCCESSION Of AARON
An unknown ayat of Coran teaches us that there were indeed certain problems of acceptance when Aaron had named its successeur.(5 *) Immat of Aaron passed to his son Elazar at the time of the death. Of course Elazar was selected as successor of Aaron not by Moses but by God: "Take Aaron and his son Elazar, and make them assemble on the assembly of Hor. Strip Aaron of his clothing and put them upon Elazar, his son. It is there that Aaron will be collected and that he will die... Aaron died there, at the top of the mountain. Mose and Elazar went down from the mountain." (Numbers Xxi:25-29, and Deut. X:6-8) The text further indicates to us the house from Israel cried for Aaron during thirty days. From now on these people had a new Imam. Dasond was given to him by the Prophet Moses: "Moses gave to the sacrificator Elazar the tribute reserved as offering for the Eternal," (Nombres XXXI:4) According to Deutronome, Mose died at the 120 years age and "the Eternal buried him" in the valley with the country of Moab. Can we suggest that Mose was buried by Imam Elazar just like the Prophet Muhammad was buried by Imam Ali?

PILOGUE
The line of Immat does not stop with Elazar, and we can follow the descent of Immat until today. This task is difficult but enthralling and the discoveries are worth the effort of it. Who was Imam after Elazar? A sign is given to us: "the Eternal spoke in Moses and known as: Phinas son of Elazar, son of the sacrificator Aaron diverted my fury of top the children of Israel... this is why you will say that I treat with him an alliance of peace. It will be for him and his posterity after him, the alliance of a perpetual priesthood." (Numbers XXV:13) And After Phins? (1*) Nous laisserons de ct la position de l'Imam vis--vis des prophtes, ce sujet ayant t labor prcdemment ("Le concept et la continuit de l'Immat: les indices dans diverses sources religieuses", 20-08-1982.) QUI TAIT DONC AARON POUR MOSE? (2*) L'avantage d'tre considr comme juif tait vident: a) les Juifs auraient accept de ne suivre qu'un Imam issu de leur race, et b) seuls ceux qui faisaient partie des Juifs lors du recensement avaient droit au partage des terres lors de l'arrive destination. (3*) La fille d'un nomm Reul d'aprs Exode II:18, celle d'un nomm Jethro d'aprs Exode IV:18. (4*) Notons que la Bible signale plusieurs vnements des poques diffrentes impliquant un veau ou un autre animal. Mose lui-mme fabriqua un serpent d'airain

comme talisman (Nombres XXI:9). Ce serpent d'airain fut pris en adoration jusqu' ce que Ose, fils d'Ela, le mette en pices (2Rois XVIII:1-5). (5*) Eliash, "The Shia Quran", Revue des tudes Arabes, 1969. Nagib Tajdin Montral, 22 aot 1985

LECTURE CONSEILLE
. Le Coran, traduit par Kazimirski, Paris, Garnier-Flammarion, 1970. . La Sainte Bible, traduite par Louis Segond, London, Trinitarian Bible Society, 1978. . El Bokhari, L'authentique tradition musulmane, traduit par G.H.Bousquet, Paris, Fasquelle, 1964. . Abu Firaz, Ash-Shafiya, traduit par S.N.Makarem, Beyrouth, A.U.B., 1966. . Ivanow, W., Ismailitica, 1922.