O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best and best in result. (Quran,  surah an_nisa, Ayah 59)

This verse was sent down when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) setting off for the Battle of Tabuk, appointed Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor in Medinah, declaring: “You are to me like Aaron to Moses, except that there will be no prophet after me.” The Almighty God never governs himself; rather, He grants His dominion upon His prophets and imams in the shape of government. Therefore, this verse refers to the people’s responsibility against the Almighty God and His Prophet. With these three authorities being there, there will be no deadlock for people: “God,” “Prophet,” and “those who are in authority.”

But whom shall we obey when we don’t have access to the infallible imams and the twelfth of whom is in occultation? In order to comprehend this, we make a reference to a hadith by Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq: “Umar Ibn Hanzalah, a follower of Imam, went to Him and asked: “Two of your Shiites had a dispute over an issue. They went to Mansour Davanighi, the tyrannical Abbasid Caliph, for a judgment. His judgment was correct and he did justice to them.” Imam declared: “Since this right is given to him by tyranny, it is forbidden for him.” Umar Ibn Hanzalah asked: “So what shall we do if there is a dispute among your followers while there is no access to you? “Imam declared: “Look amongst you and see who knows the best the religious instructions, adhering to Halal and Haram. Go to him in order for you to be adjudicated. I appoint this person as your gerent. If this person adjudicates and you don’t accept, you have cheapened the Almighty God’s commandment and rejected we the Ahl al-Bayt. Whoever rejects us, he has rejected the Almighty God and this is polytheism.” _