The Place of Imamate in E tesam (Hanging on) Verse Relying on the Meaning of Hablullah (Divine Rope)

One of the most important and thematic issues that has a key and fundamental impact on the culture of Twelver Shiism is the knowledge of the place of Prophet’s Household as the basic element in the recognition of religion’s truth. In fact, the understanding of religion with all its branches and subsets is contingent upon resorting to Qur’an and Prophet’s Household that eternal bliss and Muslims’ cohesion are among its results and consequences. What the author pursues in this essay is the recognition of place of Imamate under the light of E‘tesam (Hanging on) Verse that has not been addressed enough in scientific community. This verse’s examination based on the semantics of Hablullah is the focus of this article; but to understand this word and its realization as the key element of the verse we have to examine other terms too. Having analyzed the term Hablullah under the light of Qur’an and Prophetic traditions, the author has dealt with the semantics of e‘tesam and tafarq and explained the role of Prophet’s Household as the preserver of Qur’an. Then in the final part of the essay he has studies public opinions of the verse.