A Historical Analysis of Fariqain’s Interpretive Views on the Verse of “Appointing the Caliph” and Imamate

“Appointing the caliph” (Sūrah al-Baqarah: 30), due to its particular significance in theological arguments and demonstrating Imamate and Wilāyat, is one of the controversial issues among Fariqain commentators. The Divine caliphate of Adam (AS) and the prophets after him, Adam’s (AS) deputyship on behalf of others, God’s deputyship on earth to carry out Divine commandments, the caliphate of the humankind and its current realization in the perfect human being, and the need to appoint a caliph, are issues that have been addressed by commentators. This research, using the documentary method and taking into account the influential factors, investigated the evolutionary process of interpretation of this verse over centuries. The outcome of this scientific effort was the achievement of interpretations by Fariqain commentators, indicating the necessity of the existence of an infallible Imam for all time. In this view, the perfect human being is the caliph of God, whose appointment as the mediator of divine grace is inevitable, but the theological presuppositions of Sunni commentators have prevented the acceptance of the truth and caused the position of the caliph to be equal to the divine ruler of the Islamic society, even if he is not infallible.