This is indicated by his saying: "It is a pillar of the religion and a cornerstone of the Sharia." Another indication of this is his saying: "Belief in it [i.e., the Imamate] is religion, and acting upon it is religion, and adhering to it is religion. Only an infidel, a denier, a hypocrite, a strayer, an innovator, an apostate, a wicked person, a transgressor, a scoundrel, or a despicable person who does not believe in Allah and the Last Day would deny this matter." The context of this statement, where denying the Imamate is equated with the absence of belief in Allah and the Last Day, can be considered evidence that the Imamate is a matter of creed, not a matter of branches. We will find in the following discussion about the Mahdi and the obligation to obey him and revere his command what supports this preference we have adopted.

Obedience to the Imam: The Mahdi paid great attention to the obedience of the Imam, insisting on it strongly. He divided it into a set of parts that are considered the duties of a Muslim towards the Imam. All of these encompass the meaning of obedience and submission, or what that meaning depends on. We mention from these duties what follows: Knowledge of the Imam: Perhaps he means knowledge of his person according to each era. Belief and affirmation of him: That is, affirming that the person of the Imam, whose identity is known, is truly the Imam. Listening and obeying him. Contentment with his judgment and submission to all that he has decreed. Following him and imitating his actions. Referring to his knowledge and following his path. Referring all matters to him entirely.

Ibn Khaldun expressed the same sentiment in explaining the Shi'a doctrine on the Imamate, where he said: "Their doctrine, all of them agreeing upon it, is that the Imamate is not among the public interests that are left to the discretion of the community, and the one who assumes it is appointed by them. Rather, it is a pillar of religion and a foundation of Islam." Ibn Tumart, Kitab al-Imamah: 40 Introduction: 254 Ibn Tumart, Kitab al-Imamah: 41 See: The same source: 42 236