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Further reference in support of the Holy Institution of Imamat can also be had from the following Hadith:
"The Israelites were led by Prophets; whenever a Prophet died, another Prophet came after him; surely after me there is no Prophet, but there will be successors." (Bukhari-60:50)
It should also be noted here that the mission of Prophet Muhammad would have remained incomplete and imperfect if the Holy Imamat had not been introduced to the people. It was on this point that God warned Prophet Muhammad by saying: "O Prophet! deliver to the people what has been delivered unto you, and if you will not do so you will not have completed your mission and Allah will protect you from the people (who mean mischief)." _ 5:70
It is only after the declaration of Hazrat Ali as the Imam of the Muslims that completion and perfection of religion was claimed. Other Prophets before Hazrat Nabi Muhammad never made such a claim. Jesus Christ said to his people :
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. However when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:12,13)
When the time was ripe for Imamat to be revealed to the people, Nabi Muhammad introduced it and claimed:
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." 5:4
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