recognition of the border between delegation and unconditional guardianship

belief in the lofty positions and excellences of the shi’īte imams (a.s.) and having faith in their miraculous acts and dominion over the world affairs underlies the authentic doctrine of unconditional guardianship (wilāya al-takwīnī). when the imams’ devotees try to maintain a demigod status for the imams in line with this – possibly loving and devotional – belief beyond the conventional limits and proceed to excessively praise them, they have indeed passed beyond the rightful belief and engaged in zealous supposition about and untrue belief in delegation (tafwīḍ). this article tries to identify the borderline between these two beliefs – unconditional guardianship and delegation. based on the rational and traditional criteria, this article appraises that the stations of the imams and dominion over the world is by the permission of the almighty god and in accordance to his will. belief in unconditional guardianship of the imams as an intermediate position lies between delegation and negligence and indeed the middle term between the two extremes. thus, belief in the highest degrees in rank and functionality in the world affairs for the imams in servitude scope does not contradict monotheism (tawḥīd), nor is regarded as delegation.