Mulla Jami writes in Shawahidun Nubuwwah: “Ali, may Allah honor him, (Karamallaho Wajho) is the first Imam, Hasan is the second Imam, Husayn is the third Imam, Zainul Aabideen is the fourth Imam, Muhammad Baqir is the fifth Imam, Ja’far as-Sadiq is the sixth Imam, Moosa Kazim is the seventh Imam, Moosa ar-Reza is the eighth Imam, Muhammad Taqi is the ninth Imam, Ali an-Naqi is the tenth Imam, Hasan Askari is the eleventh Imam and Muhammad Mahdi is the twelfth Imam.”

But this statement of Mulla Jami is proved incorrect according to the rules of Ahlul Sunnat; consensus and allegiance are necessary for Caliphate. By getting these, Abu Bakr got Caliphate. That is, he became the first Caliph or the first Imam. Now, how can His Eminence, Ali (a.s.) be considered the first Imam? He can only be called the fourth Caliph and the fourth Imam. And how Imam Hasan be called the second Imam? Even if he is considered Imam, after Ali (a.s.), he can only be called the fifth Imam.

Thus, by this rule, if the rest of the Pure Imams are considered Imams, all their sequence numbers will change. Imam Mahdi (a.j.) will be the fifteenth, rather than the twelfth Imam. Moreover, from Imam Husayn (a.s.) onwards to Imam Mahdi (a.j.) none of the Pure Imams is proved as Imam. Because from the point of view of the principles of Ahlul Sunnat religion, Caliphate and Imamate cannot be established without consensus and allegiance. Thus, the numbering of Mulla Jami is incorrect. However, from the principles of Ahlul Sunnat, Caliphate and Imamate goes to Muawiyah and successors of Muawiyah and none of Ahlul Sunnat can refute this.

Those Ahlul Sunnat who believe in the Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) seem to be against their own faith. The Caliphs of Ahlul Sunnat had become Caliphs on the basis of consensus, consultation, allegiance and force. But in the Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.j.), Ahlul Sunnat would be following the rules that Shias consider necessary for their Imams. That is for one to be a Caliph and the rightful Imam, appointment by Quran and traditions is necessary. It is a farce that Ahlul Sunnat consider Caliphate and Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.j.) to be divinely ordained.1

They do not believe that it would be based on consensus, consultation and allegiance.2 Another objection that could be laid on Ahlul Sunnat for considering Imam Mahdi (a.j.) as the twelfth Imam is that the twelve Imams of Ahlul Sunnah include Bani Umayyah and Bani Abbas Caliphs; but all these Caliphates are over and the figure of twelve is also complete for them.

In such a position, the only solution is to make Imam Mahdi (a.j.) the thirteenth Caliph. Thus, the calculation of Mulla Jami is meaningless. O Ahlul Sunnat people! Look at the best aspects of the principles of your religion. Your religion seems to be absolutely unpredictable. If the rules of Imamate of Shias are not followed, neither Ali (a.s.) can be considered the first Imam, not Imam Mahdi (a.j.) the twelfth. And neither can we consider other Imams to be real Imams.

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1.Ref. Tarikh Ibn Khallikan, Isafur Raghebeen, Futuhaate Makkiya of Ibnul Arabi

2.Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood