A Comparative Study on the Case for Those in Authorities in theVerse of Obedience

The verse 59 in chapter Nisaa is one of the cases of opposition among scholars and commentators of fariqain. The main cause of opposition lies in the place of those of authority as it is placed in the same order as Allah and rasul, messenger. Relying on the place of those of authority and the necessity for their being obeyed by believers, Shiite commentators have known them to be pure Imams; while Sunni scholars are of very different views in the field and consider them to be rulers, commanders of war, religious scholars and jurisprudents, Khulafa-e Rashideen and those of hall and `aqd. Sunni scholars do not know purity as a condition for those of authority. By such a view Sunni scholars have put themselves opposed to many critiques by Shiites.