the Messenger of God. Imam's appointment also islike that of the prophet and has to be decided by God Himself.

This is because the distinction of piety at the levelof innocence, and such that high level of knowledgeneeded to make some one an Imam, is at the power ofGod and His Apostle, and no one else. We thereforeknow not our Imams to be elected by the vote orchioce of people.

05 THE SHIITE IMAMS ARE APPOINTED BY THEPROPHET HIMSELF

WE BELIEVE that the prophet of Islam appointedall the twelve Imams as his successors one after the other.

In SAHIH MOSLIM,( A FAMOUS SONNIREFERENCE BOOK )We read:" In a place between Mecca and Medina which isnamed KHOMM GHADIR, the prophet made aspeech for thousands of Moslim, through which hesaid,