As reflected in the Shi’i Imami sources, according to Zayd Ibn Ali, Imamate is a Divine stations Imam is Divinely appointed; and he is not elected by people. He holds in immediate Imamate of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and thinks that Imamate of others is usurpative. He is of the opinion that there are in total twelve Imams nine of them are descendants of Imam Husyan. In his works and sayings, however, there is no trace of the fourth Imam and the next Imams. In written works ascribed to him, no mention has been made to the number of Imams; nor has he t personally claimed for Imamate; rather, he has introduced himself as a proof (Hujjah) for people. He accepts that some members of the Household (a.s.) should be necessarily obeyed; in specifying the instances of the ImÁm who should be necessarily obeyed, however, he is not certain.
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