Ma`rifat Adyan

The Quran uses the terms compact, recommendation and commandment to refer to the concept of "'Ahd". The common feature of these three terms is that they indicate man's commitment to the command of Allah. God's compact with man has two forms: internal and verbal. God's internal compact with man refers to the very bestowment of the station of Imamate the precedent of which is divine effusions and the realization of an internal state in man through which election, infallibility, the reality of servitude, the perfection of relation and descent of revelation are realized. Man's compact with God has two forms too: verbal and internal. Man's verbal compact is conceivable towards God and people, which is the very accountability. Man's internal compact means perseverance in the way of faith and practical commitment to beliefs and duties. Aside from the fact that Old Testament does not clearly discuss God's internal compact with man, it has common generalities with the teachings of the Quran in terms of God's verbal compact and man's compact with God. This is contrary to the teachings of the New Testament, which do not regard lawful rituals as the factor for nearness to God; rather, consider belief in Christ and the reality of his fructification as the factor for man's unity with Christ and his salvation.