"Twelve" in the Quran.

[Peebothuhlu]

At work.

I must admit to being confused over the supposed importance of some rather arbitrary symbols...

I mean, what is so frangipani-tastic about XII anyway?

After the founder, some people will rebel. Some people will follow false claims of authority or down-play it and replace the true authority with the false idol that is chosen by humans.

Aside from that, some people will acknowledge the chosen ones, but then follow wrong people claiming that. 

So there had to be, clarification to the number of successors, but in a subtle way that lets the rebellious ignore it and not make their own twelve, while it remaining clear in the lovers of God's beautiful names, exactly the number and who the Prophet named per that number and there is no list of names from the Prophet of twelve aside from these, and there is no list of Imams pre-told by names except these Imams.

Now this would be true of ALL nations with a founding Messenger, so there has to be clarification, and Quran argues so that it remains absolute clear in all ages, God has been consistent with this number from the start and with the Israelites as well with the covenant of Moses, and so it clarifies the number of Ulil-Amr after the Messenger.

Why should I care about any 'Founders'?

Why should I care about other people's myths and fables?

Other than, perhapse, for the interest in comparing and contrasting with the fables of others?

The evolution between the writings in the Hobbit to the Lord of the rings is still captivating to myself.