Infallibility The Sh:!

Infallibility The Sh:!a believe that the noble Prophet (N), his daughter F"Uimah al-Zahr"’ (a.s.), and the twelve Imams (a.s.) are infallible and incapable of sin, error or forgetfulness since Alla>h has protected them from these things. There are evidences for this from both rational and traditional sources.

Almighty Alla>h has said: eVerily Alla>h wishes to take away from you all impurity, O (people of the house), and to purify you a thorough purificationf141 This verse is related to the above mentioned infallibles in most Qur’"nic commentaries.142 Additionally, the faculty of reason does not permit that the source of divine laws be exposed to the possibility of error and sin otherwise his words and actions could not be relied upon.

These fourteen infallibles are the authorities of Allah and those who follow them will be saved and those who lag behind them will perish. So it is obligatory to follow their every word, deed and ratification, and this is known as the sunnah or way of the Prophet (N) according to the terminology of the jurists.

These pure people laid down the rules for a noble life – under the directions of Almighty Alla>h – and they are preferable to all the other discoverers, politicians, and scholars and the like. The Prophet and Knowledge of the Unseen The Sh:!a believe that the Prophet (N) knows the unseen by permission of Almighty Alla>h; he knows the past, present and future as taught to him by Alla>h.

As Alla>h has said in the Holy Qur’"n: eAnd He does not show His unseen to anyone except as He pleases to a messengerf143 So Almighty Alla>h shows the messenger His unseen and the messenger teaches that to whoever he wishes at the command of Alla>h. The Prophet Mu9ammad (N) did this and taught his household (a.s.) the unseen.

Allegiance and Dissociation The Sh:!a believe that it is obligatory to be allied (tawalli) to Alla>h and His messenger and His authorities/patrons (awliya’), and that it is obligatory to be disassociated (tabarri) from the enemies of Alla>h and the enemies of His messenger and the enemies of His authorities/patrons.

Resurrection The Sh:!a believe in resurrection on the day of judgement which is the day when the believer who obeys Alla>h will find salvation and be rewarded with gardens of heaven which are as wide as the heavens and the earth; and the unbeliever who is sinful will be punished in the hellfire in the most severe physical and psychological pain.