Among them was the nomination of Imam (‘Ali)...

Among them was the nomination of Imam (‘Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, and the Imamate of the pure Imams after him.[^1] There are other nominations for his Imamate. We will mention them in the chapters that follow. Infallibility Among the highest qualities of Imam Abu Ja‘far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, were infallibility and purity from deviation and atrocities. Indeed, infallibility is a favor from Allah, the Most High.

He grants it to whomever He wills from His servants whose hearts He tests with belief, whom He purifies and chooses to carry out His message and reform His creatures. Infallibility is among the firm beliefs with the Shi‘ites, and one of the basic principles for the Imamate with them. We will talk briefly about it: The Definition of Infallibility The Shi‘ite theologians gave various definitions of infallibility. Among them is the definition of Shaykh al-Mufïd.

He defined it as follows: Infallibility means refraining willingly from committing sins and abominations during the favor which Allah, the Most High, does for the person. The person who is singled out with the favor refrains from sins and leaving disobedience willingly.[^2] Concerning the definition of infallibility, scholar al-Hilli said: “It is a favor from Allah. He grants it to the person.

With that, the person has no excuse to leave obedience and commit sins willingly.”[^3] The Shaykh of the sect, Shaykh Tusi, defined it : “Infallibility means that the person refrains from sins when he is able to commit them. ” In the light of these definitions, infallibility is the absolute perfection of the soul, its perfect freedom from all the inclinations of desire, conceit, and recklessness, and refraining from committing any crime or sin whether intentionally or unintentionally.

It is natural that no one is distinguished by that except him whom Allah chooses to convey His message and to guide His creatures, whether the person is a prophet or an Imam. The Evidence for Infallibility The Shi‘ites produced enough undoubtable evidence in support of the infallibility of the Imam. Hisham b. al-Hakam, a Shi‘ite theologian, produced wonderful evidence in support of infallibility. He said : “Indeed there are four reasons for sins. There is no fifth reason for them.

These reasons are: envy, anger, miserliness, and desire. The Imam had none of these qualities. It is impossible for the Imam to be miserly for this world, for this world was under his ring.