Accordingly...

Accordingly, Imamate is only a continuation of prophethood, and the reason for which Almighty Allah sends messengers and prophets is also the reason why the Prophet must be succeeded by an Imam. In view of that, we, the Imamiyyah Shi`ah , state that Imamate cannot be decided without a commission from Almighty Allah conveyed to us by the Holy Prophet (s) or the previous Imam (`a).

He who dies without recognition of the Imam of his time has in fact died just like the ignorant ones who died before accepting Islam.([^2]) Through uninterruptedly transmitted narrations, reporters quoted the Holy Prophet (s) as having confirmed the previous decision. From the above, we conclude that it is impossible that any age can be devoid of a Divinely commissioned leader, it being obligatory on the people to obey him (i.e.

the Imam), whether they like him or not, support him or not, obey him or not, or whether he is present or absent from their sight.([^3]) In the same way as it is acceptable for the Prophet (s) to absent himself from people’s sights, such as his disappearance from view in the cave([^4]) or in the col,([^5]) it is acceptable for the Imam to absent himself from view, be his occultation long or short, according to reason.

Almighty Allah has said in the Holy Qur'an: وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ And there is a guide for every people **. (13/7)** وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ There is not a nation but a warner has passed among them. (35/24) Infallibility of the Imam We believe that an Imam, just like a Prophet, must be infallible from all vices and defects, whether open or concealed, from childhood up to death, deliberately or unintentionally.

An Imam must be free from inadvertence, error, or unawareness, because the Imams, just like the Prophets, are maintainers of the religious law and they must stand out firm for it. The proofs that have convinced us to believe in the inerrancy of the Prophets are the same as those that have convinced us to believe in the inerrancy of the Imams.