ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Theological Instructions LESSON THIRTY-NINE: THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE INFFALIBILITY OF THE IMAM Introduction In lesson thirty-six we have discussed the differences between the Shi’ite and Sunnite schools of thought with regards to the subject of Imāmah. This difference seems to have three specific issues, the Imam for the Shi’ites, must be nominated by God the Supreme, be infallible and possess Divine knowledge.

In lesson thirty-seven these three issues were intellectually proven and in lesson thirty-eight we have provided traditional proofs for the divine nomination of the Imams. However, now we will explain the infallibility of, and the Divine knowledge held by the Imams.

The infallibility of the Imam Having established Imāmah as being a Divine institution, and the appointment for this position of Ali (a) and his progeny by God the Supreme, their infallible nature can be established by the following verse: “He said, ‘My pledge does not extend to the unjust.” (al-Baqarah:124) The Divine nomination applies to those who are free from corruption and sin.

Furthermore the verse known as the verse of ‘those in authority’, charts-out the absolute obedience due to them and regards the level of obedience to them as being on the same level as obedience to the Prophet (s) and God the Supreme. Therefore the command of obedience towards those in authority must indicate their infallibility.

In the same manner, the infallibility of the Prophet’s Household can be proven through the verse known as the verse of ‘purification’ (āyat al-tathīr): “Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O people of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.” (al-Ahzāb:33) It is necessary to mention that we have more than seventy traditions from the Sunnite school, confirming that this particular verse was revealed in honor of the ‘five immaculate ones’ (al-khamsa ashāb al-kisā’).

Sheikh Saduq narrates from Imam Ali that the Prophet of God said: “O Ali! This verse has been revealed for you, Hassan, Hussain, and the Imams who will come from your progeny.” I asked him: “How many Imams will be there after you?” He said: “You! O Ali and after you Hassan, and after him Hussain, and after him his son Ali, then his son Mohammed, then Ja’far, then Musa, then Ali, then Mohammed, then Ali, then Hassan, then his son the proof of God”.