Then, as for him whose good deeds are preponderant, these...
Then, as for him whose good deeds are preponderant, these are the successful, and as for him whose good deeds are light, these are they who shall have lost their souls, abiding in hell. (23:101-103) ” [^4] The Shi’ah depend upon the Holy Imams of the (‘a) in both the principle and secondary affairs of religion.
They believe that they possess: a) Perfect knowledge among finite human beings; (Almighty Allah alone has perfect knowledge) b) Infallibility from sinning or misinterpretation; and, c) Right of leadership to issue instructions (to be followed) and prohibitions (to be avoided).
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) is reported to have said: إنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ لَمْ يُرْفَعْ، وَالْعِلْمُ الَّذِي يُتَوَارَثُ، وَكَانَ عَلِيٌّ عَالِمَ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ، وَإنَّهُ لَمْ يَهْلَكْ مِنَّا عَالِمٌ قَطُّ إلاَّ خَلَفَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ مَنْ عَلِمَ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أوْ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ. Verily, the knowledge that was brought down to the earth with Adam has not been taken back. Knowledge is transmitted among generations through inheritance.
‘Ali (‘a) was the most knowledgeable of this nation. Whenever a knowledgeable individual of us (i.e. the (‘a)) passes away, another knowledgeable one—from his household holding the same knowledge as he, or any other amount that Allah decides for him—will succeed him. [^5] Dhurays al-Kannasi is reported to have said that he once visited Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) and found Abu-Basir there.
The Imam (‘a) said: إنَّ دَاوُودَ وَرِثَ عِلْمَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَإنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ وَرِثَ دَاوُودَ وَإنَّ مُحَمَّداً وَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإنَّا وَرِثْنَا مُحَمَّداً وَإنَّ عِنْدَنَا صُحُفَ إبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَلْوَاحَ مُوسَى. Verily, (Prophet) David (‘a) inherited the knowledge of the prophets. (Prophet) Solomon (‘a) then inherited David’s. Most surely, (Prophet) Muhammad (S) inherited Solomon’s and we inherited Muhammad’s.
We also possess the Scriptures of (Prophet) Abraham (‘a) and (Prophet) Moses (‘a). Abu-Basir commented, “This is real knowledge.” The Imam (‘a) answered: يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ! لَيْسَ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمَ؛ إنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ مَا يَحْدُثُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ يَوْماً بِيَوْمٍ وَسَاعَةً بِسَاعَةٍ. Abu-Muhammad, this is not knowledge. True knowledge is to know what happens during the night and day, each day and every moment.