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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imamate and Leadership The Inerrancy of the Imams and the Necessity of Belief in It ( 165 ) Lesson Eighteen Throughout the history of Islam different sects have debated among themselves the question of whether inerrancy is necessary in prophets and Imams or not.

The Shi'ah are unanimously agreed on the inerrancy ('ismah) of the Imams and they regard only the one who possesses this fundamental quality as fit for the office of Imamate given the sensitive and portentous nature of the office.

There is always the danger that a leader burdened with responsibility for the manifold concerns of the ummah may knowingly or unknowingly veer in the direction of error in which case the honor and values of the ummah will be at risk with undesirable consequences for Islamic society as a whole.

Insistence upon inerrancy as a condition for leadership is a hallmark of the Shi'ah and a proof of the maturity of their religious thinking and comprehensive grasp of Islam for with great care and alertness they have identified who the leader should be and designated inerrancy and extensive knowledge as two of his inseparable qualities.

His inerrancy and immunity from sin are the result of his piety and self-discipline and his knowledge is tile result of divine grace and generosity bestowed upon him from God's limitless ocean of wisdom. These two qualities are to be found in combination only in the Imams of the Prophet's Household peace and blessings be upon him and his family.

The Sunnis accept anyone as caliph or Imam without any precondition and they do not insist on ( 166 ) inerrancy and immunity from sin Inerrancy is an inner faculty of self-restraint springing up from the great source of faith piety and insight; it insures man against all kinds of sin and moral corruption.

This powerful inner attribute derived as it is from vision of the suprasensible world and the very essence of all creation is so effective that it prevents man from embarking on any kind of sin or rebellion whether small of great open or hidden.

When we say that the factors leading to rebellion and sin have no effect on such a person we do not mean that in accordance with divine will and decree an overwhelming force prevents him from being attracted to sin so that the capacity to sin and disobey is removed from him.