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Imams of the Shi'a: Difference between revisions
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In some [[narration]]s from the Prophet (s), the qualities, the names and the number of Imams (a) have been mentioned; such as [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]], [[Hadith of Manzila]], [[Hadith of Safina]], [[Hadith of Yawm al-Dar]], [[Hadith of Madinat al-'Ilm]], [[Hadith al-Tayr al-Mashwiy]], [[Hadith al-Rayat]], [[Hadith al-Kisa']], [[Hadith of Jabir]] and [[Hadith of the Twleve Caliphs]]. According to these narrations, all of Imams (a) are from [[Quraysh]] and they are the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] (household) of the Prophet (s) and the last Imam (a) is the [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)|Promised Mahdi (a).]] | In some [[narration]]s from the Prophet (s), the qualities, the names and the number of Imams (a) have been mentioned; such as [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]], [[Hadith of Manzila]], [[Hadith of Safina]], [[Hadith of Yawm al-Dar]], [[Hadith of Madinat al-'Ilm]], [[Hadith al-Tayr al-Mashwiy]], [[Hadith al-Rayat]], [[Hadith al-Kisa']], [[Hadith of Jabir]] and [[Hadith of the Twleve Caliphs]]. According to these narrations, all of Imams (a) are from [[Quraysh]] and they are the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] (household) of the Prophet (s) and the last Imam (a) is the [[Imam al-Mahdi (a)|Promised Mahdi (a).]] | ||
Also, there are many hadiths from the Prophet (s) in hadith references about the imamate of Imam Ali (a) who is the first Imam (a). Also, there are hadiths from the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) which have explicitly mentioned the imamate of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)|the second Imam (a)]]. Afterwards, every Imam (a) explicitly has introduced the Imam (a) after himself. According to these explicit mentioning, Imams (a) and the caliphs after the Prophet (s) are twelve. Accordingly, the successors of the Prophet (s) are the following twelve individuals: Ali b. Abi Talib (a), | Also, there are many hadiths from the Prophet (s) in hadith references about the imamate of Imam Ali (a) who is the first Imam (a). Also, there are hadiths from the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) which have explicitly mentioned the imamate of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)|the second Imam (a)]]. Afterwards, every Imam (a) explicitly has introduced the Imam (a) after himself. According to these explicit mentioning, Imams (a) and the caliphs after the Prophet (s) are twelve. Accordingly, the successors of the Prophet (s) are the following twelve individuals: [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]], [[al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a)]], [[al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a)]], [['Ali b. al-Husayn (a)]], [[Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)]], [[Ja'far b. Muhammad (a)]], [[Musa b. Ja'far (a)]], [['Ali b. Musa (a)]], [[Muhammad b. 'Ali al-Jawad (a)]], [['Ali b. Muhammad (a)]], [[al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a)]] and [[Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Mahdi (a)]]. | ||
The majority of the Shiʿa maintain that the eleventh Imam (a) was martyred; the last Imam, the Promised Mahdi (a), is in occultation. He will return in future and establish justice on earth. | The majority of the Shiʿa maintain that the eleventh Imam (a) was martyred; the last Imam, the Promised Mahdi (a), is in [[occultation]]. He will return in future and establish justice on earth. | ||
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==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
In the view of the majority of the Shiʿa, the Twelve Imams (a) have the following characteristics: | In the view of the majority of the Shiʿa, the Twelve Imams (a) have the following characteristics: | ||
* Infallibility | * [[Infallibility]]: The Imams (a), like the Prophet (s) are immune to all sins and mistakes. | ||
The majority of Shiite scholars maintain that the first eleven Imams (a) were martyred and the Twelfth Imam (a) too will be martyred. They adduce some hadiths in this regard, such as the one which reads, | * [[Superiority of the Ahl al-Bayt (a)|Superiority]]: The Imams (a) are superior to all prophets (except Prophet Muhammad [s]), [[angels]], and the rest of people. The hadiths that indicate the superiority of the Imams (a) to all creation are considered to be massively transmitted. | ||
* [[Ilm al-Ghayb|Knowledge of the Hidden]]: God has bestowed upon the Imams (a) the knowledge of Hidden realities. | |||
* [[creative wilaya|creative]] and [[legislative wilaya]]: Most Twelver Shiite scholars maintain that the Imams (a) have creative wilaya, and they also agree that the Imams (a) have legislative wilaya in the sense of having control over the lives and properties of people. According to some hadiths, the Imams (a) also have legislative authority in the sense of having the right to legislate religious rulings. | |||
* [[Intercession]]: Like the Prophet (s), the Imams (a) have the position of intercession. | |||
* Religious and scholarly authority: According to a number of hadiths like [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]] and [[Hadith al-Safina]], the Imams have religious and scholarly authority, and people must refer to them in religious matters. | |||
* Leadership and society: The leadership of the Muslim society after the Prophet (s) belongs to the Imams (a). | |||
* Obedience:According to [[Qur'an 4:59]], it is obligatory on people to obey the Imams (a), as it is obligatory to obey God and the Prophet (s). | |||
The majority of Shiite scholars maintain that the first eleven Imams (a) were martyred and the [[Twelfth Imam (a)]] too will be martyred. They adduce some hadiths in this regard, such as the one which reads, "By God, there is none of us but murdered and martyred." | |||
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==The Hadith of Jabir== | ==The Hadith of Jabir== | ||
After the revelation of | {{Main|Hadith of Jabir b. 'Abd Allah}} | ||
After the revelation of [[Qur'an 4:59]], [[Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari]] asked the Prophet (s) about the meaning of the expression "those vested with authority among you." The Prophet (s) responded, “Those are my successors and the leaders of Muslims after me; the first of them is Ali b. Abi Talib, and after him [[al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a)|al-Hasan]], [[al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a)|al-Husayn]], [['Ali b. al-Husayn (a)]], [[Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)]], [[Ja'far b. Muhammad (a)]], [[Musa b. Ja'far (a)]], [['Ali b. Musa (a)]], [[Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)]], [['Ali b. Muhammad (a)]], [[al-Hasan al-'Askari (a)]] and after him, his son who has the same name and [[teknonym]] as me.” | |||
===Hadith of the Twelve Caliphs=== | ===Hadith of the Twelve Caliphs=== | ||
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==Introducing the Imams (a) of Shi'a== | ==Introducing the Imams (a) of Shi'a== | ||
Twelver Shiites believe that based on rational arguments as well as traditional evidence, such as the massively transmitted Hadith al-Ghadir and Hadith al-Manzila, the immediate rightful successor of the Prophet (s) was Ali b. Abi Talib (a). After Imam Ali (a) the divinely appointed leaders of the Muslim ummah were | Twelver Shiites believe that based on rational arguments as well as traditional evidence, such as the massively transmitted [[Hadith al-Ghadir]] and [[Hadith al-Manzila]], the immediate rightful successor of the Prophet (s) was Ali b. Abi Talib (a). After Imam Ali (a) the divinely appointed leaders of the Muslim ummah were Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a), Imam al-Sajjad (a), Imam al-Baqir (a), Imam al-Sadiq (a), Imam al-Kazim (a), Imam al-Rida (a), Imam al-Jawad (a), Imam al-Hadi (a), Imam al-Askari (a) and Imam al-Mahdi (a). | ||
{{Imams of Shi'a}} | {{Imams of Shi'a}} | ||
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==The Place of the Imams of the Shiʿa in the Eyes of Sunnis== | ==The Place of the Imams of the Shiʿa in the Eyes of Sunnis== | ||
Sunnis do not regard the Twelve Imams of the Shiʿa as the rightful successors of the Prophet (s) but nevertheless love them as his descendants. According to a hadith, quoted in their sources, the Prophet’s relatives whom are to be loved according to Quran 42: | Sunnis do not regard the Twelve Imams of the Shiʿa as the rightful successors of the Prophet (s) but nevertheless love them as his descendants. According to a hadith, quoted in their sources, the Prophet’s relatives whom are to be loved according to [[Quran 42:23]] are Ali (a), Fatima (a), and their children. Based on this verse and other evidence, [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]], the great Sunni [[theologian]] and [[exegete]] of the sixth/twelfth]] century, maintained that it is obligatory to love Ali (a), Fatima (a), and their children. | ||
Some Sunni scholars would visit the graves of the Imams of the | Some Sunni scholars would visit the graves of the Imams of the Shi'a seeking their intercession, such as Abu Ali Khallal in the third/ninth century who said, “Whenever I had a problem, I would visit the grave of [[Musa b. Ja'far]] and ask him for intercession, and thus my problem would be solved.” It is reported that [[Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Khuzayma]], the Sunni [[jurist]], traditionist, and exegete of the third and fourth/tenth centuries, visited the grave of [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] many times and the degree of respect that he showed to the Imam (a) there would surprise people. | ||
Ibn | [[Ibn Hibban]], a prominent Sunni traditionist in the third/ninth and fourth/tenth centuries, is reported to have said, “When I was in [[Tus]], whenever I had a problem, I would visit the grave of Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a) and pray there. Then my prayer would be answered and my problem would be solved.” | ||
According to Ayatollah | According to Ayatollah [[Ja'far Subhani]], many Sunni scholars accepted the Shiite Imams as religious and scholarly authorities. For instance, it is reported that [[Abu Hanifa]], the founder of the Hanafi legal school, said, “I never saw anyone more knowledgeable in religion than [[Ja'far b. Muhammad]].” The same statement is reported to have been said by Muhammad b. Muslim b. Shihab al-Zuhri, an outstanding Sunni jurist and traditionist of the first/seventh and second/eighth centuries, with regard to [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]]. | ||
Abd Allah b. | Abd Allah b. Ata' al-Makki, a Sunni traditionist and contemporary of Imam al-Baqir (a) said, “I have not seen scholars in such a lower level than anyone as I have seen them before [[Imam al-Baqir (a)|Muhammad b. Ali (a)]]. Hakam b. Utayba [the Kufan jurist] was like a student before him.” | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
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===Shiite Books=== | ===Shiite Books=== | ||
Among the books written by Shiite writers on the Imams and their virtues are the following: | Among the books written by Shiite writers on the Imams and their virtues are the following: | ||
* ''[[Dalaʾil al-imama]]'', written in Arabic and attributed to Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saghir (d. 310 | * ''[[Dala'il al-imama (book)|Dalaʾil al-imama]]'', written in Arabic and attributed to [[Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saghir]] (d. 310/922) on the life, miracles, and virtues of [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] and the Imams (a). | ||
* ''[[Al-Irshad fi | |||
* ''[[Manaqib | * ''[[Al-Irshad fi ma'rifat hujaj Allah 'ala al-'ibad]]'', a theological and historical work in Arabic, written by [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] (d. [[413 AH|413]]/1022). This book relates the biography and virtues of the Imams (a) on the basis of hadiths. | ||
* ''[[ | |||
* ''[[Kashf al-ghumma fi | * ''[[Manaqib al Abi Talib]]'', an Arabic book on the virtues of the Fourteen Infallibles by [[Ibn Shahrashub Mazandarani]] (d. 588/1192). | ||
* ''[[Rawdat al- | |||
* ''[[ | * ''[[I'lam al-wara bi-a'lam al-huda]]'', a book in Arabic by [[Fadl b. al-Hasan al-Tabrisi]] (d. 548/1153) on the life of the Prophet (s) and the Imams (a). | ||
* ''[[Muntaha al-amal fi tawarikh al-Nabi wa al- | |||
* ''[[Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma]]'', an Arabic book on the biography, virtues, and miracles of the [[Fourteen Infallibles]], written by [[Ali b. Isa al-Irbili]] (d. 692/1293). | |||
* ''[[Rawdat al-wa'izin wa basirat al-mutta'izin]]'', by [[al-Fattal al-Neyshaburi]] (d. 508/1114) on the history of the Prophet (s) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a). | |||
* ''[[Jala' al-'uyun (book)|Jala' al-'uyun]]'', a Farsi book written by [[al-Allama al-Majlisi]] (1110/1692) on the life of the Fourteen Infallibles. | |||
* ''[[Muntaha l-amal (book)|Muntaha al-amal fi tawarikh al-Nabi wa al-al]]'', by [[Shaykh Abbas Qummi]] (d. 1359/1940) which provides a detailed account of the life of the Fourteen Infallibles. | |||
==Sunni References== | ==Sunni References== | ||