Articles

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

Imamate (Divinely Appointed Leadership) is a very high position, and it is only Allah who can decide who is qualified for it. And if the Prophet Muhammad (S) announced to the people that the Twelve Imams are the leaders, or that the Ahlul Bayt are the people that we must refer to, or in that Imam Ali is his successor, it was only because he was asked by Allah to do so...

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Who are the ‘Twelve Imams’?

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

A set of hadiths narrated by our Sunni brothers about twelve successors of the Prophet will be presented in this article. There are different versions of these hadiths; sometimes the term amir, or ruler/leader is used for the twelve Imams and sometimes the term caliph, or successor, is used. It is interesting to note that in these sets of hadiths, the number twelve is always used...

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The authority of the Ahl al-Bayt in Hadith of Thaqalayn

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

The famous narration of the Prophet, the Hadith of Thaqalayn, is narrated in different versions by all Islamic schools of thought with regards to the Ahl al-Bayt. The Prophet may have mentioned it on different occasions due to its importance and to ensure that many can hear it: O People, I leave among you two precious things: the book of God and my household. As long as you hold on to them, you w...

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The Importance of Imamate (Leadership of Ahlulbayt)

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

A person who does not know the Imam of his age is likened to a person who died before Islam, or more specifically, the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah). In any case, the saying “Whoever dies while he does not know the imam of his age” indicates the necessity of an Imam and the responsibility Muslims carry to identify, know, and believe in him...

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Leadership (Imamate) of Imam Ali (as)

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

In the light of this reality, the Shi‘as proceeded to investigate the original texts and documents of Islam and they came across an enormous quantity of sources which made them conclude that there are clear, sufficient, precise orders from the Prophet of Islam about his successor: the verse of wilāyah, the hadith of Ghadīr, the hadīth of Safinah, the hadīth of Thaqalayn, and many more, all of whic...

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How can a person be Ma‘sūm (Infallible)?

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

Someone asked the Prophet of Islam, why he himself indulged in worship of God to such an extent that he would physically suffer since he was purified and had no sins. His answer was that why should he not be a grateful and thankful slave of God?1 So it was not out of fear of punishment that the Prophet used to worship God to such an extent, it was out of a sense of gratitude...

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Why must the Prophets be Ma‘sūm (Infallible)?

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

The Wise and Merciful God sent the prophets so that human society may recognize the right way as opposed to the precipitous way. With the same intention, God also made His prophets and messengers immune from every kind of sin and error, and, so that they may be able to lead mankind towards God without any error or mistake...

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The Need for Prophets and Messengers:

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

Man's life and existence comprises of three dimensions: 1. Individual material dimension. 2. Social dimension. 3. Spiritual dimension. And for him to be successful, each and every one of these dimensions must be taken into consideration. But sadly, a large number of people regard only man's material aspect and neglect the other side of the coin...

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1) In Praise of God

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

When he (upon him be peace) began to supplicate, he would begin with praise and laudation of God (Mighty and Majestic is He). He would say:...

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Love of the Prophet's Ahlulbayt

Beliefs & Creeds » Prophethood & Imamate

Love of the Prophet's family is stressed both in the Qur'an and the Surnna. The Qur'an says: Say, [O Muhammad], "I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship." ( al-mawadda fi'l-qurba). (Sura al-Shura, 42:23)

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