The Theory of Infallibility in the Imamiyyah School of Thought with an Approach to Sayyid Murtada’s Viewpoint
From the perspective of Shiite theologians, the prophets and Imams are characterized with a capability which preserves them from committing sins and mistakes. This capability is referred to as infallibility. Infallibility is an Islamic issue which is rooted in the teachings of the Koran. The prophets' manner of insight and their degree of certainty are the secret of their immunity from sin. Since the prophets directly face the concrete realities, perception of reality for them is the same as connection with reality. Therefore, they are immune from sins. The temporal scope of the infallibility of the prophets is from birth up to the end of life; so that they are immune from any major and minor sins and any mistakes. The Prophets are infallible in regard with the belief, perception of revelation, propagation of revelation, clarification of rules, actions and deeds. Shiite theologian researchers also believe that prophets are immune from mistakes. They have provided rational and hadith-based arguments for infallibility. The Shiite theologians have generalized infallibility beyond prophets to the Imams. In order to prove the infallibility of the Imams, they have appealed to the following arguments: Imamate as being a mercy, avoidance from a state of vicious circle, and preservation of the religious regulations with impunity from sins and mistakes, and the necessity of denying the Imam and disproof of his appointment as Imam in case of committing sins; also the Qur'anic verses concerning Imamate, purification, and leadership; as well as the hadith of Thaqalayn. Sayyid Murtada (۳۵۵-۴۳۶), is one of the prominent Shiite theologians, whose valuable work, "Tanzih ol-Anbiyaa", has been popular among the Islamic scholars over centuries, having affected their views and writings. Through a comparative approach, he clarifies the distinction between the Shiite and Mu'tazilite views about the issue of infallibility. Shiites believe that prophets never commit sins, whether it is a cardinal sin or a minor one. However, Mu'tazilites consider only the sins, whether major or minor, impossible for prophets which would result in being belittled. Meanwhile, the minor sins the committing of which would not be belittling, whether they are before or after attaining the prophethood, are considered permissible for the prophets.
Keywords: theory of infallibility, Imamiyyah school of thought, Sayyid Murtada
* Associate professor, Shahid Motahary University
