The Imam's Knowledge from the Viewpoint of Sayyid Murtada 'Alam al-Huda

The knowledge of the imam is one of the important issues discussed under imamate in theology; all the scholars consider knowledge as one of the characteristics necessary for the imam; because knowledge and awareness toward what is good or bad for the people is necessary for leading them, and obeying the imam is an innate disposition, and basically a knowledgeable person is not expected to follow a person who has less knowledge. Meanwhile, the scholars have different ideas about the extent of this knowledge: some believe in a minimum knowledge limited to the imam's duties; some others believe in a maximum knowledge and the idea that the imam, by God's permission, is aware of everything. The disagreement is the result of the views in defining the imam; so that if those who believe in a limited definition for the imam expand their views concerning the imam's duties, they will have a broader definition for his knowledge, as well; and vice versa.

Sayyid Murtada is one of the Shiite scholars who consider imam as omniscient. Of course, he considers this knowledge necessary for playing the role of imamate effectively; however, he does not consider this knowledge necessary in regard with issues beyond the imam's duties.

This article presents the scholars' views in this regard, with an emphasis on Sayyid Murtada's ideas, who has presented some discussions concerning the views of Qazi 'Abd ol-Jabbar Mo'tazili.

Keywords: Sayyid Murtada, imam's knowledge, the sources of imam's knowledge, the limits of imam's knowledge, the extension of imam's knowledge 

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*. Assistant professor, department of the Islamic philosophy and theology, Tabriz University

**. M.A. in the Islamic philosophy and theology, Tabriz University (corresponding author)