Proof of the Infallibility of the Imams

Question

How can we prove to others the infallibility of the Imams, peace be upon them? [AR_ID:803]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you,

Summary Answer:

The Imams are the guardians of the Sharia and its upholders, similar to the Prophet. The evidence that leads us to believe in the infallibility of the Prophets is the same evidence that leads us to believe in the infallibility of the Imams, peace be upon them, without any difference.

This is supported by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and it also aligns with sound reasoning.

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Detailed Answer:

Shia belief holds that the Imam, like the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), must be infallible from all vices and sins, both hidden and apparent, from childhood until death, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

They must also be free from forgetfulness, error, and negligence, as the Imams are the guardians of the Sharia and its upholders, similar to the Prophet. The evidence that leads us to believe in the infallibility of the Prophets is the same that leads us to believe in the infallibility of the Imams without any difference, supported by the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), and it aligns with sound reasoning.

From the Book of Allah:

Firstly, Allah, the Exalted, says: "Indeed, Allah intends to remove from you, O people of the Prophet's household, [all] impurity and to purify you with [extensive] purification." (1)

If the removal of impurity, which includes all evils, and purification from all sins does not imply infallibility, then what does it mean?!

Secondly, Allah says: "Indeed, those who fear [Allah] - when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight." (2)

If a pious believer is protected by Allah from the plots of Satan when he tries to provoke and mislead him, and he remembers and sees the truth and follows it, what about those whom Allah has chosen and removed impurity from and purified them extensively?

Thirdly, Allah says: "Then We gave the Book to those We had chosen from among Our servants." (3), and whoever Allah chooses is undoubtedly infallible from error.

There are other verses on this topic, but we suffice with what we have mentioned.

From the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet:

1. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: O people, I am leaving among you what, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my family, the Ahlul Bayt. (4)

This is explicit that the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) are infallible because:

Firstly: The Book of Allah is infallible; falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it, and it is the Word of Allah. Whoever doubts it has disbelieved.

Secondly: Because those who hold fast to both (the Book and the family) are safe from misguidance, this hadith indicates that there can be no error in the Book and the family.

2. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: The example of my family is like the Ark of Noah; whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind drowns. (5)

This is explicit that the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) are infallible from error, and thus everyone who boards their Ark is safe, while anyone who fails to board it drowns in the whirlpool of misguidance.

3. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: Whoever wishes to live my life, die my death, and enter the Paradise that my Lord has promised me, which is the eternal Paradise, let him take the hand of Ali and his descendants after him, for they will not lead you through a door of misguidance, nor will they lead you through a door of error. (6)

This is explicit that the Imams from the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them), namely Ali (peace be upon him) and his descendants, are infallible from error because they will not lead those who follow them through a door of misguidance, and it is self-evident that one who is subject to error cannot guide others.

4. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: I am the warner, and Ali is the guide, and through you, O Ali, those who are guided will find guidance after me. (7)

This is also explicit in the infallibility of the Imam, as is clear to those with understanding.

This explanation from the Holy Quran and the noble Sunnah indicates the infallibility of the Imams (peace be upon them).

Does reason reject the infallibility of one whom Allah has chosen for guidance?

No, it does not reject that; rather, the opposite is true.

Reason dictates the necessity of that infallibility because one who is entrusted with the task of leadership and guiding humanity cannot be an ordinary person who is subject to error and forgetfulness, burdened with sins and burdens.

Note: The hadiths have been sourced from the references of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.

Response from the Office of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

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Footnotes:

1. Al-Ahzab, verse 33.

2. Al-A'raf, verse 201.

3. Fatir, verse 30.

4. Sahih al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 621.

5. Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol. 2, p. 343; Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 12, p. 95; Al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa by Ibn Hajar, p. 186.

6. Kanz al-Ummal, vol. 11, p. 611; Tarikh Ibn Asakir, vol. 2, p. 99; Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol. 3, p. 128.

7. Tafsir al-Tabari, vol. 13, p. 108; Tafsir al-Razi, vol. 5, p. 271; Yanabi al-Mawadda, p. 130; Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol. 3, p. 129.