Imamah

The term imamate or imamah (Arabic: إمامة‎, imāmah) means "leadership" and refers to the office of an imam or a state ruled by an imam.

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Seyed Ali Shobayri, Seyed Ali Shobayri is of mixed Iranian and Scottish descent who found the path of the Ahlul Bayt (a) by his own research. He holds a BA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University through the... Answer updated 1 year ago

Bismillah, 

Asalamu Alaykom, 

Yes you are correct, all power originates from Allah swt and no human being or creature can do anything without the power that Allah swt has given them. 

About the imams (as), we say that they have a very high status with Allah swt; therefore if they make dua for someone, then there is more of a chance of our requests being accepted through them. 

For example we can commit sins which block our Duas from being accepted, where as the imams (as) are of a status we cannot comprehend, and their duas are always answered. Just like if one in this life knows someone who is known to be pious. Yes, they can ask Allah swt themselves and make dua, but another way to get to Allah is by asking other believers to make dua for them as the supplications of the very pious people are more powerful. No one but a Jahil would claim this to be shirk. 

This doesn’t negate the fact that a person should regularly and directly call on Allah swt especially through the Duas that the prophet and imams (as) taught us as they know how to best speak to Allah swt. Going through Ahlul Bayt (as) for one’s needs to be accepted is perfectly acceptable as long as one does so with the right aqeeda. One should know that rizq is only from Allah swt and the imams (as) do not give rizq but ask Allah swt for it. In this sense, they are the door of one’s needs.  

It is also attributed to Imam Sadiq (as) that he said the following about 40:60 of the Quran: 

1 heard Abu Abdullah (as) and he said: 

‘Allah' does not Leave us to ourselves and had He Left us to ourselves, we would be like the ordinary people, and we are those Allah Mighty and Majestic Said: "Supplicate to Me, I will Answer you. [40:60)

Source: Basair al-Darajat

So while the verse is general and encourages one to make dua to Allah swt, it shows here how it is applied in the specific sense of the imams (as) being those whose supplications are answered, and there is no contradiction between the both explanations of the verse. 

Therefore if one visits any of the shrines of the prophet or imams (as), they may ask them to make dua to Allah swt for them. This is not shirk as nawasib try to claim and they have no evidence to prove so.
 

For the sake of the argument let us say that we thought that the prophet and imams (as) could hear people at their shrines but in reality they couldn’t; would  someone who spoke or asked them for something have committed shirk? No not at all. In the the worst case a person who spoke or asked them something would of just done a pointless action and not shirk (if we assumed the prophet and imams couldn't hear). 

This isn’t case though as the prophet and imams (as) hear the words of the believers at their shrines and know about those who visit them. 

May Allah grant you success 

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

Imamah (Divine leadership) is a position granted by Allah to the best of His creatures to lead all human beings to the Way of Allah. Allah tested Ibrahim through many tests and when Ibrahim (AS) completed all the tests successfully, Allah told him: I Am making you an Imam for all people. This Imamah was granted to Ibrahim after he was already a prophet and a messenger. The Imamah of Ahlul Bayt (AS) is the continuity of the divine leadership of the greatest and best and final Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) although none of the 12 Imams was a prophet because there is no prophet after Muhammad (SAWA). The status of the 12 successors of the greatest Prophet Muhammad is from his status and their Imamah is binding all humans as the Imamah of Ibrahim was on all humans. The twelve Infallible Imams are not prophets but their divine leadership is must on all humans.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

Last of the Prophets ia the proper word for the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) not last of messengers because all the messengers were Prophets as well, and no Prophet will be sent after Muhammad (SAWA). If he was called last of the messengers, that will leave a chance to liars to claim prophet hood after him. Every messenger is a Prophet but not every Prophet is a messenger, that is why, no Prophet means no Prophet or messenger will come after Muhammad (SAWA).

He was the leader of all the human beings including the Prophets and messengers.Imamate after him is for his successors who are not Prophets as he said: No Prophet after me.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 1 year ago

It is untrue. It is one of the many false accusations against us fabricated by our enemies.

We believe that followers of any Muslim sect being Sunni (Hanafi, Shafi'ee, Maliki, Hanbali, Barelwi, Deobandi or Zaidi or Abaadhi or Ash'ari or Salafi or Wahabi etc are Muslims like us.

Even those who claim that we Shia are Kafirs are misguided Muslims and we never consider them as Kafirs.

Wassalam.

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 year ago

According to Twelver Shi'i narrations, the knowledge of the Imams is received through divine sources. It is available throughout their lives but culminates to a new level after the departure of the previous Imam (or, in the case of Imam Ali, the Prophet). They have access to anything they need or want to know. This knowledge is available to them at any time; however, at certain times, certain specific information is presented to them (such as the deeds of their followers).

It is considered to be a step lower than the type of wahy given to the messengers. For instance, some narrations say that the Imams can hear the angel Jibra'il but not see him. Similarly, the Imams provide guidance, but not a revealed scripture like the Qur'an which is a Book in the word of Allah.

The mechanics of how this knowledge is acquired in mentioned in some narrations, although these narrations tend to be somewhat obscure and may or may not be accurate. In any case, it is said that the Imams have access to something resembling a column of light or a lamp between themselves and Allah through which they can attain knowledge of anything or to see any place. In other places, it is simply said that the Imams were created with certain types of knowledge, such as knowledge of the explanation of the Qur'an and other fundamentals regarding the nature of this world and the worlds before and afterwards. There are also some texts the Imams possessed such as Mushaf Fatima and Kitab Ali, although it is not said that they required these texts to know what was in them.

Insofar as knowledge is potentially infinite, all of these things could be accepted altogether without contradiction .

In any case, this is a large and complex subject, so to learn more about it, one could read hadith collections such as Basa'ir al-Darajat and al-Kafi.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

All the Prophets faced injustice and many of them were killed like Prophet Yahya, but never used divine power or miracles. Allah Wants life to go according to the same system that He created. Allah (SWT) does not use His divine Power against those who disobey Him because He leaves people to do whatever they decide and postpone the final result to the Day of Judgement.

Using divine power will then force people to believe which is against the principle of testing people to make them choose between right and wrong.

Wassalam.

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Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 year ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The idea of knowledge which comes from Allah through metaphysical means, rather than through normal means of acquisition has been derived by Muslim thinkers reflecting on verse 18:65 in which Khidr is described as having this trait.

If the definition of ilm al-ladunni is as mentioned above then revelation is the highest form of this type of knowledge, followed by hadith qudsi and then other types of mystical experience. We have plentiful reports about such types of mystical experiences occurring in the life of the Prophet (saw) and the Imams (as). If it seems incoherent that the knowledge of the Imams (as) is only acquired from their study of the Prophetic sunna, then a reasonable explanation would be some level of ilm ladunni. Some commentators have explained ilm al-ladunni as prophethood, and Allah knows best.  

May you always be successful

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 1 year ago

Allah ordered in Quran : Take and follow whatsoever the Messenger of Allah tells you, and abstain from whatsoever he forbids you. (Sura 59, verse 7).

This Quranic order is very clear and obligatory on every believer. Lot of very important matters in Islam were not mentioned in Quran but ordered by the Prophet ( SAWA) hence became obligatory on all Muslims like the number of Rak'ats in every Salaah (Prayer). All Muslims perform Morning Prayers in two Rak'ats, Dhuhr in four Rak'ats, Asr in four Rak'ats, Maghrib in three Rak'ats and Isha in four Rak'ats just because the Prophet told them and Allah's order in Quran (Sura 59, verse 7). 
Allah says in Quran as well : He who obeys the Prophet has indeed obeyed Allah. (Sura 4, verse 80).

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) has clearly and repeatedly mentioned that his successors will be 12 Imams. This has been mentioned in most authentic Hadeeths narrated in both Shia and Sunni main references like:

1. Saheeh Al-Bukhari , Hadeeth number 6682.

2. Al-Tareekh Al-Kabeer by Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, page 410.

3. Saheeh Muslim , Hadeeth number 3393 and 3394 and 3395 and 3396 and 3397 and 3398.

4. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal  in 36 Hadeeths  ; 3593 and 3665 and 9875 and 19884 and 19887 and 19892 and 19901 and 19914 and 19920 and 19920 and 19925 etc.

5. Tirmithi (Tirmizi)  Hadeeth number 2149.

6. Sunan Abi Dawood , Hadeeth 3731 and 3732.

7. Mustard Al Al-Saheehain by Al-Haakim Al-Nisabouri,  Hadeeths 6586 and 6589 and 8529.

8. Al-Albani Nasser Al-Deen, Kuruba Takhreej Al-Hadeeth, Hadeeth 376 and 1075 and 3598 and 3599.

9. Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani in Ta'jeel Al-Manfa'ah, page 538, and in Al-Mataalib Al-'Aaliyah , 2140 and 4608.

10. Al-Bayhaqi in Dala'il Al-Nubowwah, Hadeeth 2589 and 2888 and 2890 and 2895

And many other Sunni books.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

The fact of the Twelve Imams after the Prophet of Islam is an order from Allah (SWT). No one has right to say or suggest on any matter which has been decreed by Allah (SWT). Allah Knows every thing including all the future, so, there is no point in putting such questions from us. Allah Knows everything and He is The Absolute Wise, All Knowung, Most Merciful.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

As the Abbasid government rulers' pressure on Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and his family was tremendous, the disclosure of Imamate of Imam Mahdi (AS) was among the near circle of the most trusted persons. Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) told very few most trusted believers and allowed them to see his successor Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). These are names of some of those who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS):

1. Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri who became later the first Safeer of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS).

2. Muhammad ibn Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri, who became later the second Safeer of the Imam.

3. Al-Husain ibn Rooh.

4.  Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Samari.

5. Lady Hakimah daughter of Imam Al-Jawad (AS).

6. Ibraheem ibn Mahziyar Al-Ahwaazi.

7. Ahmad ibn Eshaq ibn Sa'd Al-Ash'ari.

8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Mutahhar.

9. Ismael ibn Ali Al- Nawbakhti.

10. Ali ibn Ibraheem ibn Mahziyaar Al-Ahwaazi.

11.Kaamil ibn Ibrahim Al-Madani.

12.Allaan Al-Kulayni.

13. Muhammad ibn Ismael ibn Musa Al-Kadhim.

14. Al-Hasan ibn Wajnaa' Al-Naseebi.

15.Ibrahim ibn Idrees.

16. Ibrahim ibn A'bdah Al-kNisabori.

17.Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Tabreezi.

18. Sa'ad ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Khalaf Al-Ash'ari.

19. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Shimshaati.

20- Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim Al-Aqeeli. 

There are hundreds of well known pious believers who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Whole books were been compiled on this subject by big scholars.

Wassalam.

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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 1 year ago

There is a full field of knowledge called E'lm Al-Rijaal which deals with every narrator and searching and assessing his authenticity. Deviat persons are known by our scholars of E'lm Al-Rijaal and their narrations are never accepted.

Famous  Shia books on E'lm Al-Rijaal are like Kitab Al-Rijaal  by Al-Najaashi (450 Hijri),

Rijaal Al-Kashshi (350 Hijri) ,

and  Al-Fahrist by Al-Shaikh Al-Tousi  (460 Hijri) , 

Ma'aalim Al-Ulama' by Ibn Sharashoob 588 hijri.

Khulasat Al Awwal by Al-Allama Al-Hilli  726 hujri.

Tanqeeh Al-Maqaal by Al-Mamaqani 1351 hujri.

and Mu'jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth by Al-Khoei 1413 hijri.

We only accept narrations from authentic narrators who were always in the right path.

Wassalam.

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Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

In our Shi'i belief, there is only one female who has 'ismah (infallibility), and that is Seyyidah Fatimah al-Zahraa (a.s.).

There are different dimensions to your question and answer, and I have covered it in a presentation which in shaa Allah could assist in answering your question: