Studying Imamate from Twelver Shia Perspective Based on Rational Reasons and Quranic Verses and Narrations

Denominations of Islam are in complete disagreement with each other when it comes to Imamate; a subject that has been studied by the prominent Islamic interpreters throughout the history. Shia and Sunni are the largest denominations of Islam and in choosing Imam, the former considers the text of the Holy Qur’an as the source of reference and the later believes in Bay’ah (oath of allegiance) and consensus. Moreover, different branches of Shia Islam have contradictory views on the subject of Imamate. Some has an indirect reference to the subject of Imamate; i.e. no specific person is selected as Imam and only the characteristics of such a person are clarified, while others have asserted that Imams are not impeccable. However, Twelver Shia believes that Imamate is proven by the principle of Lutf (grace). In addition, they verify the impeccability of Imam by reasoning and interpretations of Imams sayings. The researcher has studied the most significant arguments of Twelver Shia and then has proved the impeccability of Imam by Quranic verses and narrations (Imams’ sayings). The current paper has tried to study the concept from a new perspective and it was based on the book, Al-Hujjat Usūl al-Kāfī that has been neglected in the former studies.