A critical study of contemporary new-thinkers' viewpoint about the Imam's knowledge scope with emphasis on viewpoints of companions of Imams (PBUH)

The problem of Imam's knowledge is one of the important theological issues that Islamic theologians have discussed in two general approaches. Most of the theologians are in favor of the maximal approach and others also believe in a minimal approach. Some contemporary new-thinkers like Modarresi Tabatabaei, Kadivar, Soroush, Salehi Najafabadi with a historical look at Shi'a beliefs are from the followers of minimal approach and believe that the maximal approach i.e. the first group's belief in Imam's knowledge has no record in the era of Imams but have been appeared among some external currents of thought like Ghulat. This group's main reason for proving this claim relies on expressing historical evidence. They try to show that from the viewpoint of the companion of Imams (PBUH) the Imam's knowledge is limit and any maximal approach to Imam's knowledge has been denied by them. This research has been tried to analyze and critic the new thinkers' viewpoint about the scope of Imam's knowledge relying on traditions and historical evidence and using the descriptive-analytic method and critical approach.