Typology of the behavior of imams (a.s.) in expressing rational arguments for their imamate

People's awareness of the honesty of the people who claim the divine position depends on the statement of rational and narrative reasons. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) stated numerous narrative and intellectual reasons about the twelve imams (a.s.). In addition, each of the imams (a.s.) also stated reasons for the righteousness of the next imam. Regardless of the arguments put forward by other infallibles in this regard, every imam has sometimes referred to hadiths from the Prophet (pbuh) or previous imams and sometimes based on rational arguments and introduced himself as the Imam and successor of the Prophet (pbuh). The current research, which used the library method in collecting the materials and the analytical method in the field of thinking, seeks to know what the behavioral process of the imams (pbuh) was in using rational evidence to prove their righteousness. The findings of the research show that the imams (a.s.) have gone through the following five processes in expressing rational arguments to the temporal relationships and the perceptive level of the audience: expressing merit towards the caliphate, trying to preserve values, increasing knowledge, scientific superiority, expressing superiority in establishing World monotheistic government.