There are many verses in the Quran that signify the scientific authority of the Ahlul-Bayt (AS). Some verses make clear and explicit reference to this point and others simply imply it. Among the verses that make clear reference to the scientific authority of the family of the Prophet (S) is verse 43 of Surah al-Nahl (16) which has been repeated in verse 7 of Surah al-Abiya (21) with a little variation. God, the Exalted, says: "And We did not send before you any but men to whom We sent revelation-- so ask the followers of the Reminder if you do not know." This article seeks, after explaining the key concepts, to mention various views about the manifestation of the 'followers of the Reminder'. First the views of those exegetes, who believe that the 'followers of the Reminder' are the People of the Book, have been analyzed and the difficulties of this view have been pointed out. Then another viewpoint that says that the question, questioner and the person to whom the question is directed is general, has been critically assessed and rejected. Finally, the view of those Shia and Sunni scholars who relying on the traditions hold that 'followers of the Reminder' are the Ahlul-Bayt (AS) have been elaborated. The relevant narrations reported in the sources of both sects have been examined.

Explaining the theory of social gap in the Iranian society of the Umayyad transition period, and the subsequent emergence of asociality as a phenomenon in this society from the center of the caliphate can be examined by functionalist analysis. After the Islamic conquest of Iran, the new Arab-Islamic society failed to absorb Iranians. Iranians’ expectations about the improvement in their general situation did not become materialized and their former social gaps not only did not disappear but with the expansion of the tribal system and their status as Mawalis in the lowest stratum, they became an underprivileged society. Using the historical method and an analytical interdisciplinary approach to the theories of social gap and asociality in sociology, the present research aims to explain the role of the social gap within Iranian society in the asociality of the first century A.H.. According to the findings of the research, the existing social gaps in the Umayyad society and asociality within Iranian social strata were caused by the Umayyad political structure. Furthermore, Umayyad discriminatory policies and the existence of social gaps within Iranian society initiated asociality and paved the way for the Abbasid reception in the hope of a better future.

Belief in Imamate is the cornerstone of Shi‘i thought. Because of this importance and the fact that companions of the Imams (A.S) revealed or concealed some stations and virtues of the Imams (A.S), those who have written about various Shi‘i groups have classified them under numerous sects. ‘Abdullah Ibn AbiYa’fur is one of the greatest companions of Imam Sadiq (A.S) who have narrated many hadiths about issues concerning Imamate. Relying upon some historical reports, some modern authors have tried to regard him as being among moderate Shi‘is who do not believe in Divine stations of the Household (A.S). Because of its historical approach and since it has sufficed to a very small number of reports, this view has been used as an evidence for the claim that Shi‘i beliefs are of an evolutionary nature and there are some ideological disagreements among companions contemporary to the Imams (A.S). The present writing tries to discuss hadithsnarrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn AbiYa’fur and, in this way, find a more accurate idea about “Imamate”. Also, in the present article, the historical methodology used in the above-mentioned writings has been scientifically criticized and challenged.