The Imams Knowledge

7:7:57

2023-04-19

743

The point which is exploited by Ahl al-Sunnah to revile the Shi’ah being that (Shi’ah’s) say: “That the Ahl al-Bayt Imams (peace be upon them) have been distinguished by Allah the Glorified with a knowledge that no one shared them with. And that the Imam being the most knowledgeable of his time, with no possibility that he being questioned by someone and fails to give a reply!

Is there any evidence for this claim?

Let’s begin our discussion, as usual, by the holy Qur’àn:

Allah, the Glorified and Highest, says in His Book: “Then made We the inheritors of the Book (Quran) those whom chose We from among Our servants...” (35:32), the verse clealry indicating that Allah, the Glorified, has chosen some servants from among people making them inheritors of the knowledge of the Book. Have we to recognize these upright people?

Previously we stated that the Eighth Imam of Ahl al-Bayt, ‘Ali ibn Musà al-Ridà, has proved that the aforementioned verse was revealed in their (Imams) regard. That was (when the Caliph) al-Ma’mun gathered for him forty famous judges, with every one of them preparing forty questions to put forth to him, for all of which he gave convincing answers that dumbfounded them, making them to admit his knowledgeability.225

If this Imam being only fourteen years during this conversation with the fuqahà’, who admitted his knowledgeability, so how would it be strange then the Shi’ah’s belief in their knowledgeability, while Ahl al-Sunnah ‘ulamà’ and leaders acknowledge the same for them.

But when intending to interpret the Qur’àn by the Qur’àn, we shall see many verses indicating one meaning, stating that Allah, for an extreme wisdom, distinguished the Imams of the Prophet’s Household with a given knowledge of His own, so as to be leaders of guidance and lights for darkness.

The Almighty Allah said: “He granteth wisdom to whomsoever He willeth, and he who hath been granted wisdom hath been given abundant good; and none shall mind it save those endowed with wisdom.” (2:269)

Al-’Imàm ‘Ali himself also said: “Where are those who falsely and unjustly claimed that they are deeply versed in knowledge, as against us, although Allah raised us in position and kept them down, bestowed upon us knowledge but deprived them, and entered us (in the fortress of knowledge) but kept them out. With us guidance is to be sought and blindness (of misguidance) is to be changed into brightness. Surely Imams (divine leaders) will be from the Quraysh. They have been planted in this line through Hàshim. It would not suit others nor would others be suitable as heads of affairs.”

Allah, the Exalted, said: “Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not.” (16:43). This verse also was revealed in the regard of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).228 It indicates that the Ummah, after the demise of its Prophet, should refer to the Imams of the Household, in order to realize the realities. The Companions, as reported, referred to Al-’Imàm ‘Ali ibn Abi Tàlib to explain for them the questions they could not solve, and throughout long years, people resorted to the Imams for recognizing the halàl (lawful) and haràm (unlawful), and to acquire from their knowledge and virtues.