A Study of the Imam’s Knowledge and Infallibility Features with an Emphasize on Nahj-al-Balaghah and with a View to the Scholarʹʹs Opinions

All Muslims believe and confirm that the household of the prophet (p.b.u.h.) have had admirable virtues and attributes which have made them outstanding and specific in their own age. Two most important cases of their attributes are knowledge and infallibility. Of course about the limit of knowledge and the principle of infallibility, there are some differences between the Shiite and Sunni scholars which will be dealt with in this paper. In his words, Imam Ali (a.s.) has frequently referred to this fact that the household of the prophet (p.b.u.h.) Because they undertake to guide and lead the society, they definitely must have special divine science and far from error knowledge to be able to succeed in their mission. sublimity and superiority of knowledge of Imam (a.s.) towards human science, The knowledge of the Unseen and source of all knowledge and being an intermediary for divine graciousness are traits of the household of the prophetʹs (p.b.u.h.) knowledge which have been mentioned in Nahj-al Balaghah. Another point which is understood from the Imam’s words is that the household of the prophet (p.b.u.h.) receive certain knowledge from the God which brings them to the state of certainty and leads them to infallibility and to be far from error and sin. In fact, Imam (a.s.) has introduced knowledge and infallibility as essentials to Imamate.