Ismah
Encyclopedia
‘Iṣmah or ‘Isma is the concept of infallibility
or "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin" in Islam
. Muslims believe that Muhammad
and other prophets in Islam possessed ‘iṣmah. Twelver and Ismaili
Shia Muslims also attribute the quality to Imāms
and Fatima Zahra, daughter of Muhammad
. Zaidi Shia however, do not attribute ‘ismah to the Imāms.
The concept that Islam had sinless messenger arises from the Quran. It clearly stated in the first four verse of the 53rd Chapter. The verses clearly state that the prophet does not lie nor is he led astray. The third verse says that he never speaks out of his own inclination. The fourth verse states that what ever he speaks is inspired from God.
The doctrine has been rejected by some, such as the Kharijites
, who point to the second ayah
in the Surah
of Al-Fath
, in which God says to Muhammad that he will; "forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow". The Qur'an further states that Muhammad's words are only true and infallible insofar as they communicate the Qur'an itself, and that outside the Qur'an, Muhammad's words may be at fault.
figures who are infallible which means "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin
" in Islam. The Twelver Shīa believe that Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra, and the Twelve Imams are infallible.
According to Shīa theologians, infallibility is considered a rational necessary precondition for spiritual and religious guidance. They argue that since God
has commanded absolute obedience from these figures they must only order that which is right. The state of infallibility is based on the Shīa interpretation
of verse of purification. Thus they are, the most pure ones, the only immaculate ones preserved from, and immune to, all uncleanness. It doesn't mean that supernatural powers prevent them from committing a sin, but it is due to the fact that they have absolute belief in God so that they find themselves in presence of God.
They have also complete knowledge about God's will. They are in possession of all the knowledge brought by the angels to the prophets (nabi
) and the messengers (Rasul
). Their knowledge encompasses the totality of all times. Thus they act without fault in religious matters.
The ascription of infallibility to the Imāms is encountered as early as the first half of the 8th century, second century of Islamic calendar
, and it was soon extended to the prophets. The doctrine came to exclude the commission on their part of any sin or inadvertence, either before or after their assumption of office. As for Fāṭimah, her infallibility derives from her being a link between prophethood
and Imāmah, the two institutions characterized by infallibility, as well as by her association with the Imams and their attributes in numerous traditions. There is general agreement among Twelver Shī‘ah authorities that all fourteen are superior to the rest of creation, including even the major prophets
.
holds that truly faithful and pious Muslims — not just prophets and imams — could possess ‘iṣmah because it could be created by "nothing other than perfect faith." He preached that
Scholar Hamid Dabashi argues Khomeini's theory of ‘iṣmah from faith was connected to his theory of Islamic government by guardianship of the jurist. If the truly faithful possessed Ismah, and if Khomeini and the most learned and pious Islamic jurists were truly faithful, than this would reassure Shia hesitant about granting the same ruling authority to Khomeini and his successors, that Shia traditionally believed was reserved for the 12th Imam
(Mahdi
) on his return. According to Dabashi, Khomeini's theory helped "to secure the all-important attribute of infallibility for himself as a member of the awliyah "friends of God" by eliminating the simultaneous theological and Imamological problems of violating the immanent expectation of the Mahdi."
Infallibility
Infallibility, from Latin origin , is a term with a variety of meanings related to knowing truth with certainty.-In common speech:...
or "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin" in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. Muslims believe that Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
and other prophets in Islam possessed ‘iṣmah. Twelver and Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
Shia Muslims also attribute the quality to Imāms
Imamah (Shi'a doctrine)
Imāmah is the Shia doctrine of religious, spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. The Shīa believe that the A'immah are the true Caliphs or rightful successors of Muḥammad, and further that Imams are possessed of divine knowledge and authority as well as being part of the Ahl al-Bayt,...
and Fatima Zahra, daughter of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. Zaidi Shia however, do not attribute ‘ismah to the Imāms.
The concept that Islam had sinless messenger arises from the Quran. It clearly stated in the first four verse of the 53rd Chapter. The verses clearly state that the prophet does not lie nor is he led astray. The third verse says that he never speaks out of his own inclination. The fourth verse states that what ever he speaks is inspired from God.
The doctrine has been rejected by some, such as the Kharijites
Kharijites
Kharijites is a general term embracing various Muslims who, while initially supporting the authority of the final Rashidun Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, then later rejected his leadership...
, who point to the second ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
in the Surah
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
of Al-Fath
Al-Fath
Surat Al-Fatḥ is the 48th sura of the Qur'an with 29 ayat.-See also:...
, in which God says to Muhammad that he will; "forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow". The Qur'an further states that Muhammad's words are only true and infallible insofar as they communicate the Qur'an itself, and that outside the Qur'an, Muhammad's words may be at fault.
Shia Islam
According to Twelver Shīa, the Fourteen Infallibles ( Ma‘ṣūmūn) are historicalHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
figures who are infallible which means "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
" in Islam. The Twelver Shīa believe that Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra, and the Twelve Imams are infallible.
According to Shīa theologians, infallibility is considered a rational necessary precondition for spiritual and religious guidance. They argue that since God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
has commanded absolute obedience from these figures they must only order that which is right. The state of infallibility is based on the Shīa interpretation
Tafsir
Tafseer is the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary, usually of the Qur'an. Ta'wīl is a subset of tafsir and refers to esoteric or mystical interpretation. An author of tafsir is a mufassir .- Etymology :...
of verse of purification. Thus they are, the most pure ones, the only immaculate ones preserved from, and immune to, all uncleanness. It doesn't mean that supernatural powers prevent them from committing a sin, but it is due to the fact that they have absolute belief in God so that they find themselves in presence of God.
They have also complete knowledge about God's will. They are in possession of all the knowledge brought by the angels to the prophets (nabi
Nabi
Nabi may refer to:* Prophets of Islam, humans who, in the Islamic faith, have been chosen as prophets by God**Nabi * Butterfly in the Korean language** Nabi , a 2001 South Korean film** The Korean language title of Mr...
) and the messengers (Rasul
Rasul
In Islam, an Apostle or Messenger is a prophet sent by God.According to the Qur'an, God sent many prophets to mankind. The five universally acknowledged messengers in Islam are Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad, as each is believed to have been sent with a scripture...
). Their knowledge encompasses the totality of all times. Thus they act without fault in religious matters.
The ascription of infallibility to the Imāms is encountered as early as the first half of the 8th century, second century of Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
, and it was soon extended to the prophets. The doctrine came to exclude the commission on their part of any sin or inadvertence, either before or after their assumption of office. As for Fāṭimah, her infallibility derives from her being a link between prophethood
Nubuwwah
In Islam, Nubuwwah means "Prophethood" and denotes that God has appointed perfect Prophets and Messengers to teach mankind Gods religion. Nubuwwah is among the five Shi'a Roots of Religion....
and Imāmah, the two institutions characterized by infallibility, as well as by her association with the Imams and their attributes in numerous traditions. There is general agreement among Twelver Shī‘ah authorities that all fourteen are superior to the rest of creation, including even the major prophets
Prophets of Islam
Muslims identify the Prophets of Islam as those humans chosen by God and given revelation to deliver to mankind. Muslims believe that every prophet was given a belief to worship God and their respective followers believed it as well...
.
Khomeini's interpretation
A more recent and very influential Shī‘ah interpretation of ‘iṣmah by Ruhollah KhomeiniRuhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
holds that truly faithful and pious Muslims — not just prophets and imams — could possess ‘iṣmah because it could be created by "nothing other than perfect faith." He preached that
Scholar Hamid Dabashi argues Khomeini's theory of ‘iṣmah from faith was connected to his theory of Islamic government by guardianship of the jurist. If the truly faithful possessed Ismah, and if Khomeini and the most learned and pious Islamic jurists were truly faithful, than this would reassure Shia hesitant about granting the same ruling authority to Khomeini and his successors, that Shia traditionally believed was reserved for the 12th Imam
Muhammad al-Mahdi
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Mahdī is believed by Twelver Shī‘a Muslims to be the Mahdī, an ultimate savior of humankind and the final Imām of the Twelve Imams...
(Mahdi
Mahdi
In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for seven, nine or nineteen years- before the Day of Judgment and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.In Shia Islam, the belief in the Mahdi is a "central religious...
) on his return. According to Dabashi, Khomeini's theory helped "to secure the all-important attribute of infallibility for himself as a member of the awliyah "friends of God" by eliminating the simultaneous theological and Imamological problems of violating the immanent expectation of the Mahdi."