From [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizari) : > The Nizari Ismailis have always maintained that the Imamah (also known as 'Imamat') can only be inherited from the current Imam to a direct descendant in a father-to-son (or grandson) hereditary lineage starting with Imam Ali and then to Imam Hussain and so on until their present and living 49th Imam, Prince Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV. From [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infallibility) : > In Shi'a theology, the belief is that the Ahl al-Bayt, including Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra and **Shi'a Imams** are all infallible and do not make mistakes. According to Nizaris, they believe the Imamah continues. **Question:** Do Nizari Ismaili Shias believe in the infallibility of all the Imams? As stated above, Shias believe that their Imams are infallible. **Do Nizaris believe in infallibility and if they do so they believe in the infallibility of all the Imams, including the present** [**Aga Khan**](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aga_Khan) ?

Do Shi'as believe that the words of the Imams can abrogate the Quran? In what circumstances can this happen? If infallible Muhammad can abrogate the Quran with his own words, as many Sunnis believe, than that implies that the Imams can do the same, as they are also infallible. How do Twelvers and Ismailis differ on this question?

Twelver believe there has been continously a vicegerant on earth from times of adam. They say 12 imams are for mankind. What about jinnkind? I have asked twlevers on discord regarding the same and no answer is given by them. So the question is who's vicegerant for jinns? The necessity for jinns requiring vicegerant as per twelver logic is from Quran verse 51:56. > We didn't not create jinn and men except to worship me. I also have come to conclusion that the population of jinn is more than mankind at any given time based on hadith which says every human has a devil companion. > His companion (qareen) will say: ‘Our Lord! I did not push him to transgression, (in disbelief, oppression, and evil deeds), but he was himself in error far astray.’ > Allaah will say: ‘Dispute not in front of Me, I had already in advance sent you the threat. > The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust  to the slaves’” [Qaaf 50:27-29] > The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, “Even me, but Allaah helped me with him and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.”  According to another report, “… There is assigned to him a companion from among the jinn and a companion from among the angels.”  Narrated by Muslim, 2814

As salaam aalaikum, Many Shias say that being an "imam" is greater than being a prophet. They normally quote the following verse where Ibrahim (pbuh) prays to be an "imam" after he became a prophet. >And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you an imam for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." (Quran 2:124) But in the following verse I feel that any Muslim believer can be an imam. >And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an imam." (Quran 25:74) From the above verse it seems that any Muslim can make the dua of being an "imam". Even Ibrahim (pbuh) was making a similar dua. Furthermore, if we start reading the above verse in context of the 4-5 verses before, we notice it talks about repentance and turning a persons life around from sin and then making this dua to be an imam. This simply implies that ANY sinner who turns his life around can make dua to be an "imam" as opposed to the concept of infallibility of imams. So how does one bring together the idea that an "imam" is greater than a prophet when any Muslim can make dua to be a imam? I would prefer Shia view, but the others are welcome to chime in.

What's the main purposes, objectives and duties of a Shia Imam ? Do those purposes, objectives and duties get over when he passes away? And is it possible that he not be able to complete all his objectives and pass away?

In this hadith of the pond of Khumm, it shows that Ali is shown to be said that he is the master of whom the Prophet was the master of: > O people, Allah the Most Kind the Omniscient has told me that no > apostle lives to more than half the age of him who had preceded him. I > think I am about to be called (to die) and thus I must respond. I am > responsible and you are responsible, then what do you say?' They said, > 'We witness that you have informed, advised and striven. May Allah > bless you.' He said, 'Do you not bear witness that there is no god but > Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Apostle, and that His > Heaven is true, His Hell is true, death is true, the Resurrection > after death is true, that there is no doubt that the Day of Judgment > will come, and that Allah will resurrect the dead from their graves?' > They said, 'Yes, we bear witness.' He said, 'O Allah, bear witness.' > Then he said, 'O people, Allah is my Lord and I am the lord of the > believers. I am worthier of believers than themselves. Of whomsoever I > had been Master (Mawla), Ali here is to be his Master.[a] O Allah, be > a supporter of whoever supports him (Ali) and an enemy of whoever > opposes him and divert the Truth to Ali.' If it is, what is Sunni view on it because Shia believe it to be the Prophet choosing Ali to be his successor.

As far as I know, Sunni believe in Caliphate, and Shia believe in Imamate. My question is that: What is the difference between **Imamate** and **Caliphate**?

We all know for sure that Prophet Muhammad Sallahu alayhi wassalam was the last Prophet and the seal of the Messengers and he received the final revelation or the "Divine Message". I and most Sunnis believe that the Guidance is only from Allah and following the message of His Messenger (Sallahu alayhi wassalam) and infallibility in religion belongs only to the Prophet. However, I heard that the Shi'ah believe that the Imams also can guide people and are infallible. Is there any Qur'anic ayah or Hadiths that prove the same? Correct me if my understanding of the concept is wrong.

What's the reason behind having twelve Shia Imams when just one could be enough? Allah could have kept Ali (as) alive for as long as He wanted like He has Muhammad al-Mahdi (as) and had him serve Immah for as long as He wished. So why have twelve instead of just one ?

If Hussain is Imam, and Ali is also imam what is the status of Hussain when Ali is imam? Searching Google isnt helping in anyway. I'm asking this because , one of the members commented that muhsin bin ali died as infant when prophet was alive. Edit: I'm editing this after the first answer, was hussain at alis imamate 1. Ordinary shia only. 2. Son of Imam only. 3. Impending imam. 4. Ordinary sunni. 5. Companion of prophet only.

I found the following saying of Umar RA , is this authentic and is it applicable even today? : >“There is no Islam except with jama’ah, and no jama’ah except with imarah (leadership), and no imarah except with ta’ah (obedience).” Also please let me know whether the saying is sahih hadith and is it even found in any reliable books and are there any other related hadith which support or refute this ? Also if possible give the context in which this was said.

There are couple of differences prevailing in Shia ithna ashari and Shia dawoodi bohra sects. The most important one is regarding imamat after imam Jafar Sadiq *a.s.* Ithna ashari sect believes that the true successor to imam Jafar Sadiq *a.s.* is imam Musa Kazim *a.s.* while Dawoodi Bohras believe it to be imam Ismail bin Jafar *a.s.* I need to understand who is the true successor, so that I can follow the right path. Even in Quran, it is indicated that the successors of Prophet Musa *a.s.* would be **12** and in several Ahle Sunnah books like Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Musnad of ibn Hanbal, etc., it is focussed that the true successors of Prophet Muhammad *s.a.w.w* would be **12**, then it is clear that **12** imams are on *haq*, then why do Dawoodi Bohras follow *21* imams along with *Daee* after them? This can be considered as the second part of my question. *I would be grateful if someone may please enlighten me with references.*

Shiites believe that their [Twelve Imams] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Imams) , the rightful successors of the prophet, have complete knowledge of everything. The question is: what are the origins of their knowledge? In other words, where do they get their knowledge from?

According to Shiism, in every era there must be one person to guide people and to help them obtain spiritual growth and fulfill their responsibilities towards their society. This person is not a prophet because Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last prophet but instead he is a complete man who has knowledge of everything from Allah and is infallible (Ma‘sūm). These are the 12 Imams, from Ali Ibn Abi Talib to Hojjat Ibn al-Hassan, Mahdi. This is because it is assumed that all men and women are fallible and their knowledge is very imperfect, therefore they must be guided by a Divinely appointed legitimate authority (called Imam, vasi, hojjat, etc.). See here and here . My question is: What is the Sunni view about this issue, i.e. having a person to guide people who is infallible and has knowledge of everything bestowed upon him by Allah? If the belief is that there is no need to having such a man, what is the reason?

All factions of Shi'a Muslims, despite their myriad differences, agree on the fundamental concept of *Imamah*: That the authority of leading the Islamic state is divinely-granted, and that not following the rightful Imam is disobedience to God's authority. I was reading this article — clearly anti-*Imamah* and likely biased — and it brings up some very good points, namely that while every Shi'a sect may have its own evidences to prove that its Imam is the "correct" one, these evidences are not universally accepted, and even outright rejected by other Shi'a factions (obviously, otherwise they'd all be following the same Imam). The Qur'an is mostly silent on the exact succession of leadership or how it is to be decided, and this is an issue that's been hotly debated since the death of the prophet himself. Given that one accepts the Shi'a concept of *Imamah*, how can one be sure that he is following the correct Imam given the fact that there exists about 70 different branches of Imams or representatives(detailed here ), each branch split over the same succession issue as faced during the time of Prophet Muhammad pbuh's death? What criteria are available for determining who is to be the actual Imam of our time?