The Structure of the Doctrine of Imamate in Shiite Thought: A Developmental Approach

In this article, the writer  provides an overview of the idea of Imamate in Shiite thought and its development through Kalami (theological) debates and literary works.

To achieve this goal, I have limited my study to the early basic books and have organized my discussion into five parts: (1) the structure of the discussion of Imamate within Shiite and the Sunni communities, (2) the concept of Imamate, (3) the relation between Imamate and the principles of faith, (4) the necessity of imamate, and (5) who the Imam is in person, and the traits of the Imam. Indeed, we cannot discuss or understand Shia thought and theology without comprehending the idea of Imamate. Therefore, this idea has held a central position in Shia thinking throughout Islamic history, and numerous books have been written both in defense and in criticism of this concept. In this article, adopting a semi phenomenological and developmental approach, I provide a clear and comprehensive depiction of the idea of Imamate by drawing upon the primary Shia sources. Furthermore, I aim to open a new area for approaching this Shiite doctrine through a different lens.

“Shīʿa” (Shiite or Shia), originally a Quranic term meaning partisan or follower, historically refers to an Islamic sect or denomination that asserts itself as the true and pure form of Islam. The essence of Shiite thought lies in the belief in the leadership of certain, typically twelve, infallible individuals who guide the Shiite community from the time of the Prophet Muhammad’s death until the Day of Judgment. Historically, the primary issue that divided the Islamic community into two major factions was the matter of succession. Following the death of Prophet Muhammad, the majority of his followers, including the Muhajirun who migrated from Mecca to Medina along with the Prophet, argued that Muhammad did not explicitly designate a successor and left the decision to the Islamic community or Ummah. However, some of his closest family members, such as Ali, his cousin and son-in-law who also served as the Fourth Caliph, contended that Muhammad had fulfilled his duty by appointing Ali, the first person to believe in his message and wholeheartedly follow him, as his true and immediate successor. Although the majority prevailed over this minority and elected Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law, as his successor, this event gave rise to numerous practical conflicts and theoretical inquiries. Gradually, the issue of Imamate or leadership emerged as the most pivotal matter in Islamic thought, prompting many scholars to delve into in-depth discussions….

Bibliographic Information

Title: The Structure of the Doctrine of Imamate in Shiite Thought: A Developmental Approach

Author: Seyed Hassan Eslami Ardakani

Published in: Religious Inquiries (2023), 12(S1): S9 – S22

 Language: English

Length: 14 Pages

The Structure of the Doctrine of Imamate in Shiite Thought