Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

An Account and Critique of the Zaydi View of the Imam’s Knowledge According to the Imami Theology

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Hosseinpoor 1
morteza ramezanikooshk 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Theological Schools, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 PhD, Shiite Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jis.2025.468755.1976
Abstract
One of the key topics in Shiite studies is the study of Shiite sects. Like other Islamic denominations and sects, Shiism has experienced internal divisions, one of which is the Zaydi sect. The Zaydiyya remains a significant Shiite sect in the contemporary period, and the differences between the Imāmiyya and the Zaydiyya can be analyzed from various perspectives. However, the primary divergence between these two sects lies in the doctrine of imamate, particularly regarding explicit designation. naṣṣ), armed uprising. qiyām), and attributes such as the Imam’s knowledge. This study addresses the concept of the Imam’s knowledge from the perspectives of the Imāmiyya and the Zaydiyya, as it is a fundamental and essential characteristic of the imam. The significance of discussing the Imam’s knowledge is evident in that, if established according to the Imāmī perspective, it affirms one of the distinctive features of Twelver Shiism. This study first explores the Zaydi perspective on the source of the imam’s knowledge, followed by an examination of its nature according to this sect. In the final section, the concept of the Imam’s knowledge of the unseen. ʿilm al-ghayb) is scrutinized. A key finding of this research is that the Imāmī view on the Imam’s knowledge aligns with both reason and religious principles. The study employs a library-based, analytical, and descriptive methodology.
Keywords
knowledge
Zaydiyya
Imāmiyya
knowledge of the unseen
Subjects
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