Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

A Critical Examination of Theological Views on "The Principle of the Existence of Imamate and Its Superiority" in the Verse of the Trial of Prophet Abraham (AS)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
kazem ostadi
Graduate, M.A. in Qur'an & Hadith Sciences, Qur'an & Hadith University, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jis.2025.405013.1903
Abstract
From the beginning of his prophetic mission, the Prophet (SAWA) demonstrated serious concern not only for introducing his immediate successor but also for the matter of the Imamate of Muslims after him. To substantiate the issue of Imamate and succession to the Prophet (AS), Shi'a theologians have adduced theological and historical arguments, as well as certain verses of the Holy Qur'an, such as the Verse of Trial (Āyat al-Ibtilā': 2:124) concerning Prophet Abraham (AS) or the Verse of Imamate. The most significant general flaw in citing isolated or selective verses for theological issues and hypotheses is the neglect of the overarching thematic unity of [the verses within] a Sūrah or a thematic section within the Sūrahs of the Qur'an. This means that every verse of the Holy Qur'an must be interpreted and explained within the context of its preceding and succeeding verses and the framework of the Sūrah as a whole. Therefore, the theological propositions derived from the Verse of Trial of Prophet Abraham (AS) must be independently examined and analyzed from this perspective. Employing a library-based analytical research method, this study examines theological propositions pertaining to the principle of the existence of Imamate and its superiority in the Verse of Trial, such as: 1) the Verse of Trial concerns the issue of Imamate; 2) the Verse of Trial proves the existence of the issue of Imamate; (3) Imamate is distinct from prophethood and messengership (risālah); and 4) the station of Imamate is higher than that of prophethood. The study concludes that deriving these propositions from verse 124 of Sūrat al-Baqarah is strained and forced, and that arguing for them through the Verse of Trial of Prophet Abraham (AS) is invalid; thus, serious criticisms confront this derivation and argumentation.
Keywords
Imamiyya Theology
Verse of Imamate
Succession to the Prophet (SAWA)
Verse 124 of Sūrat al-Baqarah
Specific Imamate
Subjects
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