Analysis and explanation of the claim of Imamate of Abdullah Afteh and the reasons for rejecting his Imamate

After the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS) and due to the expansion of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) family, the differences between the children of the Imams (AS) to obtain the position of Imamate, which undoubtedly had a high spiritual and material status, increased. Some of the sons of the Imams (AS) who did not reach the position of Imamate, considered this position as their right and did not accept the Imamate of their brother, and even opposed his brother and tried to usurp the position of Imamate. Among these people was Abdullah Afteh, who after the death of his father, Imam Sadegh (AS), considered Imamate as his right and claimed Imamate. The purpose of this study is to investigate in a descriptive-analytical manner the reasons why Abdullah took the position of his brother and although there is evidence of his Imamate, on the basis of which his Imamate is rejected. The results show that many factors, including the belief of the narrators of the hadith, the support of the Shiites and especially the silence of Imam Kadhim (AS), make Abdullah more determined in his claim and various reasons such as scientific disability, not having a son and not introducing a successor. The passage of time caused the Shiites to turn away from believing in his Imamate.