Imamate From the viewpoint of Zaydiyyah and Imamiyyah

The two Shiite sects of Imamiyyah and Zaydiyyah have plenty of noticeable common aspects about Imamate (the Leadership of the Islamic Community) in that Imamate and Caliphate belongs only to Ahle-e-Beit(a) and also in that Imamate is stipulated in the texts of narration quoted from the Holy Prophet(SAAS). However, thre are lots of different views between the two sects as well.The present study aims to give a brief report on the viewpoints of two scholars Abu-Zayid Alavi [a zaydi scholar], and Ibne-Qobbah Razi [a scholar of Imamiyyah], who both lived in the 4th century(A.H.). Abu-Zayd Alavi in the book Al-Eshhad, in addition to explaining the Zaydiyyah’s views about Imamate, has made a vast strong objection against Imamiyyah’s views. Ibne-Qobbah Razi writing a book by the title of Naqze-e al-Ershad [the Critique of Al-Eshhad], has answered reasonably back to Abu Zayd’s objections and has defended the position of Imamiyyah. The report [here] is based on the book Kamal-al-Deen by the late sheikh Sadouq.