Sources of Imam's Knowledge

According to Shi’is, Shi’i Imams enjoy religious authority; and, Shi’is believe that, after the Holy Prophet (PBUH), religious and scientific authority is exclusively that of Imams. Because of the role played by Imam after the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which is the same as an all inclusive guidance, according to the Shi’i school, Imam is in a relation to the grand Divine sources and enjoys knowledge of such sources and his knowledge is higher than ordinary knowledge being communicated through hidden and heavenly channels. The Holy Quran and hadiths suggest that Imam’s knowledge is connected to God the Glorified. There are many sources for Imam’s knowledge among which the most important ones are the Holy Quran, the Holy Spirit, Jami’ah, Mushaf of Fatimah (PBUH), texts and books of the prophets, column of light, thousand windows to knowledge (alf bab)1, narration, the Grand Name. According to verses and hadiths, knowledge of commandments as well as halal (lawful) and haram (unlawful) has been communicated to the Imams (pbut) by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Thus, the role played by Imam concerning these sciences is an explanatory and interpretive one; and Imam is a guide by whom disputes may be removed and sciences communicated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) may be presented and explained. In addition to granting perfection and realizing continuation of the prophethood of the last prophet, Imam plays the role of a special guide or Imamate proper. Hadiths concerning connection between Imam and angels and other channels for Imam’s knowledge have been explained in this way. Channels such as intuition, and presentation of acts to Imam as well as daily reports provided for Imam, which are emphasized by verses and hadiths, are among referents of this guidance and the role played by Imam in it.