Re-Study of Punishment for Vilifying Imam

According to Shi’i and Sunni jurists, he who vilifies the Holy Prophet is considered as one whose blood may be shed with impunity and one who should be killed. According to many Shi’i jurists, vilifying prophets (A.S.), Infallible Imams (A.S.), and Lady Fatimah (S.A.) is the same as vilifying the Holy Prophet (S). In the present article, only vilifying Infallible Imams (A.S.) whether directly or under some other pretext is studied. In the present article, emphasis is put on the point that (except for one who vilifies the Commander of Faithful (A.S.) whose bled may be shed with impunity and even vilifying the Commander of Faithful (A.S.) may be considered identical to vilifying the Holy Prophet) ‘proofs’ given for permissibility of shedding blood of one who vilifies (while vilifying is not an instance of some other offences) should be studied and investigated in more details. Though, in terms of other instances, the point is clearer in particular concerning one who vilifying Imam in extreme that may be considered as Nasibi and one who may be killed.