The Principle of Grace and Its Place in Proving the Necessity of Sending Prophets and Appointing Imams from the Viewpoint of Shia Theologians

The principle of grace is one of the most important and influential beliefs among theologians and has a special place in theology. This principle plays an essential role in proving the necessity of sending prophets and appointing imams in the views of Shia theologians. There are various statements in theological works about the definition of the principle of grace, the reasons for the necessity of grace from the Exalted, and the proof of the necessity of sending messengers and appointing imams by referring to the principle of grace. Shia scholars such as Nobakhti, Sheikh Mofid, Sayyed Mortaza, Sheikh Tusi, Allameh Helli, and from among the later scholars, Sayyed Hashem Hosayni Tehrani, and Jafar Sobhani, have used the principle of grace in the debates related to proving the necessity of sending prophets and appointing imams. Some have considered the principle in accordance with divine wisdom, and some have treated it simply as God's grace and mercy. Some consider this principle effective in proving the issues of prophecy and imamate, and some deem it not worthy of reference. Finally, however, the words of Shia theologians all together prove the necessity of sending prophets and appointing imams using the principle of grace.