Review and Criticism of the Book Twelve Infallible Men: The Imams and the Making of Shiism by Matthew Pierce

Matthew Pierce, a western researcher of Shiism, in the book Twelve Infallible Men discusses the role of five Shiite canonizer and their books in giving identity to Shiism.  These books include Ethbat al-Wasiyah by Masudi, Dalael al-Imamah by Tabari, Al-Ershad by Sheikh Mofid, Elam al-Wara by Tabarsi, and Managheb Al Abi Taleb by Ibn Shahr Ashub. In his book, Pierce mentions the main and effective role of these canonizers in giving identity to the Shia society, the sanctity and infallibility of the imams, the creation of the sacred history of Shia, the practical demarcation of Shia beliefs from non-Shia, and the formation of the oral and sacred history of Shia through the stories and anecdotes of the above-mentioned authors. The theme of Matthew Pierce's work is the history of thought, which tries to attribute the origin of Shiite thought to Shiite saints by using the historical method. The presentation of this point of view is rooted in the principles that the author has chosen for himself and based on which he makes those statements. The present research aims to examine and criticize the author's principles and methods based on the religious foundations of Muslims, using historical, traditional, and religious methods and principles.