Analysis of Imamiyyah and Esotericism Views Regarding the Interdependence of the Wisdom of Imams and Realizing Religion’s Truth as Reflected by the Shi’a Narrations

Imam Sadiq (as), in response to al-Mufaddal Ibn Umar’s letter concerning the correlation of religion verity and knowledge of Rijal, dispelled doubts as he states: divine decree and ordinance are not known except by the Rijal (few selected divinely men); informing that those who acknowledge these men know Allah and his religion, thus, whoever denies them has denied Allah and his religion as he lives in ignorance of it while also remaining ignorant of the Imam. Therefore, the ability to discern such men is Allah’s religion. Using the descriptive-analytical method, this research discloses the belief of the esoteric sect regarding the confinement of religion to the recognition of divinely men and the offerings of acknowledgements and affection towards them in order to incline their core belief is enough to overrule Sharia laws. By this set of belief, in the presence of knowledge alone, everything can be done arbitrarily and the divine obligations and constraints are deemed unnecessary to comply with. While in the view of Imamiyyah, one of the indispensably vital indicators of faith is the wisdom and governorship of men, i.e. Imams, and thus it becomes necessary to obey them. According to the narrations of the infallible Imams, practice is recognized as a necessity for faith while committing sins destructs it. Therefore, the Shi’a consider themselves obliged to perform their duties and restrain from engaging in prohibited acts. One of the differing principals between the two viewpoints is that the people freeing themselves of performing divine duties fail to differentiate between Islam and faith. However, the holy Imams have strongly resisted the esoteric sect’s way of thinking and have expressed their abhorrence towards them by ways of condemnation, commanding them towards piety and righteous deed.