Completion of Prophethood and the Authority of Innocent Imams

Recently some doubts are casted on the consistency between beleivng Mohammad (pbuh) as the final prophet and imams as the authoritative source of knowledge. Its claimed that believing on the divine knowledge and infallibility as well as the authority of the sayings of imams is incompatible with the completion of revelation. This article aims to provide these and other related doubts with well reasoned answers. First the main sources of imams’ knowledge are pointed out. So the sayings of imams are: 1) Quotations relating the holy prophet 2) relating from the divine book 3) interpreting the holy book and Sunnah and finally 4) divine inspirations. It is argued that according to holy Qur’an and Sunnah some people may enjoy a sort of divine knowledge and their sayings may serve as an authority for others. Anyhow, they are not regarded as prophet. Therefore there is no inconsistency between the completion of Prophethood and the social political authoritativeness of imams. In the end, the role of imams as the saviors’ and guardians of Shariah is highlighted. In conclusion the function and place of intellect in understanding the religious texts in the absence of prophet is discussed. In meantime the paradoxes in Dr. Sorush’s views on this issue is reviewed.