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IS IMAMAT CONSIDERED ONE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RELIGION (USUL AL-DIN) OR ONE OF THE BRANCHES OF RELIGIN (FURU AL-DIN)? WHY?


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Is Imamat considered one the fundamentals of religion (Usūl al‑Din) or one of the branches of religion (Furū al-Din)? Why?

 

Every sect and religion are founded on a set of principles and characteristics that adherence to them is considered a criterion for belonging to that religion or sect, and denying these principles can lead to exiting the domain of that religion or sect. In Shia, the principles of the religion consist of five fundamental tenets: Tawhid (Oneness of God), Adl (Justice of God), Nubuwwah (Prophethood), Imamat (Leadership), and Ma'ad (Day of Resurrection).

Therefore, from the perspective of Shia scholars, Imamat counts as one of the principles of religion, which consider its divinity as a prophethood.[1] This is while in Sunni idia, Imamat is considered a part of the branches of religion and is not seen as a divine office.[2] However, some Sunni scholars, like Qadi Baydawi in his book "Minhaj" and its commentators, believe that this issue is among the greatest matters of the principles of religion and consider those opposing it as disbelievers.[3]

Shia scholars have said about this: "Imamat is one of the principles of religion, not one of the branches of religion, which is related to obligatory actions. Because the Imamate is the religious and worldly leadership of the public, according to the command of God and His Prophet, and in this respect, it is like prophethood. In that case, it is not correct to consider it as one of the practical branches of religion.[4]

"The proof of this claim is the narration of the Prophet Muhammad (s) that has been narrated by both Shia and Sunni, which says: "Whoever dies without knowing the Imam of his time dies the death of ignorance".[5] Because a person who is ignorant of a secondary issue, even if it is one of the obligations, his death is not the time of ignorance, and not knowing it does not make him a non-Muslim.

 

[1] . Aṣl al-Shīʿa wa Usūluhā; Kāshif al-Ghiṭā, vol 1, pp 141-154 / Biḥār al-Anwār; al-‘Allāmah al-Majlisī, vol 69, p 132 / Muntahā al-Maṭlab; al-‘Allāmah al-Hillī; vol 1, p 522 / Al-Ḥadā'iq al-Nāḍirah fī Aḥkām al-‘Itrah al-Ṭāhirah; al-Baḥrānī; vol 18, p 153.

[2] . Sharḥ al-Mawāqif; Iji - Mir Sayyid Sharif, vol: 8, p: 344 / Tabayyin Dharurat Wujūd Imām Ba'd al-Payambar (S); Rajab Akbarzādeh, Faslnāmeh Āfāq Dīn, sāl 1, shomāreh 3, zemestān 1389, safha 54.

[3] . Ḥadīqat al-Shīʿah ,Muqaddas Ardabīlī, p; 27.

[4] . Al-Hashiyah ‘ala al-Hayat al-Sharh al-Jadid li al-Tajrid; Muqaddas Ardabili, vol; 1, p; 14 p;178.

[5] . Majlisi, Bihar al-anwar, vol.23, p.76-95; Mas'udi, Ithbat al-wasiyya, vol.1, p.112-115; Hakim al-Nishaburi, al-Mustadrak, vol.1, p.150,204; Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol.12, p.277, vol.13, p.188; Ibn Abi l-Hadid, Sharh nahj al-balagha, vol.9, p.125

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