The Fourteen Infallibles

Part of a series on Shīa Islam
Beliefs and practices
Monotheism Holy Books Prophethood Succession to Muhammad Imamate of the Family Angels Judgement Day Mourning of Muharram Intercession Clergy The Four Companions
Holy days
Ashura Arba'een Mawlid Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Adha Eid al-Ghadeer Eid al-Mubahila
History
The verse of purification Two things Mubahala Khumm Fatimah's house First Fitna Second Fitna The Battle of Karbala
Current Branches of Shi'ism
Emāmī Ethnā‘asharī Jā'farīs Bātinī-Alevism Ghulāt Hurūfī-Baktāshīs Khaṣībī-Nusāyrīs Ismāʿīlī Nīzārī-Ismāʿīlīs Mustā‘lī-Tāyyībīs Zaīdī List of extinct Shia sects
Ahl al-Kisa
Muhammad Ali Fatimah Hasan Hussein
Holy Women
Fatimah Khadija bint Khuwaylid Umm Salama Zaynab bint Ali Umm ul-Banin Fatimah bint Hasan Sukayna bint Husayn Rubab Shahrbanu Fātimah bint Mūsā Hakimah Khātūn Narjis Fatimah bint Asad Farwah bint al-Qasim

The Fourteen Infallibles (Arabic: معصومون‎ Ma‘sūmūn) in Twelver Shia Islam include Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam; his daughter, Fatima Zahra; and the Twelve Imams, all of whom are considered to be infallible, that is, "divinely bestowed [with] freedom from error and sin".^[1] In Shiite Theology, this quality of infallibility is called Ismah.^[2][3] Ismah literally means protection, and in the Theological application, it refers to a special grace (lutf) by God upon a person that enables the said person to abstain from sins by her his own free will. Such a person is called Ma'sum.^[4] Shiites also believe that the Fourteen Infallibles are superior to the rest of creation, including even the major prophets.^[5]

Concept of Ismah

According to Shia, members of society should have the right understanding of the world and mankind (as taught by Islam) to identify and fulfill their obligations towards them. On the social level, fulfillment of these obligations are effected by implementation of Islamic rulings by a religious government resulting in a society of believers who worship only God and enjoy real justice and freedom on both personal and social level. These ends can only be accomplished under the guidance and rule of a person who is inerrant and protected by God against faults.^[6] This view is drawn from Shiite belief in divine succession to the Prophet. Shias argue that the rightful successors to the Prophet, in addition to ruling over the community justly, must correctly interpret the divine law which requires freedom from error and sin,^[7][8] lest misleading their followers.^[9] This human need for a divinely guided infallible leadership is the basis for the doctrine of Imamate.^[10] Infallibility and divine protection against error for Imams are also necessary for God's religion to remain intact.^[11] On the socio-political level, only an infallible Imam whose actions are free from error may also successfully arbitrate in conflicts between people and permanently resolve them.^[8]

According to Hamid Algar, this ascription is encountered as early as the first half of the second century of Islamic calendar. The Shia scholars of the fourth and the fifth centuries of Islamic calendar defined the infallibility of the Prophet Moḥammad and the Twelve Imams in increasingly stringent form, until the doctrine came to exclude the commission on their part of any sin or inadvertence, either before or after their assumption of office. As for Fatimah, it has been derived from her being a link between Prophethood and Imamah, the two institutions characterized by infallibility, as well as by her association with the Imams and their attributes in numerous Hadiths.^[2]

Family tree

The Fourteen Infallible
Muhammad Ali Fatimah Hasan Husayn al-Sajjad al-Baqir al-Sadiq al-Kadhim al-Rida al-Taqi al-Hadi al-Askari al-Mahdi

List of The Infallible

No.	Modern (Calligraphic) Depiction	Name (Full) Kunya	Title Arabic Turkish[1] !! Date of Birth–Death (CE/AH).[2] Place of birth !! Importance !! Reason & place of death and place of burial[3]
1		Muhammad ibn Abdullah[4][12] Abu al-Qasim[5][12]	Rasul Allah[6][12] (the Messenger of God) The Seal of All Prophets[7][13] Habib[8][14] (The Beloved)	570–632[12] / 53 BCE[15]–10[16] Mecca, Saudi Arabia[12]	Quran, the Word of God, thought to be the highest miracle, was revealed to him.[12]	Fell ill and died in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[12] Buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[12]
2		Fatimah[17] Umm Abiha[9][18] (A Mother for Her Father)	Sayyidatu n-Nisā'il-‘alamīn[10][19] (The master of all women in this world and in Paradise) al-Zahra[11][17][20] (The Shining One) Al-Siddiqah[12][21] (The Honest) Al-Mubarakah[13][22] (The Blessed One) At-Taherah[14][23] (The Virtuous) Al-Batoul[15][24] (The Pure One)	605 or 615 – 632 or 633[17][25][26][27][28] / 17 or 7 BCE[17] – 10 or 11[29] Mecca, Saudi Arabia[25][26]	Prophet called her "a part of me". She is also the mother of Shia Imams[29]	Fatal injury while defending Ali against the first Khalifa, according to most Shiites.[30] The exact location of her grave is unknown.[31]
3		Ali ibn Abu Talib[16][29] Abu al-Hasan[17][32]	Amir al-Mu'minin[18][33] (The Commander of the Faithful) Birinci Ali[34]	600–661[33] / 23 BCE –40[35] Mecca, Saudi Arabia[33]	The First[36] Imam[29][37] and the rightful Successor of Muhammad[38] for all Shia, acknowledged by the Sunnis as the fourth Caliph.[29] He holds an important position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[33]	Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite in Kufa, who slashed his head with a poisoned sword while he was praying.[33][39] Buried in Najaf,[29] Iraq.
4		Hasan ibn Ali[19][29] Abu Muhammad[20][32]	al-Mūjtabā[21][40] (The Chosen) İkinci Ali[34]	625–670[41] / 3–50[29][42] Medina, Saudi Arabia[41]	He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad through Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah az-Zahra. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in Kufa, but after a seven-months reign, he relinquished control of Iraq following of a peace treaty with Muawiya I.[41]	Poisoned fatally by his wife in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya, according to Twelver Shiite belief.[43] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,[29] Saudi Arabia.[41]
5		Husayn ibn Ali[22][29] Abu Abdillah[23][44]	Sayyid ash-Shuhada[24][45] (Master of the Martyrs) Üçüncü Ali[34]	626–680[46] / 4–61[29][47] Medina, Saudi Arabia[48]	He was a grandson of Muhammad and brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Husayn rejected the legitimacy of Caliph Yazid I. As a result, he and his family were ultimately killed in the tragic Battle of Karbala by Yazid's forces.[29] Even since the tragedy, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom has been at the core of Shia rituals and identity.[48]	Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.[48] Buried at Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala,[29][46] Iraq.[48]
6		Ali ibn Husayn[25][49] Abu Muhammad[26][44][50]	al-Sajjad[27][49] Zayn al-'Abidin[28][49][51] (One who constantly Prostrates; the Ornament of the Worshipers) Dördüncü Ali[34]	658 or 659[51] –712[52] / 38[49][51]–95 [49][52] Medina, Saudi Arabia[51]	Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya,[49] which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet."[52]	According to most Shia scholars, he was fatally poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[52] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia[49]
7		Muhammad ibn Ali[29][49] Abu Ja'far[30][44][53]	Baqir al-Ulum[31][54] (The Revealer of Knowledge) Beşinci Ali[34]	677–732[54] / 57–114[49][54] Medina, Saudi Arabia[54]	Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, revered for having educating many seminary students during his tenure.[49][54][55]	According to some Shia scholars, he was fatally poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.[52] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,[49] Saudi Arabia.
8		Ja'far ibn Muhammad[32][49] Abu Abdillah[33][44][49]	as-Sadiq[34][56] (The Honest) Altıncı Ali[34]	702–765[49][56] / 83–148[49][56] Medina, Saudi Arabia[56]	Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence and developed the theology of Twelvers.[49] He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah[49] and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Geber in science and alchemy.[56]	According to Shia sources, he was fatally poisoned in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.[56] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia.[49]
9		Musa ibn Ja'far[35][49] Abu al-Hasan I[36][44][57]	al-Kazim[37][58] (The Calm One) Yedinci Ali[34]	744–799[49][58] / 128–183[49][58] Medina, Saudi Arabia[58]	Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq.[59] He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shia community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan. He holds a high position in Mahdavia; the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[60]	Imprisoned and fatally poisoned in Baghdad, Iraq, on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, according to Shiite belief.[61] Buried in the now Kazimayn shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[49][58]
10		Ali ibn Musa[38][49] Abu al-Hasan II[39][44] [57]	ar-Rida[40][62] (The Pleasing One) Sekizinci Ali[34]	765–817[49][62] / 148–203 [49][62] Medina, Saudi Arabia[62]	Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun,[63] and famous for his discussions and debates with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[62]	According to Shia sources, he was fatally poisoned in Mashad, Iran, on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun.[63] Buried in the now Imam Reza shrine in Mashad, Iran.[62][63]
11		Muhammad ibn Ali[41][63] Abu Ja'far[42][44]	al-Taqi[43][63] (The God-Fearing) al-Jawad[44][64] (The Generous) Dokuzuncu Ali[34]	809[63] or 810 –835[63][64] / 195–220[64] Medina, Saudi Arabia[64]	Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate.[65]	Poisoned fatally by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in Baghdad, Iraq, on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim, according to Shiite sources.[66] Buried in the now Kazmain shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[63][64]
12		Ali ibn Muhammad[45][63] Abu al-Hasan III[46] [44] [67]	al-Hadi[47][68] (The Guide) al-Naqi[48][63] (The Pure) Onuncu Ali[34]	827–868 [63][67] / 212–254[67] Surayya, a village near Medina, Saudi Arabia[67]	He taught religious sciences until 243/857.[63] Strengthened the network of deputies in the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the khums and religious vows.[67]	According to Shia sources, he was fatally poisoned in Samarra, Iraq, on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.[69] Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[63]
13		Hasan ibn Ali[49][63] Abu Muhammad[50] [70][71]	al-Askari[51][63][72] (The Citizen of a Garrison Town) Onbirinci Ali[34]	846–874[72] / 232–260 [63][72] Medina, Saudi Arabia[72]	For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father.[73] Repression of the Shiite communities was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.[74]	According to Shia, he was fatally poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra,[73] Iraq. Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[63][73][74]
14		Muhammad ibn al-Hasan[52][63] Abu al-Qasim[53][45]	Mahdi[54][63][75] (The Guided One or The Guide), Hidden Imam[55][76] al-Hujjah[56][45][77] (The Proof) sahib al-Zaman[57][70] (The Lord of Our Times) Sahibu'l-Amr[58][70] (The one vested with Divine authority) al-Qa'im[59][45] (The one who will rise and fill the universe with the Justice) Baqiyyat Allah[60][45] (God's Remainder) Onikinci Ali[34]	868–unknown[78] / 255 or 256[63] –unknown[78] Samarra, Iraq[79]	According to Twelver Shiite doctrine, he is an actual historical personality and is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Christ. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam, filling the earth with justice and peace.[80]	According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills.[78]

See also

• Shia Islam
• Twelvers
• Ahl al-Bayt
• Twelve Imams
• Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)
• Ahl al-Bayt
• Ahl al-Kisa

Notes

Footnotes

References

Encyclopedias

•  
• Amin, Hassan (1968–73).  
• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2005). "SHIʿITE DOCTRINE". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2014-07-07. 
• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2007). "ISLAM IN IRAN vii. THE CONCEPT OF MAHDI IN TWELVER SHIʿISM". Encyclopædia Iranica. 
• Arjomand, Said Amir (2000). "ḠAYBA". Encyclopaedia Iranica. 
• Calmard, Jean (2004). "Husayn ibn Ali". Encyclopædia Iranica. 
• Calmard, Jean (1999). "FĀṬEMA". Encyclopaedia Iranica. 
• Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Gale Group. 2004.  
• Halm, H (1987). "ʿASKARĪ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. 
• Lammens (2012). "Fatima". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill Online.  
• Lambton, Ann K. (1989). "Chapter 7, Political Theory and Practice". In Nasr, Seyyed Hussein. Expectation of the Millennium : Shiìsm in History. State University of New York Press.  
• Martin, Richard C. Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world; vol.1. MacMillan.  
• Mattar, Philp (2004). Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Gale Group.  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
• Poonawala, I. K. (1985). "ʿALI B. ABI ṬĀLEB". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2014-07-07. 

Books

• Abu Shahba, Hatem. Ayat ut Tatheer: To Whom Does the Purification Verse Refer To?. Jerrmein Abu Shahba. 
• Akhtar Rizvi, Sayyed Saeed (1987). Prophethood. Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania.  
• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (27 September 1994). The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam. SUNY Press.  
• Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (15 February 2011). The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Belief and Practices. I.B.Tauris.  
• Blank, Jonah (2001). Mullahs on the Mainframe: Islam and Modernity Among the Daudi Bohras. University of Chicago Press.  
• Chittick, William C. (1980). A Shi'ite Anthology. SUNY Press.  
•  

•  
• Dungersi, Mohammed Raza. A Brief Biography of Imam Hasan bin Ali (a.s.): al-Askari. Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania. GGKEY:NT86H2HXN40. 
• Dungersi, Mohammed Raza. A Brief Biography of Imam Ali bin Muhammad (a.s.): an-Naqi. Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania. GGKEY:8634KUB72L4. 
• Dungersi, Mohammed Raza (1994). A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (s.a.). Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania.  
• Ibn al-ʻArabī (January 1980). Ibn Al' Arabi. Paulist Press.  
•  
•  
• Mashita (2002). Theology, ethics and metaphysics. Hiroyuki. London: RoutledgeCurzon.  
• Momen, Moojan (1985). An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelve. Yale University Press.  
•  
•  
•  
•  
• Ordoni, Abu Muhammad (1 December 2013). Fatima (Sa) the Gracious. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.  
• Ordoni, Abu Muhammad; Qazwini, Muhammad Kazim (1992).  
• Qurashī, Bāqir Sharīf (2006). The Life of Fatima Az-Zahra': The Principal of All Women : Study and Analysis. Ansariyan.  
• Qurashi, Baqir Sharif (2007). The life of Imām Zayn al ‘Abidin (A.S.). Ansariyan Publications.  
• Qurashi, Baqir Sharif (1999). The Life of Imam Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Baqir. Ansariyan Publications.  
• Qurashi, Baqir Shareef (2005). The Life of Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad. Qom: Ansariyan Publications. 
• Rizvi, Sayyid Saeed Akhtar (1988). Imamate: The vicegerency of the Holy Prophet. Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania.  
•  
•  
•  
•  
• Tabatabaei, Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn (1977). Shi'ite Islam. SUNY Press.  
• Walbridge, Linda S. (6 August 2001). The Most Learned of the Shi`a : The Institution of the Marja` Taqlid. Oxford University Press.  

External links

• A Chronological List of the Fourteen Infallibles
• A Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibles by WOFIS World Organization for Islamic Services Tehran -Iran
• The Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibles by Mohammad Hussein il’adeeb