The Imama and the Need for Moral Leadership

Abstract

This chapter covers Murtaḍā’s changes to the doctrine of Imama, which proved to be permanent. Understood as an expression of divine assistance, the Imama is studied in its theoretical aspects: definition, justification, charismatic qualifications and relation to political philosophy. This establishes the theory’s two core principles: the necessity of the Imama and infallibility of the Imam. The discussion then turns to an examination of applications of the theory to particular Imams, introducing a sacred-historical outlook that starts with Muhammad’s designation of ʿAli as his successor. The last part treats two major challenges arising from inopportune historical developments, i.e. the Imami view of Muhammad’s companions and the occultation of the Twelfth Imam. The chapter is divided into three sub-headings: Theoretical Model; The Test of History; Inconvenient Outcomes.