Shi`a Pajoohi

Shi`a Pajoohi

Imam's Unseen Knowledge from the Perspective of Verses and Hadiths: Review and Criticism of Abolfazl Borghei's View

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Majid Kiyaninejad 1
Mohammad Hasan Nadem 2
Akbar Bagheri 3
1 PhD Graduate in Shia Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Shia Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Abolfazl Borghei is one of the prominent people among the revisionists of Shia beliefs. Based on some of the Quranic verses, he denies the unseen knowledge of the Imams (AS). He introduces the belief of today's Shia concerning the Imams' (AS) knowledge of the unseen as extravagant and out of correct tenets. According to the research conducted on Borghei's views and the origin of his beliefs in a descriptive and analytical method, it seems he believes that the unseen knowledge of Prophets and Imams (AS) requires communication with the origin of the unseen knowledge (God) through revelation. Since revelation in its special sense is also exclusive to divine prophets, other than them, including the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (AS) or other divine saints, due to not having this channel of communication, they are incapable of attaining the knowledge of the unseen. Explaining the concept of "unseen" based on everything that is hidden to man in terms of time, place, and the possibility of perception, this research brought up the verses and interpretative hadiths related to the exclusiveness of the unseen knowledge to God and its negation of the prophets (AS). Also, considering the conceptual difference between "revelation" and "inspiration", the ways of attaining divine knowledge were pointed out, and the identification of the unseen with receiving revelation was questioned. As a result, it became clear that God has introduced other ways such as inspiration to reach the unseen. This way is not exclusive to the prophets (AS), so other divine saints can also gain knowledge of the unseen through this channel. Many unseen narrations from the Imams (AS) included in the hadith and historical sources of Shia and Sunni confirm this conclusion.
Keywords
Seyyed Abolfazl Borghei
Imam's Unseen Knowledge
Revelation
Inspiration
Verses and Hadiths
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