Ma`rifat Kalami

The belief in the infallibility of the Imams from birth is one of the core tenets of Twelver Shi‘ism. At first glance, this belief may appear to be in tension with Mulla Sadra’s philosophy, as he considers the human soul initially weak and posits that substantial motion is the means by which the soul attains gradual perfection. However, a careful analysis through the lens of Sadrian philosophy provides a coherent framework for understanding the infallibility of the Imams. The central question of this study is: How can the infallibility of the Imams be philosophically explained using the principles of Transcendent Theosophy? Employing an analytical–argumentative approach and drawing on both theological and philosophical sources, this article demonstrates that key Sadrian concepts—such as the gradation of existence (tashkīk al-wujūd), the unity of knowledge and existence, and substantial motion—can effectively account for the philosophical basis of infallibility. According to this framework, the Imams are created with a heightened degree of existential intensity, granting them full intuitive knowledge of good and evil, and thereby rendering the commission of sin impossible. This philosophical explanation not only addresses potential objections related to free will, perceived inequality in creation, and the knowledge of the Imams during childhood, but also carries significant implications for the moral and social education of Muslims.