Leadership in Shia Islam, Orthodox Judaism, and Roman Catholicism Essay

Leadership in Shia Islam, Orthodox Judaism, and Roman Catholicism - Essay Example The imamate history began with Ali, who is also accepted by Sunni Muslims as the fourth of the "rightly guided caliphs" to succeed the Prophet. Shias respect Ali as the First Imam, and his children, beginning with his sons Hassan and Husain, continue the line of the Imams until the twelfth. When Ali was six years old, he was invited by the Prophet to live with him, and Shia believes Ali was the first person to make the declaration of faith in Islam. Ali also slept in the Prophets bed on the night of the hijra, when it was feared that the house would be attacked by unbelievers and the Prophet stabbed to death. He fought in all the battles the Prophet did, except one, and the Prophet chose him to be the husband of one of his favorite daughters, Fatima. The Shia Imams represent the picture of both the mysterious and transparent dimensions of Islam. The authority of Imams includes both this worldly and other worldly affairs. One of the most significant doctrines underlying the possibility of the Imam’s comprehensive authority is their infallibility. The Sunnis believe that the Imams are infallible to any sin. For them if the Imams were considered to be the subject to sin and error, then there will not be any difference between the leader and the led which will paralyze the structure and operation of their religion. The followers are well advised to keep the authority of the Imam intact since though the Imam only the God is dispersing duties blessings to the followers as per the Shia’s belief. Only the Imams have the authority to reveal the hidden meanings of Qur’an. Since the Imams provide continuous authoritative interpretations of the Qur’an they are supposed to be free of any sin or error. It is a cond ition for Imam. The Imams are considered to be the charismatic leaders through their association with Mohammad as messenger of Allah. Jewish People believe in good and evils and they think that goodness