The Fourteen Infallibles

The Fourteen Infallibles ( Ma‘sūmūn) are Twelver Shī‘ah Islam religious figures from between the 6th and 9th century who Twelvers believe are infallible, i.e. "divinely bestowed [with] freedom from error and sin". This quality of infallibility is known as Ismah.Dabashi (2006), p.463 The Fourteen Infallibles are Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra and the Twelve Imams.
==Background==
According to Twelver theologians, infallibility is considered a rational necessary precondition for spiritual and religious guidance. They argue that since God has commanded absolute obedience from these figures they must only order in accordance with Islam. The state of infallibility is based on the interpretation of the verse of purification:Momen (1985), p.155 Thus they are the fourteen most pure ones, the only immaculate ones preserved from, and immune to, all uncleanness.Corbin (1993), pp.48–49 It does not mean that supernatural powers prevent them from committing a sin, but it is due to the fact that they have absolute belief in God so that they find themselves in presence of God. 
They have also complete knowledge about God's will. They are in possession of all the knowledge brought by the angels to the prophets and messengers. Thus they act without fault in religious matters.Corbin (1993), p.48
The ascription of infallibility to the Imams is encountered as early as the first half of the 8th century, second century of Islamic calendar, and it was soon extended to the prophets. 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, her infallibility derives 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. There is general agreement among Shia authorities that all fourteen are superior to the rest of creation, including even the major prophets.
==List of Infallibles==
Number	NameKunya 	Arabic TitleThe Imam's Arabic titles are used by the majority of Twelver Shia who use Arabic as a liturgical language, including the Usooli, Akhbari, Shaykhi, and to a lesser extent Alawi Turkish title Turkish titles are generally used by Alevi, a fringe Twelver group, who make up around 10% of the world Shi'a population. The titles for each Imam literally translate as "First Ali", "Second Ali", and so forth.	Designation 	Birth–Death CEBirth–Death AHThe abbreviation CE refers to the Common Era solar calendar, while AH refers to the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar.	Birthplace (present day country) 	Place of death and burial
1 	Muhammad ibn Abdullahمحمد بن عبداللهAbu al-qasimأبو القاسم 	Rasul Allah(the Messenger of God)--- 	The prophet of Islam 	570–63240(before Hijra)–10 	Mecca, Saudi Arabia 	Medina, Saudi Arabia
2 	Ali ibn Abu Talibعلي بن أبي طالبAbu al-Hassanأبو الحسن 	Amir al-Mu'minin(Commander of the Faithful)Birinci Ali 	The first Imam and the rightful successor of the Prophet of all Shia; however, the Sunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.	600–66123(before Hijra)–40Tabatabae (1979), pp.190–192 	Mecca, Saudi Arabia 	Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite in Kufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword.Tabatabae (1979), p.192 Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq.
3 	Fatimah 	al-Zahara(the shining one)--- 	The leader of all women in this world and in Paradise.( Sayyidatu n-Nisā'i l-‘alamīn)Ordoni (1990) p.117 	605 or 615–632 or 633Ordoni (1990) pp.42–45 Amin. Vol. 4. p.10317 or 7 (before Hijra)–10 or 11 	Mecca, Saudi Arabia 	Most Shias believe that she was injured when defending Ali against the first Khalifa that this incident lead to her death in her very young age."Fatima", Encyclopedia of Islam. Brill Online.(see:Umar at Fatimah's house) She was buried in Jannat al-Baqi in the city of Medina, though the exact location of her grave is unknown.
4 	Hassan ibn Aliألحسن بن عليAbu Muhammadأبو محمد 	al-MujtabaIkinci Ali 	The second Twelvers Imam 	624–680
----3–50Tabatabae (1979), pp.194–195 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	Poisoned by his wife in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya.Tabatabae (1979), p.195 Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
5 	Husayn ibn Aliألحسین بن عليAbu Abdillahأبو عبدالله 	Sayed al-ShuhadaŪçüncü Ali 	The third twelvers Imam 	626–680
----4–61 Tabatabae (1979), pp.196–199 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala. Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq.
6 	Ali ibn al-Husseinعلي بن الحسینAbu Muhammadأبو محمد 	al-Sajjad, Zain al-Abedin
----Dorduncu Ali 	The 4th twelvers Imam 	658-9 – 712 Tabatabae (1979), p.202
----38–95 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
7 	Muhammad ibn Aliمحمد بن عليAbu Ja'farأبو جعفر 	al-Baqir al-Ulum
(splitting open knowledge)
----Besinci Ali 	The 5th twelvers Imam Tabatabae (1979), p.203 	677–732
----57–114 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
8 	Ja'far ibn Muhammadجعفر بن محمدAbu Abdillahأبو عبدالله 	al-SadiqTabatabae (1979), p.203–204
(the Trustworthy)
----Altinci Ali 	The 6th twelvers Imam 	702–765
----83–148 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
9 	Musa ibn Ja'farموسی بن جعفرAbu al-Hassan Iأبو الحسن الاول 	al-KazimTabatabae (1979), p.205
----Yedinci Ali 	The 7th twelvers ImamTabatabae (1979) p. 78 	744–799
----128–183 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	Imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Buried in the Kazimayn shrine in Baghdad.
10 	Ali ibn Musaعلي بن موسیAbu al-Hassan IIأبو الحسن الثانی 	al-Rida, RezaTabatabae (1979), pp.205–207
----Sekizinci Ali 	The 8th twelvers Imam 	765–817
----148–203 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Mashad, Iran on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad.
11 	Muhammad ibn Aliمحمد بن عليAbu Ja'farأبو جعفر 	al-Taqi, al-Jawad Tabatabae (1979), p. 207
----Dokuzuncu Ali 	The 9th twelvers ImamTabatabae (1979), pp.207–208 	810–835
----195–220 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim. Buried in the Kazmain shrine in Baghdad.
12 	Ali ibn Muhammadعلي بن محمدAbu al-Hassan IIIأبو الحسن الثالث	al-Hadi, al-Naqi
----Onuncu Ali 	The 10th twelvers Imam 	827–868
----212–254 	Surayya, a village near Medina, Saudi Arabia	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Samarra, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.Tabatabae (1979), pp.208–209 Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.
13 	Hassan ibn Aliألحسن بن عليAbu Muhammadأبو محمد 	al-Askari
----Onbirinci Ali 	The 11th twelvers ImamTabatabae (1979) pp. 209–210 	846–874
----232–260 	Medina, Saudi Arabia 	According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra, Iraq. Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra. Tabatabae (1979), pp.209–210
14 	Muhammad ibn al-Hassanمحمد بن الحسنAbu al-Qasimأبو القاسم 	al-Mahdi, Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah 
----Onikinci Ali 	The 12th and last twelvers ImamTabatabae (1979), pp. 211–214 	868–unknownTabatabae (1979), pp.210–211
----255–unknown 	Samarra, Iraq 	According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.
==See also==
*Shia Islam
*Twelvers
*Ahl al-Bayt
*Twelve Imams
*Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)
*Ahl al-Bayt
*Ahl al-Kisa
==Footnotes==
==References==
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==External links==
* A Chronological List of The Fourteen Infallibles
* The Fourteen Infallibles by Hamid Algar, an article of Encyclopedia Iranica
* 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
Category:Islam
Category:Shi'a Islam
Category:Twelvers