The Fourteen Infallibles
The Fourteen Infallibles (Arabic: ٱلْمَعْصُومُون ٱلْأَرْبَعَة عَشَر, al-Maʿṣūmūn al-ʾArbaʿah ʿAšar; Persian: چهارده معصومین, Čahârdah Ma'sūmīn) in Twelver Shia Islam are the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra, and the Twelve Imams. All are considered to be infallible under the theological concept of Ismah. Accordingly, they have the power to commit sin but by their nature are able to avoid doing so, which is regarded as a miraculous gift from God. The Infallibles are believed to follow only God's desire in their actions because of their supreme righteousness, consciousness, and love for God. They are also regarded as being immune to error in practical matters, in calling people to religion, and in the perception of divine knowledge. Some Twelver Shia believe the Fourteen Infallibles are superior to the rest of creation and to the other major prophets.
Family tree
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Muhammad (مُحَمَّد) |
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Fatimah (فَاطِمَة) |
Ali (عَلِيّ) |
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Hasan (ٱلْحَسَن) |
Husayn (ٱلْحُسَيْن) |
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Ali Zayn al-Abideen (عَلِيّ زَيْن ٱلْعَابِدِين) |
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Muhammad al-Baqir (مُحَمَّد ٱلْبَاقِر) |
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Ja'far al-Sadiq (جَعْفَر ٱلصَّادِق) |
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Musa al-Kazim (مُوسَىٰ ٱلْكَاظِم) |
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Ali al-Rida (عَلِيّ ٱلرِّضَا) |
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Muhammad al-Jawad (مُحَمَّد ٱلْجَوَّاد) |
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Ali al-Hadi (عَلِيّ ٱلْهَادِي) |
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Hasan al-Askari (ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ) |
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Hujjat Allah al-Mahdi (حُجَّة ٱللَّٰه ٱلْمَهْدِيّ) |
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List of the Infallibles
| Name Kunya |
Title Arabic |
Date of birth and death | Importance | Cause and place of death Place of burial |
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Muhammad ibn Abdullah مُحَمَّد ٱبْن عَبْد ٱللَّٰه صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ Abu al-Qasim أَبُو ٱلْقَاسِم |
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Makkah, Hijaz |
Considered by Muslims to be the last prophet sent by God to mankind. According to Muslims, God revealed to him the Quran, which is God's word. | Fell ill and died in Madinah. According to some Shi'as and fewer Sunnis, he was fatally poisoned instead, with the exact circumstances being disputed between them. |
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Fatimah bint Muhammad فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهَا ٱلسَّلَام ʾUmm ʾAbīhā أُمّ أَبِیهَا |
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Makkah, Hijaz |
Her father Muhammad called her "a part of me". She is also regarded as "the mother of the Imams". | According to most Shias, Fatimah suffered a fatal injury while defending Ali against the first Sunni caliph. The exact location of her grave is unknown but is believed to be in Madinah. |
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Ali ibn Abi Talib عَلِيّ ٱبْن أَبِي طَالِب عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Hasan أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن |
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Makkah, Hijaz |
For all Shia, the son-in-law of Muhammad is the first Shia Imam and the rightful successor to Muhammad. For Sunnis, he is the fourth successor. He holds an important position in almost all Sufi orders, which trace their lineage to Muhammad through him. | Assassinated in Kufa, Iraq, by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite who slashed his head with a poisoned sword while he was praying. Buried in Najaf, Iraq. |
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Hasan ibn Ali ٱلْحَسَن ٱبْن عَلِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Muhammad أَبُو مُحَمَّد |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
The eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad, through his mother, Fatimah, Hasan succeeded his father Ali as the caliph in Kufa; but after a seven-month reign he relinquished control of Iraq following a peace treaty with Muawiya I. | He was poisoned fatally by his wife in Madinah by order of Caliph Muawiya. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Madinah. |
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Husayn ibn Ali ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱبْن عَلِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Abdillah أَبُو عَبْد ٱللَّٰه |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Grandson of Muhammad and younger brother of Hasan, Husayn rejected the legitimacy of Caliph Yazid I, the son of Muawiyah. As a result, he and his family were killed in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid's forces. Ever since the battle, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom has been at the core of Shia rituals and identity. | Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala. Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala, Iraq. |
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Ali ibn Husayn عَلِيّ ٱبْن ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱلسَّجَّاد عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Muhammad أَبُو مُحَمَّد |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
The author of the prayers in Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, ("The Scripture of Al-Sajjad", "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet"). | He was fatally poisoned by order of Caliph al-Walid I in Madinah. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Madinah. |
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Muhammad ibn Ali مُحَمَّد ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْبَاقِر عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Ja'far أَبُو جَعْفَر |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Sunni and Shia sources consider Al-Baqir an early and pre-eminent legal scholar who was revered for having educated many students. | He was fatally poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Madinah by order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Madinah |
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Ja'far ibn Muhammad جَعْفَر ٱبْن مُحَمَّد ٱلصَّادِق عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Abdillah أَبُو عَبْد ٱللَّٰه |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
As-Sadiq established the Ja'fari school of jurisprudence and developed the theology of the Twelvers. He taught many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Geber in science and alchemy. | He was fatally poisoned in Madinah by order of Caliph Al-Mansur. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Madinah |
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Musa ibn Ja'far مُوسَىٰ ٱبْن جَعْفَر ٱلْكَاظِم عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Hasan I أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْأَوَّل |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Al-Kazim was leader of the Shia community during the schism between the Ismaili and other branches of Islam after the death of the previous Imam Jafar al-Sadiq. He established a network of agents who collected the khums in the Shia community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan. He holds a high position in the Mahdavia, the members of which trace their lineage to Muhammad through him. | He was imprisoned and fatally poisoned in Baghdad, Iraq, by order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Buried in the Kazimayn shrine, Baghdad, Iraq |
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Ali ibn Musa عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُوسَىٰ ٱلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Hasan II أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلثَّانِي |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Made crown prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, Ar-Rida was known for his discussions and debates with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars. | He was fatally poisoned in Mashad, Iran, by order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine, Mashad, Iran |
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Muhammad ibn Ali مُحَمَّد ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْجَوَّاد عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu Ja'far أَبُو جَعْفَر |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Al-Jawad was known for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate. | He was fatally poisoned by his wife, the daughter of Caliph Al-Ma'mun, in Baghdad, Iraq, by order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim. Buried in the Kazmain shrine, Baghdad, Iraq. |
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Ali ibn Muhammad عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُحَمَّد ٱلْهَادِي عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Hasan III أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلثَّالِث |
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Surayya, a village near Madinah, Hijaz |
Al-Naqi taught religious sciences until 243/857. He strengthened the network of deputies in the Shia community. He sent them instructions and in turn received financial contributions from the faithful, from the khums and religious vows. | He was fatally poisoned in Samarra, Iraq, by order of caliph Al-Mu'tazz. Buried in the Al Askari Mosque, Samarra, Iraq. |
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Hasan ibn Ali ٱلْحَسَن ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Mahdi أَبُو ٱلْمَهْدِيّ |
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Madinah, Hijaz |
Like his father, Al-Askari was placed under house arrest, which would last most of his life, by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu'tamid, . During this time, repression of the Shia communities was great because of their growing size and power. | He was fatally poisoned by order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra, Iraq. Buried in the Al Askari Mosque, Samarra, Iraq. |
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Hujjat Allah ibn al-Hasan حُجَّة ٱللَّٰه ٱبْن ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْمَهْدِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام Abu al-Qasim أَبُو ٱلْقَاسِم |
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Samarra, Iraq |
According to Twelver Shia doctrine, he is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with the prophet Isa (Jesus). He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and establish justice and peace in the earth. | According to Twelver Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills. |