Imamate and the Principle of Loving-Kindness

Abstract

In the theology of ‘Adliyyah, the principle of loving-kindness (luṭf) is the most important maxim after the maxim of the intelligibility of good and evil (ḥusn wa qubḥ ‘aqlī). From their point of view, many doctrinal teachings such as the necessity of religious duties, the necessity of prophethood, the necessity of the infallibility of His messengers, promise (waʻd) and threat (waʻīd) are based on this maxim. Shiʻah theologians also prove the necessity of Imamate through ‘this maxim’. Accordingly, it is incumbent on God to select some individuals as the Imams to reveal to humankind the way of goodness and felicity via them.