According to Sunnis the Shias have some extremely wrong beliefs about the Imamat concept that are unjustified not only according to the Sacred Law but also logic. Their belief that Imams being above in status to Prophets is severely criticized by Ahlus Sunnah to the extent of it being considered Kufr.

Muslims (including Shias) have unanimously declared Qadiyanis to be disbelievers because they claim Prophethood of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Qadiyani (LA).

It has to be clarified that some concept being Kufr (disbelief) does not make the person necessarily Kafir (disbeliever) if the issue is not amongst Qatiyat (absolutes). A person can only be Kafir if he/she denies oneness of Allah, the finality of Prophethood at Muhammad (Peace be upon him), denies any of the Prophets and denies the remaining three essentials of faith such as belief in Angels, Holy books, and Day of Judgment.

The Shias believe that no Prophet can come after Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) but there will be Imams who “ARE APPOINTED BY ALLAH” and have the same qualities of Prophets without being called Prophets.

The Imami Shias (athna ashriyah) consider Imamat to be part of Usool ud deen (Principles of religion), whereas within Shias some such as Zaydi Shias do not consider it a fundamental part of Aqeeda and Ismaili Shias only believe in 6 Imams (which means denying some Imams is not part of fundamental beliefs even in Shia sects).

It is unjust on the part of Shias who believe in Aqeeda of 12 Imams but have ignored descendants of Imam Hasan (a.s). They also do not consider Imam Zaid bin Ali (a.s) as part of Imamat although he is son of Imam Zayn ul Abideen (a.s). It is a fact that Imam Zayd bin Ali differed with Shi’ite Imams even on leadership issues. Some of them waged Jihad against tyrant rulers whereas other Imams did not agree with them.

Had Imamat been a fundamental part of the Aqeeda then Qur’an would have categorically mentioned not only Imamat but also the names of all Imams such as Imam Baqir, Jafar, and so on. There is not a single verse in Qur’an which “CATEGORICALLY” mentions that non- Prophet Imams are above in status than Prophets or to believe in them is fundamental part of Aqida. Had this belief been mandatory, then Qur’an would not have ignored it.

For example, in regards to Prophets Qur’an states: We have made some of these messengers to excel the others among them, are they to whom Allah spoke, and some of them He exalted by (many degrees of) rank; and We gave clear miracles to Isa son of Marium, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. [2:253. Taken from variety of translations]

Nowhere in Qur’an does Allah talk about Imams excelling in status than the Prophets.

Also remember that Qur’an tells us to believe in what is revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and also what was revealed before him. Qur’an does not mention anywhere to follow inspiration of Imams after Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

Having said that, we still need to understand that whosoever believes in Allah, finality of Prophethood at Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and other three pillars of Islam cannot be declared a Kafir (disbeliever)

Below are some verses and hadiths which prove that one cannot declare other Muslims disbelievers even if they commit grave sins.

‏ باب ‏ ‏قتل ‏ ‏الخوارج ‏ ‏والملحدين ‏ ‏بعد إقامة الحجة عليهم ‏ ‏وقول الله تعالى

         ‏وما كان الله ليضل قوما بعد إذ هداهم حتى يبين لهم ما يتقون ‏

‏وكان ‏ ‏ابن عمر ‏ ‏يراهم شرار خلق الله ‏ ‏وقال إنهم انطلقوا إلى آيات نزلت في الكفار فجعلوها على المؤمنين

Translation: Allah T’ala said: And Allah will not mislead a people after He hath guided them, in order that He may make clear to them what to fear (and avoid)- for Allah hath knowledge of all things. (Al- Qur'an, 9:115)

Bukhari relates from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (Allah be well pleased with him) "Ibn `Umar considered the Khawarij and the heretics as the worst beings in creation, and he said: They went to verses which were revealed about the disbelievers and applied them to the Believers.[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Apostates (88th Book in Muhsin Khan’s translation), 6th Chapter of Killing al- Khawarij and Mulhidun, Before Hadith: Vol. 9, Book 84, Hadith 64. Please Note: Muhsin Khan has wrongly translated this report. You will not find the translation in online version, but it is there in hard copy version]

This verse and hadith shown by Imam al- Bukhari is very important to understand. Mostly Takfir (declaration of someone to be a disbeliever) is made on Muslims by extremists (Khawarij as mentioned in this hadith who are present even today) by misusing Qur’anic verses i.e. applying verses revealed for disbelievers or idols on Muslims.

Below are hadiths that will clarify this point:

…The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ”BY ALLAH! I AM NOT AFRAID THAT YOU WILL WORSHIP OTHERS ALONG WITH ALLAH AFTER MY DEATH, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT YOU WILL FIGHT WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR THE WORLDLY THINGS” [Volume 2, Book 23, Number 428: (Sahih Bukhari)]

This is exactly what is happening in the Ummah since a long time. The Prophet clearly stated that he is not afraid of Shirk within the Ummah but is afraid of Fasaad and fights.

Qur’an states: O ye who believe! When you go abroad in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to anyone who offers you a salutation: "You are not a believer!... (Yusuf Ali: 4:94)

This beautiful verse explains that when Muslims go on legitimate Jihad and anyone offers salutation then we are  ordered not to call them disbelievers.

Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 386: (Sahih Bukhari)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah's and His Apostle's protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection."

Both Shias and Sunnis pray, face the same Qibla, and slaughter animals according to same Islamic procedure. Hence none can be declared as disbelievers contrary to false Salafi propaganda that Sufis and Shias are indulged in Kufr. 

‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏أنس بن مالك ‏ ‏قال ‏

قال رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ثلاث من ‏ ‏أصل ‏ ‏الإيمان ‏ ‏الكف ‏ ‏عمن قال لا إله إلا الله ولا نكفره بذنب ولا نخرجه من الإسلام بعمل والجهاد ماض منذ بعثني الله إلى أن يقاتل آخر أمتي ‏ ‏الدجال ‏ ‏لا يبطله ‏ ‏جور ‏ ‏جائر ‏ ‏ولا عدل عادل والإيمان بالأقدار ‏

Translation: Anas bin Malik (ra) narrates from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) who said: Three things are the roots of faith (1) To refrain from (killing) a person who says “La ILaha IL Allah (There is no god but Allah)” (2) Not to declare him unbeliever whatever sin he commits (3) and also not to declare him out of Islam due to any of his deed... [Sunnan Abu Dawud, Volume No. 2, Hadith # 2170]

Although this hadith contains a Majhool (unknown) narrator “Yazid bin Abi Nashba” but in matn (content) it is correct. This hadith is absolutely clear that whosoever believes in Allah (and also Prophet being last of all) cannot be declared a disbeliever “NO MATTER WHAT SIN HE DOES”

It is the fundamental principle of Islam that one can only become non- Muslim by denying with which he came into Islam at first place (i.e. Shahadah the testification of faith) or denying other fundamentls of faith which have been outlined before.

There are many other hadiths which forbid us from making Takfir.

The proofs Shias cite on Imamat issue include the following:

Qur’an states: And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." (Sahih International: 2:124)

The Shia claim from this verse that Allah granted Imamat to Ibrahim (alayh salam) after testing him. When Ibrahim (a.s) passed the test, then only Allah granted him Imamat. Ibrahim (alayh salam) was granted Prophethood before this trial, hence Shia say that Imamat is above in rank than Prophethood.

Ibrahim (alayh salam) further asked for it for his descendants, but Allah said he does not grant it to wrong doers i.e. righteous and pious people can have Imamat from his descendants (which according to Sunnis and rightly so only refers to Prophets as Allah chose Bani Israelite Prophets from lineage of Ibrahim such as Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and finally sent Muhammad from descendants of Ismaeel).

Please note that Shias consider Imams superior to all Prophets, even Ulal Azm (greatest of them such as Ibrahim alayh salam) except Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). This is where they get caught because when Ibrahim (alayh salam) is granted both Prophet-hood and Imamat then how could mere Imams be above in status to those who are granted both qualities? For an Imam to be above in status to Prophets, then he has to have both qualities i.e. Prophethood and Imamat.

There are other verses which Shia use too, such as:

And Allah had already taken a covenant from the Children of Israel, and We delegated from among them twelve leaders. And Allah said, "I am with you. If you establish prayer and give zakah and believe in My messengers and support them and loan Allah a goodly loan, I will surely remove from you your misdeeds and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever of you disbelieves after that has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way." [Sahih International: 5:12]

There is even an interpretation in Shia books that Israel was name of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), hence here it refers to 12 Imams from his lineage. It states in one of the authoritative Tafsir books of Shia i.e. Tafsir Ayaashi:

عن أبي داود عمن سمع من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله يقول: انا عبد الله اسمى أحمد وأنا عبد الله اسمى إسرائيل

Translation: From Abi Dawud that Prophet (Peace be upon him) was heard saying: I am Abdullah and my name is Ahmad, I am Abdullah “AND MY NAME IS ISRAEL” [Tafsir Ayaashi]

According to Ahlus Sunnah these twelve leaders refers to 12 leaders whom Musa (a.s) had appointed.

There are some Sunni hadiths which Shias use, for example:

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said, " There is a group of the slaves of Allah that even the Prophets and martyrs will envy," Then someone said," Who are these people, perhaps we can love them." And he said, "They are a people who love each other through the light of Allah not through wealth or family ties. Their faces are filled with nur (light) and they are on pulpits of light, neither do they fear when the people fear nor do they grieve when the people grieve." Then the Nabi, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, recited the verse, " Verily the `Awliya of Allah do not fear nor do they grieve." [Yunus, v. 62] [Imam Hakim Narrated it in his Mustadrak and said: This Hadith has Sahih Chain and al- Dhahabi agreed with him  - Mustadrak al Hakim Volume 4, Page No. 188, Hadith No. 7318, Imam Ibn Hibban narrated it in his Sahih Volume 2, Hadith No. 573]

According to Shia this hadith proves that there are non- Prophets whom even Prophets envy, hence their status is above Prophets. The Ahlus Sunnah reply by saying that this hadith also includes Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) so would mere Imams turn to be greater than him too?

Shia also use other hadiths from our sources such as:

وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Translation:… One who dies without having bound himself by an oath of allegiance (to an Amir) will die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahillyya.[Sahih Muslim # 4562]

Shia claim that such hadiths are Mutlaq and apply to all Muslims. They say it refers to allegiance to Imam which are 12 according to Shi’ites. They believe that their 12th Imam has gone in absentia but his rule remains. There are proofs from Qur’an and hadiths that a person can remain alive for hundreds of years. For example Dajjal has been existing from the time of Prophet.

Reconciliation: Although Ahlus Sunnah rightly considers this concept to be extremely wrong but Shia cannot be declared disbelievers due to it. This is not a matter of absolute beliefs on which Shia can be declared as disbelievers. Even according to some Shia literature the Imams are not above in status than Prophets, therefore Shias are to be given benefit of the doubt.

In Usool al- Kafi a question was asked from one of the Imams that who is better you or the Prophets? He said indeed the Prophets are better (Al Kafi Volume 1 Page 174, Hadith # 5)

Al Majlisi (a big shia authority) said this narration in Al Kafi is Authentic (Mir’at al- ‘Uqul  Volume 2 Page 277)