Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Remarks on Sayyida Zainab’s Knowledge, Infallibility

Another daily scholarly session was led by Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi in his honourable residence on Tuesday, 6 of Rajab, in which he addressed various jurisprudential questions from attendees.

Regarding some of the attributes of Sayyida Zainab (peace be upon her), such as her being a Divine knower, being virtuous, possessing Minor Infallibility, being a scholar without formal teaching, being the Representative of Imam al-Hussein, the Wisest Lady among Women, eloquent, and articulate, Grand Ayatullah Shirazi stated that all these qualities reflect her esteemed status. However, the Supreme Marja emphasized that the highest level of Infallibility, Major Infallibility, is reserved for the 14 Infallibles based on established hadith, placing Sayyida Zainab in a rank just below them. Similarly, esteemed figures like the Honourable Ali al-Akbar and Abal-Fadl al-Abbas, peace be upon them both, occupy subsequent ranks as well.

Discussing the attribute of being a “scholar without formal teaching” for Lady Zainab, his Eminence remarked that Sayyida Zainab, peace be upon her, possessed divine knowledge. However, this does not imply that she is the 15th Infallible.