Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Explains Concept of Having Ma’rifa towards Infallible Imam

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Hosseini Shirazi outlined the concept of having Ma’rifa (knowledge and awareness) toward the Infallible Imam during his daily scholarly session held on Thursday, the 16th of Sha‘ban 1447 AH.

As in previous sessions, the Supreme Marja addressed a range of jurisprudential and religious questions raised by attendees. During the discussion, His Eminence spoke in detail about the meaning of having Ma’rifa toward the Imam of the Age.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said that having Ma’rifa toward the Imam of the Age means having Ma’rifa toward the Infallible Imam in whose era a person lives. He noted that in the present era, which is considered the period of occultation, this refers to the Twelfth Imam.

He added that belief in the Twelfth Imam necessarily entails belief in the eleven preceding Imams, stressing that the religious duty of believers is to attain knowledge and recognition of all twelve Infallible Imams.

His Eminence further emphasized that, based on religious narrations, the concept of having Ma’rifa toward the Imam entails understanding that the Imam holds legitimate authority and comprehensive knowledge over worldly and spiritual affairs. He stated that this Ma’rifa also requires following the Imam in all matters.