Are Imam's Infallible?

[Joseph Islam]

RESPONSE GIVEN BY JOSEPH ISLAM
[Please contact Joseph Islam for further details of the original thread]

Peace all.

We can also take this matter straight to the Divine source. The Quran is absolutely clear that there are good leaders (21:72-73; 32.23-24 - Note Arabic word: Immatun) and there are BAD leaders (Susceptibility with regards inflated egos as brother [Name Removed] has suggested no doubt plays a very important part)

With regards bad leadership:

Pharaoh's men in the Quran are described as "Imams" (leaders) and confirmed that have led their people to the fire

028.041
'And we made them (but) leaders (Arabic: Imamatun) inviting to the Fire; and on the Day of Judgment no help shall they find'

Also, on the Day of judgment, people will be summoned with their Leaders (Righteous and Unrighteous, no distinction given)

017.071-72
'One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams (Arabic: bi-imamihim): those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure), and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least. But those who were blind in this world, will be blind in the hereafter and most astray from the Path.'

Those that mislead (such as Imams) will carry an extra burden...

016:025
"That they may bear their own burdens entirely on the day of resurrection and also of the burdens of those whom they lead astray without knowledge; now surely evil is what they bear"

Note that one cannot take away another person's responsibility and each of us are ultimately responsible for our own burdens (6:164). However, it is clear in 16:25 that misleading others is an indictment on our own responsibility and for that one inevitably accrues some share of the crimes of those that they misled.

For example, a crazy warmonger imam cannot just simply sit back and claim no responsibility for the impressionable minds he may have led astray to cause atrocities with his vile despicable teachings. He will inevitably bear the burden a breach of that responsibility and that crime. At the same time however, the impressionable mind will ALSO bear the burden of his / her own responsibility and their own share of the crime.

God's justice is perfect.