Zaidiyah's Criticism of the Twelver Shiism in the matter of the Imamate through Zaidi Books

Abstract

      The theory of Imamate is considered the cornerstone and central axis for both the Zaydi and Twelver sects. Although these two sects share similar points regarding the Imamate, they differ in many subtopics. In this context, this research focused on these differences and attempted to identify the main points and key issues in the Zaydi critique of the Twelver theory. The research concluded that these two sects differ on numerous aspects of the Imamate, such as the attributes of the Imam, the method of his appointment, the number of Imams, the conditions of the Imamate, and so forth. The researcher, while reviewing Zaydi literature, noted the efforts of Zaydi scholars in critiquing the Twelver theory of Imamate. It can be said that Zaydi scholars have critically analyzed almost every idea of the Twelvers, both rationally and textually.