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should the opinions of Abu Hanifa, may he be blessed, be ignored and abused or the consideration by the noble Imam Malik of 'Urf or the learned reasoning of Shafi'i? If their opinions are considered valid then the rulings of the teachers of Abu Hanifa, Al-Baqir and al-Sadiq (as.), are necessarily valid.
8.) They are born of their mothers thighs.
This is a euphemism for the normal physical birth, the details of which we all know but I am sure would not like discussed in public if directly linked to our Mothers or wives so why should the Mother of an Imam be subjected to such indignity! To imply a belief by the Shi'a in the literal meaning of this is absurd since one of the well known criticisms of the Shi'a is their refusal to accept literal meanings if rational thought dictates otherwise.
9.) They have the knowledge of the Unseen.
Do not all men of piety and spiritual endeavour see what appears to ordinary men as the unseen? Regard this proposition- there is what we usually see. There is what we can see. There is what we cannot see. Therefore what we can see remains unseen until we can see it and what we cannot see remains unseen. To believe that we can see what we cannot see is impossible. It is also stated in Usool al-Kafi, " Non of us Imams ever lifted the veil on the future except for al-Husayn on the day of Ashura. And then only a little."
10.) They say Imaams are higher in status than the Ambiyaa including our Nabi - (absolute necessary belief).
This seems seems very shocking but grant me time to discuss it. A Nabi is a prophet who repeats a message sent by Allah, swt. to a Rasool which is implemented by the leader of the faithful an Imam. Our beloved Muhammad Mustapha, saw. was Nabi, Rasool and Imam as was Musa (as.) but his brother Haroon was Nabi and Imam. Thus it is clear that not all prophets have equal status. Thus the question may be posed- is a Nabi who is commanded to repeat all or part of a message to a small number of people equal in authority to an Imam designated to care for the souls of the whole Ummah? This question is a cause of continual debate and difference of opinion but since it is in no way an article of faith it usually hangs in a cupboard marked speculation waiting for theologians in need of exercise.
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