section_path: Beliefs/Infallibility (Ismah)
section_name: Infallibility (Ismah)
paragraph_text: Infallibility (Ismah)
  
  Ismah (Arabic: عِصْمَة, romanized: 'Iṣmah or 'Isma, lit. ' protection ') is the concept of infallibility or "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin" in Islam. Muslims believe that Muhammad, along with the other prophets and messengers, possessed ismah. Twelver and Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Muslims also attribute the quality to Imams as well as to Fāṭimah, daughter of Muhammad, in contrast to the Zaydī Shīʿas, who do not attribute ismah to the Imams. Though initially beginning as a political movement, infallibility and sinlessness of the Imams later evolved as a distinct belief of (non-Zaydī) Shīʿīsm.
  
  According to Shīʿa Muslim theologians, infallibility is considered a rational, necessary precondition for spiritual and religious guidance. They argue that since God has commanded absolute obedience from these figures, they must only order that which is right. The state of infallibility is based on the Shīʿīte interpretation of the verse of purification. Thus, they are the most pure ones, the only immaculate ones preserved from, and immune to, all uncleanness. It does not mean that supernatural powers prevent them from committing a sin, but due to the fact that they have absolute belief in God, they refrain from doing anything that is a sin.
  
  They also have a complete knowledge of God's will. They are in possession of all knowledge brought by the angels (Arabic: ملائِكة, romanized: malāʾikah) to the prophets (Arabic: أنبياء, romanized: anbiyāʼ) and the messengers (Arabic: رُسل, romanized: rusul). Their knowledge encompasses the totality of all times. Thus, they are believed to act without fault in religious matters. Shi'a Muslims regard ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as the successor of Muhammad not only ruling over the entire Muslim community in justice, but also in interpreting the Islamic faith, practices, and its esoteric meaning. ʿAlī is regarded as a " perfect man " (Arabic: الإنسان الكامل, romanized: al-insan al-kamil) similar to Muhammad, according to the Shīʿīte perspective.