Razavi University of Islamic Sciences Quranic Doctrines 2251-9378 22 41 2025 06 22 Quranic Analysis of Appointed Imamate (Imāmah) from the Perspective of the Two Sects (Shi'a and Sunni) with Emphasis on Verses 2:124, 3:34, and 28:68 Quranic Analysis of Appointed Imamate (Imāmah) from the Perspective of the Two Sects (Shi'a and Sunni) with Emphasis on Verses 2:124, 3:34, and 28:68 97 122 2016 10.30513/qd.2025.6596.2476 FA Sara Mohammadzadeh Corresponding Author, PhD Student in Philosophy and Islamic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Naser Forouhi Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Islamic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Abbas Abbaszadeh Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Islamic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0001-9802-581x Journal Article 2024 12 17 The issue of Imamate (imāmah) is one of the fundamental discussions in Islamic theology and has consistently been the primary reason for the divergence of beliefs between two major Islamic schools. Examining the Quranic evidence in elucidating the status of the Imamate as a pivotal factor in the continuity of Islamic teachings and guidance can be highly effective. This research, employing a descriptive-analytical method and based on library resources, comparatively investigates the Quranic proofs of appointed Imamate according to verses 2:124 (Surah al-Baqarah), 3:34 (of Āl-'Imrān), and 28:68 (Surah al-Qaṣaṣ), and compares the viewpoints of the two sects. The findings indicate that, from the Shia (Imami) perspective, these three verses complement each other in affirming appointed Imamate, asserting that the appointment of Imams, like that of prophets, is based on God’s absolute authority, and its connection with the progeny (dhurriyyah) of the Infallibles necessitates the existence of an infallible Imam to preserve religious teachings and guide the Muslim community. In contrast to the Sunni view, which considers Imamate as a selectable and unconnected matter to the concept of finality of prophethood (khātamiyyah), this study, based on the aforementioned verses, presents the appointment of Imamate as a manifestation of finality and a mechanism for the continuation of prophetic mission. A thorough analysis of the concepts of "ja'l" (divine establishment), "dhurriyyah" (progeny), and "ikhtiyār" (divine will) in these verses and their semantic interplay reveals that Imamate is not a matter of human choice but, like prophecy, is an appointment by God. These findings align with Imami theological arguments affirming the appointed Imamate of the Infallible Imams and its role in preserving khātamiyyah, presenting a more coherent interpretation. The innovation of this research lies in presenting a novel reading of the coherence and interrelation among these three verses concerning the proof of appointed Imamate and its comparison with Sunni perspectives. The issue of Imamate (imāmah) is one of the fundamental discussions in Islamic theology and has consistently been the primary reason for the divergence of beliefs between two major Islamic schools. Examining the Quranic evidence in elucidating the status of the Imamate as a pivotal factor in the continuity of Islamic teachings and guidance can be highly effective. This research, employing a descriptive-analytical method and based on library resources, comparatively investigates the Quranic proofs of appointed Imamate according to verses 2:124 (Surah al-Baqarah), 3:34 (of Āl-'Imrān), and 28:68 (Surah al-Qaṣaṣ), and compares the viewpoints of the two sects. The findings indicate that, from the Shia (Imami) perspective, these three verses complement each other in affirming appointed Imamate, asserting that the appointment of Imams, like that of prophets, is based on God’s absolute authority, and its connection with the progeny (dhurriyyah) of the Infallibles necessitates the existence of an infallible Imam to preserve religious teachings and guide the Muslim community. In contrast to the Sunni view, which considers Imamate as a selectable and unconnected matter to the concept of finality of prophethood (khātamiyyah), this study, based on the aforementioned verses, presents the appointment of Imamate as a manifestation of finality and a mechanism for the continuation of prophetic mission. A thorough analysis of the concepts of "ja'l" (divine establishment), "dhurriyyah" (progeny), and "ikhtiyār" (divine will) in these verses and their semantic interplay reveals that Imamate is not a matter of human choice but, like prophecy, is an appointment by God. These findings align with Imami theological arguments affirming the appointed Imamate of the Infallible Imams and its role in preserving khātamiyyah, presenting a more coherent interpretation. The innovation of this research lies in presenting a novel reading of the coherence and interrelation among these three verses concerning the proof of appointed Imamate and its comparison with Sunni perspectives. https://qd.razavi.ac.ir/article_2016_575b48e771349f91be21d32e2af7cbeb.pdf