Tarikh Islam

The issue of the martyrdom of the infallible Imams has been a contentious issue among historians and narrators. The importance of this issue manifests itself in the extent of the social and political role of Shiite Imams (PBUT). An examination of the “schools” shows that the hadithi school of Qom (Sheikh Saduq) considers the martyrdom of the Imams to be more than a historical report. They consider it to be one of the beliefs (which its denial equals disbelief). But the Baghdad intellectual school of thought (Sheikh Mufid) considers the martyrdom of the Imams (PBUT) as a historical report (like other reports) that has nothing to do with Shiite beliefs (which its confirmation and rejection has nothing to do with faith and disbelief). Therefore, they consider some reports to be valid and others to be doubtful. Shiite historians after Sheikh Mufid have been influenced by both schools. This effectiveness shows that most Shiite historians have accepted the martyrdom of all the Imams, but they did not consider it as a belief.