The Shia believe that the Imams know when they are going to die and die only by their own will. We find in Al-Kafi, the most reliable of the four Shia books of Hadith:
“The Imam knows his Hour of death and his death is in his control.” (Usool Al-Kafi, Vol. No. 1,Page No. 258)
Of course, this contradicts the Islamic belief, for not even the Prophet Muhammad (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) knew when he was going to die, and he definitely did not do so out of his own control. It is a fundamental belief in Islam that nobody knows when they are going to die and nobody has any control over it save Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says in the Quran that everyone’s time of death is decided by Allah and Allah alone:
“And no soul can die except by Allah’s leave- a [divine] decree with a fixed term!” (The Noble Quran, 3:145)
The Shia claim that their Imams have control over their own deaths. But it is a basic concept in Islam that nobody has control over his death. Allah decrees death, and nobody can change the manner in which they die, in which land they die, nor can they avert death or even postpone it by a fraction of a second. Allah challenges human beings to avert death:
“Say: Avert death from your ownselves, if you speak the truth!” (Quran, 3:168)
“Even if you had remained in your homes, those from whom death was decreed would certainly have gone forth to the place of their death.” (Quran, 3:154)
“It is Allah that gives life and causes death.” (Quran, 3:156)
The hour in which a person dies is known only to Allah Almighty. This also holds true for the Day of Judgment–only Allah knows when the Day of Reckoning will be, but the Shia will say that their Imams know everything about the future. How can they know of the Hour when Allah says:
“They ask you about the (final) Hour - when will be its appointed time? Say: ‘The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (alone): None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only, all of a sudden will it come to you.’ They ask you as if you were eager in search thereof: Say: ‘The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone), but most men know not.’” (The Noble Quran, 7:187)
“Verily the Hour is coming - My design is to keep it hidden” (The Noble Quran, 20:15)
“They say: ‘When will this promise come to pass, if you are telling the truth?’ If only the Unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them! Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.” (The Noble Quran, 21:38-40)
“Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die in. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).” (The Noble Quran, 31:34)
“Men ask you concerning the Hour: Say, ‘The knowledge thereof is with Allah (alone)’: and what will make you understand?- perchance the Hour is near!” (The Noble Quran, 33:63)
“The Unbelievers say, ‘Never to us will come the Hour’: Say, ‘Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous:’ ” (The Noble Quran, 34:3)
“And blessed is He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all between them: with Him is the Knowledge of the Hour: and to Him shall you be brought back.” (The Noble Quran, 43:85)
“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘I know not whether the (Punishment) which you are promised is near, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.” (The Noble Quran, 72:25)
The Quran declares that nobody knows in which land he will die, so how can the Imam know this? How can the Imam know even more than this (such as his time of death, manner of death, etc)? Surely, none of this is in control of a human being. How can the Imam know all of this when the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) said he did not even know what will happen to himself? Allah says in the Quran:
“Say (O Muhammed), ‘I am not different from other messengers. I have no idea what will happen to me or to you. I only follow whatis revealed to me. I am no more than a profound warner.’” (The Noble Quran, 46:9)
“Say (O Muhammed), ‘I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of Allah. Nor do I know the future. Nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I simply follow what is revealed to me.” (The Noble Quran, 6:50)
The manner in which the Shia have exaggerated with their Imams is very similar to the manner in which the Christians did with their prophet. Such exaggeration always leads to one inevitable result, either directly or indirectly–and this end result is Shirk. The Shia are attributing powers and prestiges that should not be given to anyone except Allah Almighty.
