Salaam! My question is that in the book Uyoon Al Akhbar Ar Ridha vol 1, chapter 19, hadees no. 2, it is said by shaykh al Saduq that an Imam make mistake and forgets. Explain this. How an Imam can make mistakes and forgets?

Dear Ariz Haider,
May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Only two early scholars — Shaykh al-Saduq and his teacher Ibn al-Waleed — allowed the possibility of something called “is-hā’” (a type of divinely caused forgetfulness), and even then, only in matters unrelated to religious rulings. They never claimed the Imams (عليهم السلام) could forget due to human weakness or make actual mistakes in religion. Furthermore, this view was explicitly rejected by the consensus of later Shia scholars.

In fact, Allama al-Majlisi states clearly in Bihar al-Anwar (vol. 25, p. 351):

“The Imams are infallible from all sins — major and minor — whether intentional, mistaken, or out of forgetfulness. This applies both before and after their Imamate, from their birth until they meet Allah. They do not slip in religious rulings, do not err in speech, do not forget, and are never distracted by worldly matters.”

He also cites a narration from book of al-numani with an authentic chain where Imam al-Sadiq (ع), who quotes Amir al-Mu’minin (ع) describing the Imam’s qualities:

“Among them is that the Imam who is in charge (appointed) must be infallible from all sins — both small and great. He does not slip in giving religious rulings (fatwas), does not make mistakes in answers, does not forget, does not become heedless, and is not distracted by anything from worldly matters.”

While there are a few narrations that seem to suggest forgetfulness or error, they are either weak, taken out of context, or possibly uttered under taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation). Even if we were to accept them at face value, they cannot outweigh the many stronger and more authentic hadiths confirming the complete infallibility of the Imams (ع).

Our scholars also follow a clear principle: when narrations appear contradictory, those that agree with the Qur\'an, sound reasoning, and the established status of the Imams are given priority. The belief that Imams do not forget or make mistakes is supported by logic, Qur’anic guidance, and the most authentic narrations.

Moreover, this belief distinguishes the Shia school from others, as many non-Shia sects deny the complete infallibility of the Imams.

Therefore, the correct and established belief is that the Imams (عليهم السلام) do not forget, do not err, and are never distracted. This is not only supported by hadith and reason but upheld by the scholarly consensus of our tradition.

May Allah bless you for your sincerity and dedication to upholding the truth.