Re: Shia / Sunni Marriages
^ wow, pretty in depth questions nikhil, considering you're a non Muslim. lemme take a shot at it, but I suggest you post this in religion, since more knowledgable shias (cue: ma mooli) might be better able to answer your question.
Infallibility for our Imams is primarily related to masoomiyat or purification from sin. There have been non-messengers who have been regarded as purified mentioned in the Quran, one example would be Hazrat Maryam, the mother of Isa. Secondly, the Quran does not say that infallibility is reserved for Prophets, we believe that there is an additional vocation of Imam (leader of his time), for example Abraham was a Prophet of God in addition to being an Imam of his time.
I dont know what verse you refer to when you say that Quran states that Ghaib can only be seen by Prophets of Allah? The verses pertaining to Ghaib that I know of, do not mention that only Prophets can share that knowledge. Heres a quote from Ayatul Kursi
[quote]
He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth
[/quote]
- Firstly, there is no Quranic or Hadees based basis for suggesting that belief in the Five Pillars verbatim is even necessary, even in Sunni Islam, in order to qualify being as a Muslim. Ofcourse every Muslim believes in them, but technically, the only thing that can disqualify you from being regarded as a Muslim is disbelief in the Kalima. That said, there are differences in the implementation details of those five pillars. Consider the zakat differences at par with the differences in prayer, whether you pray with hands folded or not, i do not think, decides whether you're a kafir or not.