Twelve Infallible Men

This work examines the development of Twelver Shi‘i doctrine through the lives and legacy of the Twelve Imams. Rather than offering a devotional account, Pierce analyzes how medieval scholars articulated the concept of infallibility and constructed sacred authority around these figures. Drawing on classical Arabic sources, he explores theology, historiography, and communal memory, showing how narratives of virtue, suffering, and leadership shaped Shi‘i identity.