What is the Problem of Ghayba in Twelver Shi'ism? And why does the occultation of the Twelfth Imam remain one of the most debated questions in Twelver Shīʿism? Dr Hashem Morvarid explores.

The occultation (ghayba) of the Twelfth Imam sits at the heart of one of Twelver Shīʿī theology's most persistent challenges: how can an Imamate defined by presence and public authority be occupied by an Imam who is hidden?

In this research seminar, Dr Hashem Morvarid (Utrecht University) applies the tools of Islamic analytic theology to the Problem of Ghayba, offering a systematic critical review of four major responses in the classical and modern tradition — unseen presence, psychological benefit, the cosmic role, and the spiritual role — before advancing an original proposal grounded in the Qurʾān's treatment of moral evil in Q 2:30–33.

Drawing on the Qurʾānic account of Adam's knowledge of "the names," Dr Morvarid argues that the Imam's theological significance lies in serving as God's moral reason for preserving humankind in existence — a role that, unlike leadership or religious instruction, does not require public presence. On this reading, the Imam's hiddenness is not a theological embarrassment, but consistent with what his existence is ultimately for.

Dr Hashem Morvarid is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Trinity University, specialising in Islamic philosophy and Shīʿa theology. He holds two PhDs in philosophy — from IPM, Tehran, and the University of Illinois at Chicago — and was previously a Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University.

00:00 – Introduction: The Problem of Ghayba

05:24 – The Classical Definition of Imamat

09:14 – Response 1: Unseen Presence

12:49 – Response 2: Psychological Benefit (and Taftāzānī's Rebuttal)

15:39 – Response 3: The Cosmic Role

17:53 – Response 4: The Spiritual Role (Wilāya)

21:39 – A New Proposal: The Imam as God's Moral Reason

27:20 – Qur'ān's Response to Moral Evil (Q 2:30–33)

33:49 – Evaluating Three Interpretations of "the Names"42:21 – Implications for Ghayba and Closing Objection

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