Imamah

It is untrue. It is one of the many false accusations against us fabricated by our enemies.

We believe that followers of any Muslim sect being Sunni (Hanafi, Shafi'ee, Maliki, Hanbali, Barelwi, Deobandi or Zaidi or Abaadhi or Ash'ari or Salafi or Wahabi etc are Muslims like us.

Even those who claim that we Shia are Kafirs are misguided Muslims and we never consider them as Kafirs.

Wassalam.

All the Prophets faced injustice and many of them were killed like Prophet Yahya, but never used divine power or miracles. Allah Wants life to go according to the same system that He created. Allah (SWT) does not use His divine Power against those who disobey Him because He leaves people to do whatever they decide and postpone the final result to the Day of Judgement.

Using divine power will then force people to believe which is against the principle of testing people to make them choose between right and wrong.

Wassalam.

Allah ordered in Quran : Take and follow whatsoever the Messenger of Allah tells you, and abstain from whatsoever he forbids you. (Sura 59, verse 7).

This Quranic order is very clear and obligatory on every believer. Lot of very important matters in Islam were not mentioned in Quran but ordered by the Prophet ( SAWA) hence became obligatory on all Muslims like the number of Rak'ats in every Salaah (Prayer). All Muslims perform Morning Prayers in two Rak'ats, Dhuhr in four Rak'ats, Asr in four Rak'ats, Maghrib in three Rak'ats and Isha in four Rak'ats just because the Prophet told them and Allah's order in Quran (Sura 59, verse 7). 
Allah says in Quran as well : He who obeys the Prophet has indeed obeyed Allah. (Sura 4, verse 80).

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) has clearly and repeatedly mentioned that his successors will be 12 Imams. This has been mentioned in most authentic Hadeeths narrated in both Shia and Sunni main references like:

1. Saheeh Al-Bukhari , Hadeeth number 6682.

2. Al-Tareekh Al-Kabeer by Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, page 410.

3. Saheeh Muslim , Hadeeth number 3393 and 3394 and 3395 and 3396 and 3397 and 3398.

4. Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal  in 36 Hadeeths  ; 3593 and 3665 and 9875 and 19884 and 19887 and 19892 and 19901 and 19914 and 19920 and 19920 and 19925 etc.

5. Tirmithi (Tirmizi)  Hadeeth number 2149.

6. Sunan Abi Dawood , Hadeeth 3731 and 3732.

7. Mustard Al Al-Saheehain by Al-Haakim Al-Nisabouri,  Hadeeths 6586 and 6589 and 8529.

8. Al-Albani Nasser Al-Deen, Kuruba Takhreej Al-Hadeeth, Hadeeth 376 and 1075 and 3598 and 3599.

9. Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani in Ta'jeel Al-Manfa'ah, page 538, and in Al-Mataalib Al-'Aaliyah , 2140 and 4608.

10. Al-Bayhaqi in Dala'il Al-Nubowwah, Hadeeth 2589 and 2888 and 2890 and 2895

And many other Sunni books.

Wassalam.

The fact of the Twelve Imams after the Prophet of Islam is an order from Allah (SWT). No one has right to say or suggest on any matter which has been decreed by Allah (SWT). Allah Knows every thing including all the future, so, there is no point in putting such questions from us. Allah Knows everything and He is The Absolute Wise, All Knowung, Most Merciful.

Wassalam.

As the Abbasid government rulers' pressure on Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and his family was tremendous, the disclosure of Imamate of Imam Mahdi (AS) was among the near circle of the most trusted persons. Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) told very few most trusted believers and allowed them to see his successor Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). These are names of some of those who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS):

1. Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri who became later the first Safeer of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS).

2. Muhammad ibn Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri, who became later the second Safeer of the Imam.

3. Al-Husain ibn Rooh.

4.  Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Samari.

5. Lady Hakimah daughter of Imam Al-Jawad (AS).

6. Ibraheem ibn Mahziyar Al-Ahwaazi.

7. Ahmad ibn Eshaq ibn Sa'd Al-Ash'ari.

8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Mutahhar.

9. Ismael ibn Ali Al- Nawbakhti.

10. Ali ibn Ibraheem ibn Mahziyaar Al-Ahwaazi.

11.Kaamil ibn Ibrahim Al-Madani.

12.Allaan Al-Kulayni.

13. Muhammad ibn Ismael ibn Musa Al-Kadhim.

14. Al-Hasan ibn Wajnaa' Al-Naseebi.

15.Ibrahim ibn Idrees.

16. Ibrahim ibn A'bdah Al-kNisabori.

17.Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Tabreezi.

18. Sa'ad ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Khalaf Al-Ash'ari.

19. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Shimshaati.

20- Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim Al-Aqeeli. 

There are hundreds of well known pious believers who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Whole books were been compiled on this subject by big scholars.

Wassalam.

There is a full field of knowledge called E'lm Al-Rijaal which deals with every narrator and searching and assessing his authenticity. Deviat persons are known by our scholars of E'lm Al-Rijaal and their narrations are never accepted.

Famous  Shia books on E'lm Al-Rijaal are like Kitab Al-Rijaal  by Al-Najaashi (450 Hijri),

Rijaal Al-Kashshi (350 Hijri) ,

and  Al-Fahrist by Al-Shaikh Al-Tousi  (460 Hijri) , 

Ma'aalim Al-Ulama' by Ibn Sharashoob 588 hijri.

Khulasat Al Awwal by Al-Allama Al-Hilli  726 hujri.

Tanqeeh Al-Maqaal by Al-Mamaqani 1351 hujri.

and Mu'jam Rijaal Al-Hadeeth by Al-Khoei 1413 hijri.

We only accept narrations from authentic narrators who were always in the right path.

Wassalam.

It is highly recommended to sacrifice on Eid Al-Adha, but it is not obligatory except on pilgrims in Hajj. The narration you mentioned means the importance of the sacrifice and the great reward of it but does not mean that it is obligatory.

Wassalam.

The Twelve Infallible Imams from Ahlul Bayt (AS) did inherit the knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). That is why, their status is from his status as Allah says in Quran ذُرِّيّةً بَعْضُها مِن بَعض A Progeny (of the Prophet) which part from him. Their status is higher than everyone except the Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) who is The Highest over all creatures.

Wassalam.