“If being illiterate means the lack of literacy for reading and writing, it will clear that illiteracy hasn’t been a reason for the legitimacy of God’s messengers and won’t be a proof and miracle. Basically, being illiterate is not considered as dignity for them. If the Excellency Muhammad (P.H.) remained deprived of education during childhood due to the divine wisdom, not all the prophet must necessarily be so… The commander of the faithful Ali (P.H.) and other holy Imams (peace be upon them) have been literate and their educations have been certainly acquired. However, they have been illiterate concerning the divine knowledge because their sciences and knowledge have been divine not acquired.[1]”

Answer:

1)   Contrary to the claim by the Baha’i proselytizers, being illiterate isn’t equal to ignorance; but being illiterate [:اُمی] means being learned without having a teacher. This expression used for a person whose science is bestowed to him by God:

“...وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا (نساء/113)”

“Allah revealeth unto thee the Scripture and wisdom, and teacheth thee that which thou knewest not. The grace of Allah toward thee hath been infinite.” [Al-Nisa/ 113]

So, that  a person hasn’t studied and become a unique scholar, it will be a miracle for him/her and will bring dignity for him/her because the supposition of literacy of the prophets will accuse them to make religion and the holy Quran has rejected this accusation against the holy prophet Muhammad (P.H.):

“وَ ما کُنْتَ تَتْلُوا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنْ کِتابٍ وَ لا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمينِکَ إِذاً لاَرْتابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ (عنکبوت/48)”

“And thou (o Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it with thy right hand, for them might those have doubted, who follow falsehood.”[Al-Ankabut/48]

2)   Contrary to the claim by the Baha’i proselytizers concerning the holy Imam’s (peace be upon them) science to be acquired, the holy Quran has considered obeying the holy Imams (peace be upon them) as equal to obeying the prophet and obeying prophet as obeying God:

“يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا أَطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْکُمْ... (نساء/59)”

“O’ ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority…” [Al-Nisa/ 59]