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Imam (; , ; : أئمة, ) is an leadership position. For , Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a . In this context, imams may lead , serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. Thus for Sunnis, anyone can study the basic Islamic teachings and become an imam. Its equivalent/counterpart is a or a .

For most , the Imams are absolute infallible leaders of the Islamic community after the Prophet. Shias consider the term to be only applicable to the members and descendants of the , the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In there are 14 infallibles, 12 of which are Imams, the final being Imam Mahdi who will return at the end of times. The title was also used by the Imams of Yemen, who eventually founded the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1918–1970).


Sunni imams
does not conceive of the role of imams in the same sense as : an important distinction often overlooked by non-Muslims. In everyday terms, an imam for Sunni Muslims is the person charged with leading formal Islamic prayers ()even in locations besides the mosquewhenever prayer is performed in a group of two or more. The imam leads the worship and the congregation copies his actions. are most often given by an appointed imam. All mosques have an imam to lead the congregational prayerseven though it may sometimes just be a member from the gathered congregation rather than an officially appointed, salaried person. Women cannot be imams when men are present but are allowed to be when no men are present. An imam should be chosen, according to , based on his knowledge of the and and his moral character.


Title of scholarly authority
Another well-known use of the term is as an honorary title for a recognized religious scholarly authority in Islam. It is especially used for a jurist ( faqih) and often for the founders of the four Sunni s or schools of , as well as an authority on , such as or .

It may also refer to the or scholars who created the analytical sciences related to ; due to their scholarly authority, the term may also refer to the heads of Muhammad's family in their generational times.


The position of imams in Turkey
Imams are appointed by the state to work at mosques and they are required to be graduates of an İmam Hatip high school or have a university degree in theology. This is an official position regulated by the Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey and only men are appointed to this position, whilst female officials under the same state organisation work as preachers and Qur'an course tutors, religious services experts, etc. These officials are supposed to belong to the of the Sunni sect.

A central figure in an Islamic movement is also called an imam, like in Syria.


Shia imams
In the Shi'a context, an imam is not only presented as the man of God par excellence, but as participating fully in the names, attributes, and acts that theology usually reserves for God alone.
(2025). 9781845117382, Tauris.
Imams have a meaning more central to belief, referring to leaders of the community. and Shi'a believe that these imams are chosen by God to be perfect examples for the faithful and to lead all humanity in all aspects of life. They also believe that all the imams chosen are free from committing any sin, impeccability which is called . These leaders must be followed since they are appointed by God.


Twelver
Here follows a list of the Twelvers Shia imams:

1
علي بن أبي طالب
Abu al-Hassan or Abu al-Husayn
أبو الحسین or أبو الحسن
Amir al-Mu'minin
(Commander of the Faithful)
Birinci Ali
(2025). 9780028657691, Macmillan Reference USA.
600–661
23 BH–40Tabatabae (1979), pp.190-192
The first imam and successor of Muhammad in ; however, the acknowledge him as the as well. He holds a high position in almost all (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him., Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a in , who slashed him with a poisoned sword.Tabatabae (1979), p.192 Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in , .
2Hassan ibn Ali
الحسن بن علي
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد
al-Mujtaba
İkinci Ali
624–670 ----3–50Tabatabae (1979), pp.194–195He was the eldest surviving grandson of through Muhammad's daughter, . Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in , and on the basis of peace treaty with , he relinquished control of following a reign of seven months., Poisoned by his wife in , .Tabatabae (1979), p.195 Buried in .
3Husayn ibn Ali
الحسین بن علي
Abu Abdillah
أبو عبدالله
Sayed al-Shuhada
Üçüncü Ali
626–680 ----4–61Tabatabae (1979), pp.196–199He was a grandson of . Husayn opposed the validity of . As a result, he and his family were later killed in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid's forces. After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a central ritual in Shia identity., Killed on Day of Ashura (10 Muharram) and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala. Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in , .
4Ali ibn al-Hussein
علي بن الحسین
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد
al-Sajjad, Zain al-Abedin ----Dördüncü Ali658–9 – 712Tabatabae (1979), p.202 ----38–95Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of .", According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph in , . Buried in .
5Muhammad ibn Ali
محمد بن علي
Abu Ja'far
أبو جعفر
al-Baqir al-Ulum
(splitting open knowledge) ----Beşinci Ali
677–732 ----57–114Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent , teaching many students during his tenure.Tabatabae (1979), p.203, According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in , on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Buried in .
6
جعفر بن محمد
Abu Abdillah
أبو عبدالله
al-SadiqTabatabae (1979), p.203-204
(the Trustworthy) ----Altıncı Ali
702–765 ----83–148Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence and developed the Theology of Shia. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including and Malik ibn Anas in , Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in , and Jābir ibn Hayyān in science and ., According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in , on the order of Caliph . Buried in .
7
موسی بن جعفر
Abu al-Hassan I
أبو الحسن الأول
al-KazimTabatabae (1979), p.205 ----Yedinci Ali744–799 ----128–183Leader of the Shia community during the schism of and other branches after the death of the former imam, .Tabatabae (1979) p. 78 He established the network of agents who collected in the Shia community of the Middle East and the .Sachedina (1988), pp.53–54, Imprisoned and poisoned in , on the order of Caliph . Buried in the in Baghdad.
8
علي بن موسی
al-Rida, RezaTabatabae (1979), pp.205–207 ----Sekizinci Ali765–817 ----148–203Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars., According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in , on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine in .
9
محمد بن علي
Abu Ja'far
أبو جعفر
al-Taqi, al-JawadTabatabae (1979), p. 207 ----Dokuzuncu Ali810–835 ----195–220Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate., Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in , on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim. Buried in the in Baghdad.
10
علي بن محمد
Abu al-Hassan III
أبو الحسن الثالث
al-Hadi, al-Naqi ----Onuncu Ali827–868 ----212–254Strengthened the network of in the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the and religious vows.Surayya, a village near , According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in , on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.Tabatabae (1979), pp.208–209 Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.
11
الحسن بن علي
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد
al-Askari ----Onbirinci Ali846–874 ----232–260For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father. Repression of the Shi'ite population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.Tabatabae (1979) pp. 209–210, According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in , . Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.Tabatabae (1979), pp.209–210
12Muhammad ibn al-Hassan
محمد بن الحسن
Abu al-Qasim
أبو القاسم
, Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah ----Onikinci Ali868–unknownTabatabae (1979), pp.210–211 ----255–unknownAccording to Twelver doctrine, he is the current imam and the promised , a messianic figure who will return with Isa (Jesus). He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.Tabatabae (1979), pp. 211–214, According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, which shall continue as long as God wills it.

, also Fatimah al-Zahraa, daughter of Muhammed (615–632), is also considered infallible but not an Imam. The Shi'a believe that the last Imam, the 12th Imam will one day emerge on the Day of Resurrection ( Qiyamah).


Ismaili
See Imamah (Ismaili doctrine) and List of Ismaili imams for Ismaili imams.


Zaidi
See details under , Islamic history of Yemen and Imams of Yemen.


Imams as secular rulers
At times, imams have held both secular and religious authority. This was the case in among the or sects. At times, the imams were elected. At other times the position was inherited, as with the from 1624 and 1742. See List of rulers of Oman, the : 776–909, : 1154–1624, the : 1624–1742, the : 1744–present for further information.
(2025). 9781873938560, Garnet Pub.. .
The Imamate of Futa Jallon (1727–1896) was a state in West Africa where secular power alternated between two lines of hereditary Imams, or almami.
(1977). 9780521291378, Cambridge University Press. .
In the sect, imams were secular as well as spiritual leaders who held power in for more than a thousand years. In 897, a Zaidi ruler, al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya, founded a line of such imams, a theocratic form of government which survived until the second half of the 20th century (See details under , History of Yemen, Imams of Yemen). Saudi leaders were also referred to as "Imams", until that term was retired by to be replaced by "king".

Ruhollah Khomeini is officially referred to as Imam in . Several Iranian places and institutions are named "Imam Khomeini", including a city, an international airport, a hospital, and a university.


Gallery
=== Imams ===
after Isha' (night prayers) in the ]]
Imams in the ]]
. Lithograph by ]]
, Caucasus]]
imam in ]]
military imam in the Austro-Hungarian Army]]


See also


Notes

Citations

Works cited
  • (1993). 9780710304162, London; Kegan Paul International in association with Islamic Publications for The Institute of Ismaili Studies.
  • Encyclopædia Britannica Online by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
  • (1997). 9781568590509, Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University.
  • (2025). 9780028657691, Macmillan Reference USA.
  • (1988). 9780195119152, Oxford University Press US.
  • (1979). 9780873952729, SUNY press.


General references


External links
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