An imam (Arabic: إمام, Persian: امام) is an Islamic leader, often
the leader of a mosque.
The ruler of a country might be called the imam, for example. However, the capitalized term or The Imam
(Arabic: الإمام) has important origins in the Islamic tradition
for, especially in Shi'a beliefs. In first few centuries of Islam, it was used to refer to
the Caliph in both Sunni and Shia religious text. It is also an honorific title; for example "Imam Abu Hanifa" could arguably be translated as
"the honorable leader/father of Hanifa."
Clerical "Imams"
Shi'a "Imams"
-
In the Shi'a context, Imam
has a meaning more central to belief. The Shi'a believe that an Imam is someone who is able to lead mankind in all aspects of
life. In addition, Shi'a believe that an Imam is a perfect example in everything. According to the Shi'a, an Imam is a leader who
must be followed since he is appointed by Allah (God). Muhammad informed that the number of Imams after him would be twelve, as the compilers of Sahih Hadith have
narrated it.
In Sahih Muslim it is related that Muhammad said: "The Islamic religion will continue
until the Hour (day of resurrection), having twelve Imams for you, all of them will be from Quraysh." and also "He who
does not know the Imam of his time dies the death of an un-believer."
Here follows a list of the Shi'a Imams:
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (600–661), also known as Ali, Amir al-Mu'minin
- Hasan ibn Ali (625–669),
also known as Hasan al-Mujtaba
- Husayn ibn Ali (626–680),
also known as Husayn al-Shahid, also known as Sah Hüseyin
- Ali ibn Husayn (658–713),
also known as Ali Zayn al-Abidin
- Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as Muhammad al-Baqir
- Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as Jafar al-Sadiq
- Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as Musa al-Kazim
- Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as Ali al-Rida
- Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as Muhammad al-Jawad
(Muhammad at-Taqi), also known as Taki
- Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as Ali al-Hadi, also known as Naki
- Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al-Askari
- Muhammad ibn Hasan (868- ), also known as al-Hujjat ibn al-Hasan, also known as
Mahdi; believed to be hidden by Allah (Occultation).
Fatimah also Fatimah al-Zahraa daughter of Muhammed (615–632), she is infallible but not a leader.
See Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine) for Ismaili list of Imams
Sunni "Imams"
The term is also used for a recognized religious leader or teacher in Islam, often for the founding scholars of the four Sunni
madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh). It
may also refer to the imams of the sciences related to Hadith or to the heads of the Prophet's
descendants in their times. In other words, Imam Ali is a phrase used by both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims, though with different
connotations[1].
The Sunni sect does not have imams in the same sense as the Shi'a sect. The imam in the Sunni sect of Islam is the leader of
prayers; the sermon is most often given by the Sheikh.
However, there are some people whom Sunnis call "Imams" who are not prayer leaders. They are not Imams in the Shi'a sense of
the word, but they are those who started the four Sunni Madhabs. List:
an-Nasaf writes:
| “ |
The Muslims cannot do without an Imam who shall occupy himself with the enforcing of
their decisions, and in implementing their hudud (penal code) and guarding their frontiers, and equipping their armies, and
receiving their alms, and putting down robberies and thieving and highwayman, and maintaining the Friday and 'id prayers, and
removing quarrels that fall between people, and receiving evidence bearing on legal claims, and marrying minors who have no
guardians and dividing booty[2]. |
” |
Zaidi Imams as rulers of Yemen
In the Zaidi Shiite sect, Imams were temporal as well
as spiritual leaders, who held power in Yemen for more than a thousand years. In 897, a Zaidi ruler, Yahya al-Hadi ila'l Haqq, founded a line of such Imams, a
theocratic form of government which survived until the second half of the 20th century. (See details under Zaidi, History of Yemen.)
See also
References
- ^ [1]
- ^
referencing , p.185.
External links
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