Imam: Encyclopedia II - Imam - Clerical Imams

Imam - Clerical Imams

Imam - Shia Imams

In the Shia context, Imam has a meaning more central to belief.

The Shia believe that The Imam is someone that is able to lead mankind in all aspects of life. In addition they believe that an Imam is a perfect example in everything. According to Shia, an Imam is a leader that must be followed since he is appointed by Allah (GOD).

The Shia interpretation is that the Quran clearly says that only God can appoint an Imam and no one else has the power to designate one. The incident of Ghadeer-e-Khum is referenced as when Muhammad declared Ali as the leader of the community after him.

According to the Twelve-Imam Shiite, Imam is a divine status like Prophethood. A Prophet can also be an Imam but not all Prophets are Imams. Since Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet, there could be no Prophets after him and so the 12 Imams are not Prophets but only Imams. These 12 Imams are as great in a sense as all the previous prophets except Prophet Muhammed who is the greatest of all. Following is a listing of the rightful successors of Muhammad, as recognized by ("Twelver") Shias. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, except for Husayn who was the brother of Hasan and Ali being Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. The Shi'a argue that is in Honor of the Muhammed that God made the Imams of his lineage through Fatima and it is not a simple inheritance like a kingdom. See Shia Imams for details.

1. Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661)
2. Hasan ibn Ali (625–669)
3. Husayn ibn Ali (626–680)
4. Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Zainul Abideen
5. Muhammad al Baqir (676–743)
6. Jafar as Sadiq (703–765)
7. Musa al Kazim (745–799)
8. Ali ar Rida (765–818)
9. Muhammad at Taqi (810–835)
10. Ali al Hadi (827–868)
11. Hasan al Askari (846–874)
12. Muhammad al Mahdi (868–?))

The Ismailis trace a different line of Imams, branching at one of Husayn's descendants, Ismail bin Jafar.

The Zaiddiyah trace a different line, branching at Husayn's grandson, Zaid.

Imam - 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). For example, Imam Abu Hanifa. Or the Imams of the sciences related to Hadith such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Dawood. Or the heads of the Prophet's descendants in their times such as Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hussein, and Imam Jafar Sadiq.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Clerical Imams", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki