Imam

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Imam

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An imam () is an Islam

Islam

Islam is a Monotheism, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure....
ic leadership position. Often the leader of a mosque

Mosque

A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid, ? . The word "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque ,...
and the community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads the prayer during Islamic gatherings. More often the community turns to the mosque imam, if they have an Islamic question. In smaller communities an imam could be the community leader based on the community setting.

he Shi'a context, imam has a meaning more central to belief, referring to leaders of the community.

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An imam () is an Islam

Islam

Mosque

Shi'a imams

In the Shi'a context, imam has a meaning more central to belief, referring to leaders of the community. Twelver and Ismaili

Ismaili

Ismailism is a branch of the Islam, and is the second largest part of the Shia Islam community, after the mainstream Twelvers . The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail bin Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor to Jafar al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kazim, younger bro...
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 and have a status directly parallel to those of a prophet, infallibility which is called ismah
Ismah

?I?mah "Protection" is the concept of infallibility or "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin" in Islam. Muslims believe that Muhammad and other prophets in Islam possessed ?i?mah....
. These leaders must be followed since they are appointed by God.

Twelver

Here follows a list of the Twelvers Imams:

Number	Name (Full/Kunya Kunya (Arabic) A kunya or Kunyat is an honorific widely used in place of given names through the Arab world and the medieval Muslim world. It is a component of an Arabic name, a type of epithet referring to the bearer's first-born son or daughter.... )	Title (Arabic Arabic language Arabic is a Central Semitic language, thus related to and classified alongside other Semitic languages languages such as Hebrew language and Aramaic language.... /Turkish Turkish language Turkish is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Cyprus, with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and other parts of Eastern Europe.... )	Birth–Death (CE Common Era Common Era, abbreviated as CE, is a designation for the calendar system most commonly used in the Western world, and also internationally, for numbering the year part of the calendar date.... /AH)	Importance	Birthplace (present day country)	Place of death and burial
1	Ali ibn Abu Talib Ali Ali ibn Abi alib was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, who ruled over the Rashidun empire from 656 to 661. Sunni Muslims consider Ali as the fourth and final Rashidun while Shia Islam Muslims regard Ali as the first Imamah and consider him and his descendants as the Succession to Muhammad, all of which are me... ??? ?? ??? ???? Abu al-Hassan ??? ?????	Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful) Birinci Ali	600–661 23–40	The first Imam Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine) Imamah means "Islamic leadership" and it is a part of the Shi'a Roots of Religion. The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna Ashariya branch of Shia Islam.... and the rightful successor of the Prophet Succession to Muhammad The Succession to Muhammad concerns with the various aspects of successorship of Muhammad as the Prophet of Islam, comprising who is his successor, how should he be elected, the conditions of legitimacy, and the role of successor.... of all Shia; however, the Sunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph Rashidun The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs who established the Rashidun Empire.... as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Sufism Sufi is generally understood to be the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a ufi , though some adherents of the tradition reserve this term only for those practitioners who have attained the goals of the Sufi tradition.... Muslim orders Tariqah ?ariqah means "way, path, method" and refers to an Islamic religious order; in Sufism, it is conceptually related to Haqiqa "truth", the ineffable ideal that is the pursuit of the tradition.... (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.	Mecca Mecca Mecca , also spelled Makkah , Makka is a city in Saudi Arabia. Home to the Masjid al-Haram, it is the holy city in Islam and plays an important role in the faith.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam Nesbat was the Kharijites assassination of Ali ibn Abu Talib, the son in law of the prophet Mohammad... , a Kharijite in Kufa Kufa Kufa is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.... , who slashed him with a poisoned sword. Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque Imam Ali Mosque The Imam ?Ali Holy Shrine , also known as Masjid Ali or the Mosque of ?Ali, is a mosque located in Najaf, Iraq. Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad, Imamah , and the fourth caliph is buried here.... in Najaf Najaf Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 900,600 people, though this has increased significantly since 2003 due to immigration from abroad, mainly from neighbouring Iran..... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... .
2	Hassan ibn Ali Hasan ibn Ali Hasan ibn ?Ali ibn Abi Talib ? was the grandson of Muhammad, son of Ali and Fatimah . He is an important figure in Islam as he is a member of the Ahl al-Bayt and Ahl al-Kisa, as well as being a Shia Imamah , and one of The Fourteen Infallibles of Twelvers.... ????? ?? ??? Abu Muhammad ??? ????	al-Mujtaba Ikinci Ali	624–680 ----3–50	He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad Patronymic#Arabic Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib , is the founder of the Major religious groups of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as a Rasul and prophet of , the last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of prophets.... through Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah Zahra. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in Kufa Kufa Kufa is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.... , and on the basis of peace treaty with Muawiya I, he relinquished control of Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... following a reign of seven months.	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	Poisoned by his wife in Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south.... on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi Jannat al-Baqi Jannatu l-Baqi? is a cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia, located across from the Masjid al-Nabawi, in the southeastern of the mosque where The Prophet Muhammed is buried.... .
3	Husayn ibn Ali Husayn ibn Ali ?usayn ibn ?Ali ibn Abi ?alib ? was the grandson of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and the son of Ali and Fatimah . Husayn is an important figure in Islam as he is a member of the Ahl al-Bayt and Ahl al-Kisa, as well as being a Imamah , and one of The Fourteen Infallibles of Twelvers.... ?????? ?? ??? Abu Abdillah ??? ???????	Sayed al-Shuhada Uçüncü Ali	626–680 ----4–61	He was a grandson of Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad Patronymic#Arabic Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib , is the founder of the Major religious groups of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as a Rasul and prophet of , the last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of prophets.... . Husayn opposed the validity of Caliph Caliph The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah.... Yazid I Yazid I Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan was the second Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty and ruled for 3 years from 680 CE until his death in 683 CE. His reign is notorious for fighting and killing Husayn ibn Ali and his companions, following a rift over the succession to Caliphate.... . As a result, he and his family were later killed in the Battle of Karbala Battle of Karbala The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side were supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali; on the other side was a military detachment from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.... by Yazid's forces. After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a central ritual in Shia identity.	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala Battle of Karbala The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side were supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali; on the other side was a military detachment from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.... . Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine Imam Husayn Shrine The Shrine of Husayn ibn ?Ali is a Holiest sites in Islam of Shia Islam in the city of Karbala, Iraq. It stands on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali, the second grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he was killed during the Battle of Karbala in 680 Common Era.... in Karbala Karbala Karbala is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at 32.61?N, 44.08?E. In the time of Husayn ibn Ali's life, the place was also known as al-Ghadiriyah, Naynawa, and Shathi'ul-Furaat.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... .
4	Ali ibn al-Hussein ??? ?? ?????? Abu Muhammad ??? ????	al-Sajjad, Zain al-Abedin ----Dorduncu Ali	658-9 – 712 ----38–95	Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is said to be the oldest prayer manual in Islamic sources and one of the most seminal works of Islamic spirituality of the early period.... , which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet Ahl al-Bayt Ahl al-Bayt is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family. The phrase "ahl al-bayt" was used in Arabia before the advent of Islam to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe.... ."	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I Al-Walid I Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik or Al-Walid I was an Umayyad caliph who ruled from 705 - 715. He continued the expansion of the Islamic empire that was sparked by his father, and was an effective ruler.... in Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south.... . Buried in Jannat al-Baqi Jannat al-Baqi Jannatu l-Baqi? is a cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia, located across from the Masjid al-Nabawi, in the southeastern of the mosque where The Prophet Muhammed is buried.... .
5	Muhammad ibn Ali Muhammad al-Baqir Mu?ammad ibn ?Ali al-Baqir was the Imamah to the Twelver Shi`ism Shia Islam and Imamah to the Isma'ili Shi?ah. His father was the previous Imam, Ali ibn Husayn, and his mother was Fa?imah bint Hassan ibn Ali.... ???? ?? ??? Abu Ja'far ??? ????	al-Baqir al-Ulum (splitting open knowledge) ----Besinci Ali	677–732 ----57–114	Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars Faqih A Faqih is an expert in fiqh, or, Islamic jurisprudence.A faqih is an expert in Islamic Law, and as such the word Faqih can literally be generally translated as Jurist.... , teaching many students during his tenure.	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south.... on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik 10th Umayyad caliph who ruled from 723 until his death in 743. When he was born in 691 his mother named him after her father.... .. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi Jannat al-Baqi Jannatu l-Baqi? is a cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia, located across from the Masjid al-Nabawi, in the southeastern of the mosque where The Prophet Muhammed is buried.... .
6	Ja'far ibn Muhammad ???? ?? ???? Abu Abdillah ??? ???????	al-Sadiq (the Trustworthy) ----Altinci Ali	702–765 ----83–148	Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence Ja'fari jurisprudence Ja?fari school of thought, Ja?fari jurisprudence or Ja?fari Fiqh is the school of fiqh of Shi'a Muslims, derived from the name of Ja'far al-Sadiq, the 6th Imamah .... and developed the Theology of Shia. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah and Malik ibn Anas Malik ibn Anas Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn 'Amr al-Asbahi is known as "Imam Malik," the "Sheikh ul-Islam," the "Proof of the Community," and "Imam of the Abode of Emigration." He was one of the most highly respected scholars of fiqh in Sunni Islam.... in fiqh Fiqh Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the Sharia Islamic law?based directly on the Quran and Sunnah?that complements Shariah with evolving Fatwa/interpretations of Ulema.... , Wasil ibn Ata Wasil ibn Ata Wasil ibn Ata was a Muslim theologian, and by some accounts is considered the founder of the Mutazilite school of Islamic thought.Born around the year 700 in the Arabian Peninsula, he initially studied under Abu Hashim Abd Allah b.... and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology Kalam Kalam is the Islamic philosophy of seeking Islamic theology principles through dialectic. In Arabic language the word literally means "speech".... , and Geber Geber Geber is the Latinized form of "Jabir", with the full name of Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan , a prominent Muslim polymath: a Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam, Astronomy in medieval Islam and Islamic astrology, Inventions of the Islamic Golden Age, Geography in medieval Islam#Geology, mineralogy, and paleontology, Early Islamic philo... in science and alchemy Alchemy Alchemy , a part of the Occult Tradition, is both a philosophy and a practice with an aim of achieving ultimate wisdom as well as immortality, involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several substances described as possessing unusual properties.... .	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south.... on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur Al-Mansur Al-Mansur, Almanzor or Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur was the second Abbasid Caliph. He was born at al-Humaymah, the home of the 'Abbasid family after their emigration from the Hejaz in 687?688.... .. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi Jannat al-Baqi Jannatu l-Baqi? is a cemetery in Medina, Saudi Arabia, located across from the Masjid al-Nabawi, in the southeastern of the mosque where The Prophet Muhammed is buried.... .
7	Musa ibn Ja'far ???? ?? ???? Abu al-Hassan I ??? ????? ?????	al-Kazim ----Yedinci Ali	744–799 ----128–183	Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili Ismaili Ismailism is a branch of the Islam, and is the second largest part of the Shia Islam community, after the mainstream Twelvers . The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail bin Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor to Jafar al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kazim, younger bro... and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq. He established the network of agents who collected khums Khums Khums is the Arabic word for One Fifth . According to Shia Islamic legal terminology, it means "one-fifth of certain items which a person acquires as wealth, and which must be paid as an Islamic tax"... in the Shia community of the Middle East Middle East File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.... and the Greater Khorasan Greater Khorasan Greater Khorasan is a modern term for a geographic region spanning north-eastern Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and north-western Afghanistan.... .	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	Imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad Baghdad Baghdad is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous. With a municipal population estimated at 6.5 million, it is the largest city in Iraq, and the second largest city in the Arab World.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid Harun al-Rashid Harun al-Rashid ; also spelled Harun ar-Rashid; , Aaron the Just, or Aaron the Rightly-Guided; March 17, 763 – March 24, 809) was the fifth and most famous Abbasid Caliphate Caliph.... . Buried in the Kazimayn shrine in Baghdad.
8	Ali ibn Musa Ali al-Rida ?Ali ibn Musa al-Rida was the seventh descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the eighth of the Twelve Imams. His given name was ?Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja?far.... ??? ?? ???? Abu al-Hassan II ??? ????? ??????	al-Rida, Reza ----Sekizinci Ali	765–817 ----148–203	Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun Al-Ma'mun Abu Jafar al-Ma'mun ibn Harun was an Abbasid caliph who reigned from 813 until his death in 833. He succeeded his brother al-Amin.... , and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Mashad, Iran Iran Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.... on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine Imam Reza shrine Imam Ridha shrine in Mashhad, Iran is a complex which contains the mausoleum of Imam Ridha, the eighth Twelve Imams of Twelvers. Also contained within the complex include: the Goharshad Mosque, a museum, a library, seminaries, a cemetery, a dining hall for pilgrims, vast prayer halls, and other buildings.... in Mashad.
9	Muhammad ibn Ali Muhammad al-Taqi Muhammad al-Taqi or Muhammad al-Jawad was the ninth of the Twelve Imams. His given name was Muhammad ibn ?Ali ibn Musa, and among his titles, al-Taqi and al-Jawad are the most renowned.... ???? ?? ??? Abu Ja'far ??? ????	al-Taqi, al-Jawad ----Dokuzuncu Ali	810–835 ----195–220	Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate was the third of the Islamic Caliphates of the Islamic Empire. The Caliphate is one of the high points of Islam, and at the time Muslim civilization, together with that of Byzantium, China and India, was the most developed part of the world.... caliphate Caliphate The caliphate represented the political leadership of the Muslim ummah in classical and medieval Islamic history and juristic theory. The head of state's position is based on the notion of a successor to the Prophets of Islam Muhammad's political authority.... .	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in Baghdad Baghdad Baghdad is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous. With a municipal population estimated at 6.5 million, it is the largest city in Iraq, and the second largest city in the Arab World.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim Al-Mu'tasim Abu Ishaq al-Mu'tasim ibn Harun was an Abbasid caliph . He succeeded his half-brother al-Ma'mun.... . Buried in the Kazmain shrine in Baghdad.
10	Ali ibn Muhammad Ali al-Hadi ?Ali al-Hadi , also known as ?Ali an-Naqi was the tenth of the Twelve Imams. He was born ?Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ?Ali.... ??? ?? ???? Abu al-Hassan III ??? ????? ??????	al-Hadi, al-Naqi ----Onuncu Ali	827–868 ----212–254	Strengthened the network of deputies in the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the khums Khums Khums is the Arabic word for One Fifth . According to Shia Islamic legal terminology, it means "one-fifth of certain items which a person acquires as wealth, and which must be paid as an Islamic tax"... and religious vows.	Surayya, a village near Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Samarra Samarra Samarra is a city in Iraq.It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah al-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz Al-Mu'tazz Al-Mu'tazz was the title of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 866 to 869. Placed upon the throne by the Turks, he proved but too apt a pupil of his Turkish masters.... . Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.
11	Hassan ibn Ali Hasan al-Askari Hasan al-Askari was the eleventh of the Twelve Imams. His given name was Hasan ibn ?Ali ibn Muhammad. Hasan al-?Askari was 22, when his father was killed and the period of his Imamate, following his father's death, was six years.... ????? ?? ??? Abu Muhammad ??? ????	al-Askari ----Onbirinci Ali	846–874 ----232–260	For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid Al-Mu'tamid This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid... , 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.	Medina Medina Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Prophet Muhammad.... , Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south....	According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid Al-Mu'tamid This article is about the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tamid of Baghdad. For the Andalusi Arabic poet who was also the Abbadid king of Seville, see Muhammad Ibn Abbad Al Mutamid... in Samarra Samarra Samarra is a city in Iraq.It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah al-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... . Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.
12	Muhammad ibn al-Hassan Muhammad al-Mahdi According to Twelvers Muhammad al-Mahdi also known as Hujjat ibn al-Hasan is the final Imamah of the Twelve Imams and Mahdi, the ultimate savior of humankind.... ???? ?? ????? Abu al-Qasim ??? ??????	al-Mahdi Mahdi According to the Shia and Sunni versions of the Islamic eschatology the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on earth seven, nine, or nineteen years before the coming of the day, Qiyamah .... , Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah ----Onikinci Ali	868–unknown ----255–unknown	According to Twelver doctrine, he is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi Mahdi According to the Shia and Sunni versions of the Islamic eschatology the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on earth seven, nine, or nineteen years before the coming of the day, Qiyamah .... , a messianic figure who will return with Christ Christ Christ is the English language term for the Greek meaning "the anointing", which is a title given to the Reigning Messiah in the given age of the Zodiac.... . He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.	Samarra Samarra Samarra is a city in Iraq.It stands on the east bank of the Tigris in the Salah al-Din Governorate, north of Baghdad and, in 2003, had an estimated population of 348,700.... , Iraq Iraq Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros Mountains, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....	According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation Muhammad al-Mahdi According to Twelvers Muhammad al-Mahdi also known as Hujjat ibn al-Hasan is the final Imamah of the Twelve Imams and Mahdi, the ultimate savior of humankind.... since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.

Fatimah

Fatimah was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija. Sheis regarded by Muslims as an exemplar for men and women....
, also Fatimah al-Zahraa, daughter of Muhammed (615–632), is also considered infallible but not an Imam. Many Shi'a believe that the last Imam will one day return.

See Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine)

Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine)

The Ismaili view on the Imamah differs from the Imamah as well as Sunni views, in particular because the Imam in Ismailism is the Face of Allah....
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 madhhab

Madhhab

Madhhab or in Urdu Mazhab is an Islamic school of law, or fiqh . In the first 150 years of Islam, there were many such "schools" - in fact, several of the Sahaba, or contemporary "companions" of Muhammad, are credited with founding their own....
s, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh)

Fiqh

Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the Sharia Islamic law?based directly on the Quran and Sunnah?that complements Shariah with evolving Fatwa/interpretations of Ulema....
. It may also refer to the imams of the sciences related to Hadith

Hadith

Hadith are oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad. Hadith collections are regarded by all traditional madhab as important tools for determining the Muslim way of life, the sunnah....
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.

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

Sheikh

Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, and other variants , is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "Elder "....
.

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:

Madhhab Madhhab Madhhab or in Urdu Mazhab is an Islamic school of law, or fiqh . In the first 150 years of Islam, there were many such "schools" - in fact, several of the Sahaba, or contemporary "companions" of Muhammad, are credited with founding their own....	Aqidah Aqidah Aqidah is an Islamic term meaning creed. Any religious belief system, or creed, can be considered an example of aqidah. However this term has taken a significant technical usage in Muslim history and theology, denoting those matters over which Muslims hold conviction....	Science of hadith Science of hadith The Science of hadith is the process that Muslim scholars use to evaluate hadith. It has been described by one hadith specialist, Jalal al-Din Abd al-al-Rahman al-Suyuti, as the science of the principles by which the conditions of both the sanad, the chain of narration, and the matn, the text of the hadith, are known....
Imam Abu Hanifa	Imam al-Ashari Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Isma'il al-Ash'ari was a Muslim Arab theology and the founder of the Ash'ari school of early Islamic philosophy and Kalam....	Imam Bukhari
Imam Malik Malik ibn Anas Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn 'Amr al-Asbahi is known as "Imam Malik," the "Sheikh ul-Islam," the "Proof of the Community," and "Imam of the Abode of Emigration." He was one of the most highly respected scholars of fiqh in Sunni Islam....	Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi	Imam Abu Dawood
Imam Shafi'i		Imam Fakhr al-Razi Fakhr al-Din al-Razi Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Umar ibn al-Husayn al-Taymi al-Bakri al-Tabaristani Fakhr al-Din al-Razi or Fakhruddin Razi was a well-known Persian people Sunni Muslim theology and philosopher....
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal Ahmad ibn Hanbal Ahmed ibn Hanbal was an important Muslim scholar and theology born in Khorasan to a family of an Arab origin He is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of fiqh ....
Imam Abu Dawood

Zaidi imams as rulers of Yemen

In the Zaidi Shiite sect, Imams were temporal as well as spiritual leaders who held power in Yemen

Yemen

Yemen , officially the Republic of Yemen is an Arab country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. Yemen has an estimated population of more than 23 million people and is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the North, the Red Sea to the West, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the South, and Oman to the east....
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

History of Yemen

The history of Yemen is especially important because Yemen is one of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East. Its relatively fertile land and adequate rainfall in a moister climate helped sustain a stable population, a feature recognized by the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy, who described Yemen as Eudaimon Arabia meanin...
.)

Foot notes

External links

a chapter of Shi'a Islam (book)
Shi'a Islam (book)

Shi'a Islam is an important text on the history and thought of Shi'a Islam.Written by Allameh Tabatabaei, with the translation, editing, and introduction by Dr....
by Allameh Tabatabaei
Allameh Tabatabaei

Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam. He is famous for, Tafsir al-Mizan, the Quran exegesis....
Taken From "A Shi'ite Anthology" By Allameh Tabatabaei
Allameh Tabatabaei

Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam. He is famous for, Tafsir al-Mizan, the Quran exegesis....

Imam

Shi'a imams

Twelver

Sunni imams

Zaidi imams as rulers of Yemen

See also

Foot notes

External links