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Twelve Imams



 
 
The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to 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....
, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna-‘ashariyyah branch of Shi‘ah 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....
. According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor 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....
 is an infallible
The Fourteen Infallibles

The Fourteen Infallibles are Twelver Shia Islam Islam religion figures from between the 6th and 9th century who Twelvers believe are infallible, i.e....
 human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning
Esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an

An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an interpretation of the Qur?an which includes attribution of esoteric or mysticism meanings to the text by the interpreter....
. The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds
Sunnah

Sunnah literally means ?trodden path,? and therefore, the sunnah of the prophet means ?the way and the manners of the prophet?. The word ?Sunnah? in Sunni Islam means those religious achievements and manners that were instituted by the Islamic prophet Muhammad during the 23 years of his ministry, which Muslims initially obtained through cons...
 are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet.

It is believed in 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‘ah Islam that ‘aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge called ?ikmah and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees.






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The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to 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....
, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna-‘ashariyyah branch of Shi‘ah 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....
. According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor 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....
 is an infallible
The Fourteen Infallibles

The Fourteen Infallibles are Twelver Shia Islam Islam religion figures from between the 6th and 9th century who Twelvers believe are infallible, i.e....
 human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning
Esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an

An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an interpretation of the Qur?an which includes attribution of esoteric or mysticism meanings to the text by the interpreter....
. The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds
Sunnah

Sunnah literally means ?trodden path,? and therefore, the sunnah of the prophet means ?the way and the manners of the prophet?. The word ?Sunnah? in Sunni Islam means those religious achievements and manners that were instituted by the Islamic prophet Muhammad during the 23 years of his ministry, which Muslims initially obtained through cons...
 are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet.

It is believed in 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‘ah Islam that ‘aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge called ?ikmah and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees. Although the Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation
Wahy

Wahy is the Arabic word for revelation. In Islamic context, it refers to the revelations and inspirations of God to his prophets, for all humankind....
, he had a close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the Imam in turn guides the people. Imamate
Imamate

The word Imamate is an Arabic word with an English language suffix meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to the religion of Islam....
, or belief in the divine guide is a fundamental belief in the Twelver and Ismaili Shi‘i branches and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.

According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the Age, who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. ‘Ali
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...
 was the first Imam of this line, and in the Twelvers' view, the rightful successor to the Prophet of Islam, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah Zahra. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of 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....
, who was the brother of Hasan 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....
. The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi
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....
, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and hidden till he returns to bring justice to the world
Major Occultation

In Twelver Shia Islam, the Major Occultation refers to the longer duration of The Occultation of the final and twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, continuing to the present day....
.

List of imams

Number Modern depiction 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
1Ali 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-Hasan
??? ?????
Amir al-Mu'minin
(Commander of the Faithful)
Birinci Ali
600–661
23(befor Hijra
Hijra

Hijra, as an Arabic word meaning Human migration may refer to:*The Hijra is the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE, marking the first year of the Islamic calendar, 1 AH ....
)–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 Shi'a; 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 while he was praying. 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....
.
2Hasan 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 ----3–50He 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....
.
3Husayn 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 ----4–61He 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....
 and brother of Hasan ibn Ali. 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 Shi'a 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....
.
4Ali ibn Husayn
??? ?? ??????
Abu Muhammad
??? ????
al-Sajjad, Zain al-Abedin ----Dorduncu Ali658-9 – 712 ----38–95Author 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 Shi'a 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....
.
5Muhammad 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 ----57–114Sunni and Shi'a 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 Shi'a 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....
.
6Ja'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 Shi'a. 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 Shi'a 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....
.
7Musa ibn Ja'far
???? ?? ????
Abu al-Hasan I
??? ????? ?????
al-Kazim ----Yedinci Ali744–799 ----128–183Leader of the Shi'a 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 Shi'a 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.
8Ali 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-Hasan II
??? ????? ??????
al-Rida, Reza ----Sekizinci Ali765–817 ----148–203Made 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 Shi'a 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.
9Muhammad 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 Ali810–835 ----195–220Famous 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.
10Ali 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-Hasan III
??? ????? ??????
al-Hadi, al-Naqi ----Onuncu Ali827–868 ----212–254Strengthened the network of deputies in the Shi'a 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 Shi'a 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.
11Hasan 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 Ali846–874 ----232–260For 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 Shi'a, 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-Hasan
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
allegedly 868–unknown ----allegedly 255–unknownAccording 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 Shi'a doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation
The Occultation

The Occultation in Shi'a Islam refers to a belief that the messianic figure, Mahdi, who in Shi'a thought is an ismah male descendant of the founder of Islam, Muhammad, has been born but has disappeared and will one day return and fill the world with justice....
 since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.
?

See also

  • Shia Islam
  • Twelvers
  • Ahl al-Bayt
    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....
  • The Fourteen Infallibles
    The Fourteen Infallibles

    The Fourteen Infallibles are Twelver Shia Islam Islam religion figures from between the 6th and 9th century who Twelvers believe are infallible, i.e....
  • Succession to Muhammad
    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....
  • Islamic leadership
    Islamic leadership

    After the Prophets of Islam Muhammad's death, who should be successor to Muhammad's political authority became disputed, which eventually led to the division of Islam into Sunni Islam and Shia Islam....
  • Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)
    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....
  • Wali
    Wali

    Wali , is an Arabic word meaning "trusted one"; it generally denotes "friend of God" in the phrase ??? ???? waliyu 'llah It should not be confused with the word Wali which is an administrative title that was used in the Muslim Caliphate, and still today in some Muslim countries....


Footnotes


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....