Imamate

11:19 AM | BY ZeroDivide EDIT
The word Imamate (Arabic: إمامة‎ imāmah) is word derived from Imam meaning leadership. Its use in theology is confined to Islam.

Theological usage[edit]

The term Caliphate, a romanization of the Arabic word Khalifah "succession", is often used interchangeably with the term Imamate. Both terms, not always but most often, refer to the position of succeeding and leading the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad.

Seveners (Arabic: سبعية‎) were a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīʻa. They became known as "Seveners" because they believe that Ismā'īl ibn Jaʻfar was the seventh and the last Imām (hereditary leader of the Muslim community in the direct line of ʻAlī ibn Abī Tālib). They believed his son, Muħammad ibn Ismā'īl al-Maktum, would return and bring about an age of justice asMahdi. Their most famous and active branch were the Qarmatians.
Sometimes "sevener" is used to refer to Ismā'īlīs overall, though several branches, such as the Nizari Ismailis, have far more than seven imams.

Imamate of Seven Imams[edit]

ImāmIsmā'īlī ImāmPeriod
1Ali - First Ismā'īlī Imām(632–661)
2Hasan ibn Ali - Second Ismā'īlī Imām(661–669)
3Husayn ibn Ali - Third Ismā'īlī Imām(669–680)
4Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin - Fourth Ismā'īlī Imām(680–713)
5Muhammad al-Baqir - Fifth Ismā'īlī Imām(713–733)
6Ja'far al-Sadiq - Sixth Ismā'īlī Imām(733–765)
7Isma'il ibn Jafar - Seventh Ismā'īlī Imām(765 - 775)
MahdiMuħammad ibn Ismā'īl al-Maktum - The promised Mahdi(775-813)

Imamate (Twelver doctrine)

According to the majority of Shi'a, namely the Ithna Ashariya or Twelvers, the following is a listing of the rightful successors to Muhammad. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, except for Husayn ibn Ali who was the brother of Hasan ibn Ali.
Imāmah (Arabic: اٍمامة‎) means "leadership" and it is a part of the theology of Twelvers. The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Final Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver branch of Shi'i Islam.[1] According to Twelver theology, the successor of Muhammad is aninfallible human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret sharia and the esoteric interpretation of the Quran. The Prophet and Imams'words and deeds 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.[2][3]
The Shia believe that 'Aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge, or hikmah, and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees.[1][4][5] The Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, but has a close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the Imam in turn guides the people. The Imamat, or belief in the divine guide, is a fundamental belief in Shi'i Islam and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.[6]
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 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. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the brother ofHasan ibn Ali.[1] The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and in hiding
NumberName
(Full/Kunya)		Title
(Arabic/Turkish)[105]		Birth–Death
(CE/AH)[106]		ImportanceBirthplace (present day country)Place of death and burial
1Ali ibn Abu Talib
علي بن أبي طالب
Abu al-Hassan
أبو الحسن		Amir al-Mu'minin
(Commander of the Faithful)[107]
Birinci Ali[108]		600–661[107]
23–40[109]		The first Imam and successor of Muhammad of all Shia; however, theSunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders(Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[107]Mecca,Saudi Arabia[107]Assassinated byAbd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite inKufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword.[107][110]Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf,Iraq.
2Hassan ibn Ali
الحسن بن علي
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد		al-Mujtaba
İkinci Ali[108]		624–680[111]
3–50[112]		He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad through Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah Zahra. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph inKufa, and on the basis of peace treaty with Muawiya I, he relinquished control of Iraq following a reign of seven months.[113]Medina,Saudi Arabia[111]Poisoned by his wife in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the orders of the CaliphMuawiya.[114] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
3Husayn ibn Ali
الحسین بن علي
Abu Abdillah
أبو عبدالله		Sayed al-Shuhada
Üçüncü Ali[108]		626–680[115]
4–61[116]		He was a grandson of Muhammad. Husayn opposed the validity of CaliphYazid I. As a result, he and his family were later killed in the Battle of Karbalaby Yazid's forces. After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Alihas become a central ritual in Shia identity.[115][117]Medina,Saudi Arabia[115]Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.[115] Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala,Iraq.
4Ali ibn al-Hussein
علي بن الحسین
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد		al-Sajjad, Zayn al-‘Ābidīn
Dördüncü Ali[108]		658-9[118] – 712[119]
38[118]–95[119]		Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet." [119]Medina,Saudi Arabia[118]According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina,Saudi Arabia.[119]Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
5Muhammad ibn Ali
محمد بن علي
Abu Ja'far
أبو جعفر		al-Baqir al-Ulum
(splitting open knowledge) [120]
Beşinci Ali[108]		677–732[120]
57–114[120]		Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure.[120][121]Medina,Saudi Arabia[120]According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina,Saudi Arabia on the order of CaliphHisham ibn Abd al-Malik.[119] Buried inJannat al-Baqi.
6Ja'far ibn Muhammad
جعفر بن محمد
Abu Abdillah
أبو عبدالله		al-Sadiq[122]

(the Trustworthy)
Altıncı Ali[108]		702–765[122]
83–148 [122]		Established the Ja'fari jurisprudenceand developed the Theology of Shia. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifahand Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Jābir ibn Hayyān in science and alchemy.[122][123]Medina,Saudi Arabia[122]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Medina,Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.[122] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
7Musa ibn Ja'far
موسی بن جعفر
Abu al-Hassan I
أبو الحسن الاول[124]		al-Kazim[125]
Yedinci Ali[108]		744–799[125]
128–183[125]		Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq.[126] He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shia community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan.[127]Medina,Saudi Arabia[125]Imprisoned and poisoned inBaghdad, Iraq on the order of CaliphHarun al-Rashid. Buried in theKazimayn shrine in Baghdad.[125]
8Ali ibn Musa
علي بن موسی
Abu al-Hassan II
أبو الحسن الثانی[124]		al-Rida, Reza[128]
Sekizinci Ali[108]		765–817[128]
148–203[128]		Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[128]Medina,Saudi Arabia[128]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Mashad,Iran on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine inMashad.[128]
9Muhammad ibn Ali
محمد بن علي
Abu Ja'far
أبو جعفر		al-Taqi, al-Jawad[129]
Dokuzuncu Ali[108]		810–835[129]
195–220[129]		Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasidcaliphate.Medina,Saudi Arabia[129]Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, inBaghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim. Buried in the Kazmain shrinein Baghdad.[129]
10Ali ibn Muhammad
علي بن محمد
Abu al-Hassan III
أبو الحسن الثالث[130]		al-Hadi, al-Naqi[130]
Onuncu Ali[108]		827–868[130]
212–254[130]		Strengthened the network of deputiesin the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the khums and religious vows.[130]Surayya, a village nearMedina,Saudi Arabia[130]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned inSamarra, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.[131] Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.
11Hassan ibn Ali
الحسن بن علي
Abu Muhammad
أبو محمد		al-Askari[132]
Onbirinci Ali[108]		846–874[132]
232–260[132]		For 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.[133]Medina,Saudi Arabia[132]According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of CaliphAl-Mu'tamid inSamarra, Iraq. Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra.[133]
12Muhammad ibn al-Hassan
محمد بن الحسن
Abu al-Qasim
أبو القاسم		al-Mahdi, Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah [134]
Onikinci Ali[108]		868–unknown[135]
255–unknown[135]		According to Twelver doctrine, he is the current Imam and the promisedMahdi, a messianic figure who will return in end times. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.[136]Samarra,Iraq[135]According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in theOccultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.[135]
The Nizari (Arabic: النزاريون‎ an-Nizāriyyūn) are Ismaili Muslims who form the second largest branch of Shia Islam (the largest being the Twelver of Iran and Iraq). There are an estimated 15 million Nizari residing in more than 25 countries and territories. Nizari teachings emphasize human reasoning (Ijtihad, the individual use of one's reason), pluralism (the acceptance of racial, ethnic, cultural and intra-religious differences) andsocial justice. From quite early on in his reign, the Fatimid Caliph-Imam al-Mustansir Billahhad publicly nominated his elder son Nizar as his heir to be the next Fatimid Caliph-Imam after him. This was common knowledge in Fatimid Egypt at the time. Dai Hasan bin Sabah had studied and accepted Ismailism in Fatimid Egypt. He had been made aware of this fact personally by al-Mustansir. Al-Mustansir died in 1094 and al-Afdal, the all-powerful Armenian Vizier and "Commander of the Armies", wanted to assert, like his father before him, his own dictatorial position over the Fatimid State. Al-Afdal engineered a palace coup on behalf of the much younger and dependent Mustaali who was his brother-in-law by placing him the very next day on the Fatimid throne. Al-Afdal claimed that Al-Mustansir had made a deathbed decree in favour of Mustaali and thus got the Ismaili leaders of the Fatimid Court and Fatimid Dawa in Cairo, the capital city of the Fatimides, to endorse Mustaali – which they did realizing that the army was dictating the palace coup.[1]
In early 1095, Nizar fled to Alexandria where he received the people’s support and where he was accepted as the next Fatimid Caliph-Imam after Al-Mustansir. There were even gold dinars minted in Alexandria in Nizar’s name. (One such coin found in 1994 is now in the collection of the Aga Khan Museum.) In late 1095 al-Afdal defeated Nizar’s Alexandrian army and took Nizar as a prisoner to Cairo. Here he had Nizar executed. [2]
After Nizar’s execution, the Nizari Ismailis and the Mustaali Ismailis parted ways in a bitterly irreconcilable manner. The schism finally broke the remnants of the Fatimid Empire and the now divided Ismailis separated into the Mustaali following (in the regions of Egypt, Yemen and Western India) and those pledging allegiance to Nizar's son Hadi (in the regions of Iran and Syria). The later Ismaili following came to be known as Nizari Ismailism.[3]
Imam Hadi being very young at the time was smuggled out of Alexandria and taken to the Nizari stronghold of Alamut Fort in the Elburz Mountains of Northern Iran south of the Caspian Sea and under the regency of Dai Hassan bin Sabbah.

Imāmah (Arabic: إمامة‎) is the Shia Islam doctrine of religious, spiritual and politicalleadership of the Ummah. The Shīa believe that the A'immah ("Imāms") are the trueCaliphs or rightful successors of Muhammad, and further that Imāms are possessed of divine knowledge and authority (‘Iṣmah) as well as being part of the Ahl al-Bayt, the family of Muhammad.[1] These Imams have the role of providing commentary and interpretation of the Quran[2] as well as guidance to their tariqa followers as is the case of the living Imams of the Nizari Ismaili tariqah.
Tusi notifies that Imam is the means of the grace of Allah, because "He brings men closer to obedience (of Allah) and keeps them away from disobedience." As fulfilling the human being is His wish, it is logical that Allah appoint Imam to subject man to His wishes. So his existence and his deeds display two forms of grace of Allah toward man.[3]

Etymology[edit]

The word "Imām" denotes a person who stands or walks "in front". For Sunni Islam, the word is commonly used to mean a person who leads the course of prayer in the mosque. It also means the head of a madhhab ("school of thought"). However, from the Shi'i point of view this is merely the basic understanding of the word in the Arabic language and, for its proper religious usage, the word "Imam" is applicable only to those members of the House of the Prophet designated as infallible by the preceding Imam.

Introduction[edit]

The Shia further believe only these A'immah have the right to be Caliphs, meaning that all other caliphs, whether elected by consensus Ijma or not, are usurpers of the Caliphate.
All Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad had said: "To whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is his Mawla." This hadith has been narrated in different ways by many different sources in no less than 45 hadith books[citation needed] of both Sunni and Shia collections. This hadith has also been narrated by the collector of hadiths, al-Tirmidhi, 3713;[citation needed] as well as Ibn Maajah, 121;[citation needed] etc. The major point of conflict between the Sunni and the Shia is in the interpretation of the word 'Mawla'. For the Shia the word means 'Lord and Master' and has the same elevated significance as when the term had been used to address the Prophet himself during his lifetime. Thus, when the Prophet actually (by speech) and physically (by way of having his closest companions including Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman [the three future Caliphs who had preceded Ali as Caliph] publicly accept Ali as their Lord and Master by taking Ali's hand in both of theirs as token of their allegiance to Ali) transferred this title and manner of addressing Ali as the Mawla for all Muslims at Ghadiri Khum Oasis just a few months before his death, the people that came to look upon Ali as Prophet Muhammad's immediate successor even before the Prophet's death came to be known as the Shia. However, for the Sunnis the word simply means the 'beloved' or the 'revered' and has no other significance at all.

Sects[edit]

Within Shia Islam (Shiism), the various sects came into being because they differed over their Imams' successions, just as the Shia - Sunni separation within Islam itself had come into being from the dispute that had arisen over the succession to Prophet Mohammad. Each succession dispute brought forth a different tariqah (literal meaning 'path'; extended meaning 'sect') within Shia Islam. Each Shia tariqah followed its own particular Imam's dynasty, thus resulting in different numbers of Imams for each particular Shia tariqah. When the dynastic line of the separating successor Imam ended with no heir to succeed him, then either he (the last Imam) or his unborn successor was believed to have gone into concealment, that is,The Occultation.
The Shia tariqah with a majority of adherents are the Twelvers who are commonly known as the "Shia". After that come the NizariIsmailis commonly known as the Ismailis; and then come the Mustalian Ismailis commonly known as the "Bohras" with further schisms within their Bohri tariqah. The Druze tariqah (very small in number today) initially were of the Fatimid Ismailis and separated from them (the Fatimid Ismailis) after the death of the Fatimid Imam and Caliph Hakim Bi Amrillah. The Shia Sevener tariqah no longer exists. Another small tariqah is the Zaidi Shias, also known as the Fivers and who do not believe in The Occultation of their last Imam.
Although all these different Shia tariqahs belong to the Shia group (as opposed to the Sunni group) in Islam, there are major doctrinal differences between the main Shia tariqahs. After that there is the complete doctrinal break between all the different Shia tariqahs whose last Imams have gone into Occultation and the Shia Nizari Ismailis who deny the very concept of Occultation. The Shia Nizari Ismailis by definition have to have a present and living Imam until the end of time.[citation needed] Thus if any living Nizari Ismaili Imam fails to leave behind a successor after him then the Nizari Ismailism’s cardinal principle would be broken and it’s very raison d'être would come to an end.

Twelver View[edit]

Main articles: Twelver and The Occultation
Shias believe that Imamah is of the Principles of Faith (Usul al-Din).As the verse 4:165 ofquran expresses the necessity to the appointment of the prophets; so after the demise of the prophet who will play the role of the prophet; till the people have not any plea againstAllah.So the same logic that necessitated the assignment of prophets also is applied for Imamah.That is Allah Must assign someone similar to prophet in his attributes and Ismah as his successor to guid the people without any deviation in religion.[4] They refer to the verse (...This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion...) 5:3 of Quran which was revealed to the prophet when he appointed Ali as hissuccessor at the day of Ghadir Khumm.[5]
By the verse Quran, 2:124, Shias believe that Imamah is a divine position that is just appointed by Allah to whomever he chooses.[6] In Quran, 21:73,32:24, always Imamah is accompanied by the word guidance, of course a guidance by God's Command.A kind of guidance which brings humanity to the goal. Regarding 17:71, no age can be without an Imam. So, according to the upper verse 1.Imamah is a position which is appointed by God and must be specified by Him 2.Imam is protected by a divine protection and no one exceles him in nobility 3. No age can be without an Imam and finally Imam knows everything which is needed for human being to get to the truth and goal.[7]

Why Only (specific) Members of the Prophet's Family[edit]

It is forbidden for the Divine Leader not to be from the family of the Messenger of Allah. According to Ali al-Ridha, since it is obligatory to obey him, there should be a sign to clearly indicate the Divine Leader. That sign is his well-known ties of kinship (with the Prophet Muhammad) and his clear appointment so that the people could distinguish him from others, and be clearly guided toward him.[8][9]Otherwise others are nobler than the Prophet's offspring and they are to be followed and obeyed; and the offspring of the Prophet are obedient and subject to the offspring of the Prophet’s enemies such as Abi Jahl or Ibn Abi Ma’eet. However, the Messenger is much nobler than others to be in charge and to be obeyed.[8][9] Moreover once the prophethood of His Messenger is testified they would obey him, no one would hesitate to follow his offspring and this would not be hard for anyone.[8][9] While to follow the offspring of the corrupted families is difficult. And that is maybe why the basic characteristic of the Prophet Muhammad and other prophets was their nobility. For none of them, it is said, were originated from a disgraced family. It is believed that all Mohammad's ancestors up to Adam were true Muslims. [a] Jesus was also from a pious family, as it is mentioned in Quran that after his birth, people said to Mary: O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."[b]

The period of occultation[edit]

The period of occultation (ghaybat) is divided into two parts:
  • Ghaybat al-Sughra or Minor Occultation (874–941), consists of the first few decades after the Imam's disappearance when communication with him was maintained through deputies of the Imam.
  • Ghaybat al-Kubra or Major Occultation began 941 and is believed to continue until a time decided by God, when the Mahdi will reappear to bring absolute justice to the world.
During the Minor Occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughrá), it is believed that al-Mahdi maintained contact with his followers via deputies (Arab.an-nuwāb al-arbaʻa or "the Four Leaders"). They represented him and acted as agents between him and his followers. Whenever the believers faced a problem, they would write their concerns and send them to his deputy. The deputy would ascertain his verdict, endorse it with his seal and signature and return it to the relevant parties. The deputies also collected zakat and khums on his behalf.
For the Shia, the idea of consulting a hidden Imam was not something new because the two prior Twelver Imams had, on occasion, met with their followers from behind a curtain. Also, during the oppressive rule of the later Abbasid caliphs, the Shia Imams were heavily persecuted and held prisoners, thus their followers were forced to consult their Imams via messengers or secretly.
Shia Tradition hold that four deputies acted in succession to one another:
  1. Uthman ibn Sa’id al-Asadi
  2. Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman
  3. Abul Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti
  4. Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri
In 941 (329 AH), the fourth deputy announced an order by al-Mahdi, that the deputy would soon die and that the deputyship would end and the period of the Major Occultation would begin.
The fourth deputy died six days later and the Shia Muslims continue to await the reappearance of the Mahdi. In the same year, many notable Shia scholars such as Ali ibn Babawayh Qummi and Muhammad ibn Ya'qub Kulayni, the learned compiler of Kitab al-Kafi, also died.
Main article: The Occultation
One view is that the Hidden Imam is on earth "among the body of the Shia" but "incognito." "Numerous stories" exist of the Hidden Imam "manifesting himself to prominent members of the ulama."[11]

Ismaili view[edit]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Part of a series on
Shīa Islam
Isma‘ilism
Ismail lion calligram
Main articles: Isma'ilism, Mustaali, Nizari, Tayyibi and Imamah (Nizari Ismaili doctrine)
The Ismailis differ from Twelvers because they had living imams for centuries after the last Twelver Imam went into concealment. They followed Isma'il ibn Jafar, elder brother of Musa al-Kadhim, as the rightful Imam[12] after his father Ja'far al-Sadiq. The Ismailis believe that whether Imam Ismail did or did not die before Imam Ja'far, he had passed on the mantle of the imamate to his son Muḥammad ibn Ismail as the next imam.[13] Thus, their line of imams is as follows (the years of their individual imamats during the Common Era are given in brackets):
NizārīImāmMustā‘līImāmIsmā'īlī ImāmPeriod
1Asās/WāsīhAli - Mustaali "Foundation" and first Nizārī Imām(632–661)
Pir1Hasan ibn Ali : First Mustaali Imām ; Nizārīs consider him a pir, not an Imām(661–669)Mustā‘lī
22Husayn ibn Ali : Second Ismā'īlī Imām(669–680)Mustā‘lī
(661 - 680)Nizārī
33Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin : Third Ismā'īlī Imām(680–713)
44Muhammad al-Baqir : Fourth Ismā'īlī Imām(713–733)
55Ja'far al-Sadiq : Fifth Ismā'īlī Imām(733–765)
66Isma'il ibn Jafar : Sixth Ismā'īlī Imām(765 - 775)
77Muhammad ibn Ismail : Seventh Ismā'īlī Imām and first distinctly Ismā'īlī (non-Twelver) Imām(775-813)

The Ismā'īlī ʿAqīdah[edit]

According to Ismā‘īlīsm, Allah has sent "seven" great prophets known as “Nātıq” (Spoken) in order to disseminate and improve his Dīn ofIslam. All of these great prophets has also one assistant known as “Sāmad (Silent) Imām”. At the end of each seven “Sāmad” silsila, one great “Nātıq” (Spoken) has ben sent in order to reimprove the Dīn of Islam. After Adam and his son Seth, and after six “Nātıq” (Spoken)– “Sāmad” (Silent) silsila[14] (Noah–Shem), (Abraham–Ishmael), (Moses–Aaron), (Jesus–Simeon), (Muhammad bin ʿAbd Allāh–Ali ibn Abu Tālib); the silsila of “Nātıqs and Sāmads have been completed with (Muhammad bin Ismā‘īl as-ṣaghīr (Maymûn’ûl-Qaddāh[15])–ʿAbd Allāh Ibn-i Maymûn[16] and his sons).

Zaidi view[edit]

Main article: Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyyah or Zaidi is a Shia madhhab (sect, school) named after the imam Zayd ibn Ali. Followers of the Zaidi fiqh are called Zaidis (or are occasionally called Fivers in the West). However, there is also a group called the Zaidi Wasītīs who are Twelvers.

Imams[edit]

The name of Imam as it appears inMasjid Nabawi.

Twelver Imams[edit]

Main article: Imamah (Shia Twelver doctrine)
See also: Twelve Imams
According to the majority of Shī'a, namely the Twelvers (Ithnā'ashariyya), the following is a listing of the rightful successors to Muḥammad. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam except forHussayn ibn 'Alī, who was the brother of Hassan ibn 'Alī.The belief in this succession to Muḥammad stems from various Quranic ayaths which include: 75:36, 13:7, 35:24, 2:30, 2:124, 36:26, 7:142, 42:23. They support their discussion by putting facts from Genesis 17:19–20 and sunni hadeeth:Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4478, English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.[17]

List of The Twelve Imams[edit]

No.Modern (Calligraphic) DepictionName
(Full)
Kunya		Title
Arabic
Turkish[c]		Date of
Birth - Death
(CE/AH).[d]
Place of birth		ImportanceReason & place of death
and place of burial [e]
1Alī.pngAli ibn Abu Talib[f][18]
Abu al-Hasan[g][19]
Amir al-Mu'minin[h][20]
(The Commander of the Faithful)
Birinci Ali[21]		600–661[20] / 23(beforeHijra)–40[22]
Mecca,
Saudi Arabia[20]		The First[23] Imam[18][24] and the rightfulSuccessor of Muhammad[25] of all Shiahowever, the Sunnis acknowledge him as thefourth Caliph as well.[18] He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders(Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[20]Assassinated byAbd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijitein Kufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword while he was praying.[20][26]
Buried in Najaf,[18]Iraq.
2Hassan ibn Ali.jpgHasan ibn Ali[i][18]
Abu Muhammad[j][19]
al-Mūjtabā[k][27]
(The Chosen)
İkinci Ali[21]		625–670[28] / 3–50[18][29]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[28]		He was the eldest surviving grandson ofMuhammad through Muhammad's daughter,Fatimah az-Zahra. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in Kufa, and on the basis of peace treaty with Muawiya I, he relinquished control of Iraq following a reign of seven months.[28]Poisoned by his wife in Medina,Saudi Arabia on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya, according to Twelver Shiite belief.[30]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,[18]Saudi Arabia.[28]
3Hhussain ibn ali.jpgHusayn ibn Ali[l][18]
Abu Abdillah[m][31]
Sayyid ash-Shuhada[n][32]
(Master of the Martyrs)
Üçüncü Ali[21]		626–680[33] / 4–61[18][34]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[35]		He was a grandson of Muhammad and brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Husayn opposed the validity of Caliph Yazid I. As a result, he and his family were later killed in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid's forces.[18] After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Alihas become a central ritual in Shia identity.[35]Killed and beheaded at theBattle of Karbala.[35]
Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine inKarbala,[18][33]Iraq.[35]
4Imam sajjad.jpgAli ibn Husayn[o][36]
Abu Muhammad[p][31][37]
al-Sajjad[q][36]
Zayn al-'Abidin[r][36][38]
(One who constantly Prostrates the Ornament of the Worshippers)
Dördüncü Ali[21]		658/9[38] – 712[39] / 38[36][38]–95[36][39]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[38]		Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya,[36]which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet."[39]According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliphal-Walid I inMedina, Saudi Arabia.[39]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,Saudi Arabia[36]
5Baqir ibn sajjad.jpgMuhammad ibn Ali [s][36]
Abu Ja'far[t][31][40]
Baqir al-Ulum[u][41]
(The Revealer of Knowledge)
Beşinci Ali[21]		677–732[41] / 57–114[36][41]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[41]		Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure.[36][41][42]According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah inMedina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.[39]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,[36]Saudi Arabia.
6Jaffer-e-Sadiq.jpgJa'far ibn Muhammad[v][36]
Abu Abdillah[w][31][36]
as-Sadiq[x][43]
(The Honest)
Altıncı Ali[21]		702–765[36][43] / 83–148[36][43]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[43]		Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence and developed the theology of Twelvers.[36] He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah[36] and Malik ibn Anas infiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam inIslamic theology, and Geber in science andalchemy.[43]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned inMedina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.[43]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina,Saudi Arabia.[36]
7Al-Kazim.jpgMusa ibn Ja'far[y][36]
Abu al-Hasan I[z][31][44]
al-Kazim[aa][45]
(The Calm One)
Yedinci Ali[21]		744–799[36][45] / 128–183[36][45]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[45]		Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq.[46]He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shia community of theMiddle East and the Greater Khorasan. He holds a high position in Mahdavia; the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[47]Imprisoned and poisoned inBaghdad, Iraq on the order of CaliphHarun al-Rashid, according to Shiite belief.[48]
Buried in theKazimayn shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[36][45]
8Al redah.jpgAli ibn Musa[ab][36]
Abu al-Hasan II[ac][31]
[44]
ar-Rida [ad][49]
(The Pleasing One)
Sekizinci Ali[21]		765–817[36][49] / 148–203[36][49]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[49]		Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun,[50]and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[49]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned inMashad, Iran on the order of CaliphAl-Ma'mun.[50]
Buried in the Imam Reza shrine inMashad,Iran.[49][50]
9Imam Taqi.jpgMuhammad ibn Ali[ae][50]
Abu Ja'far [af][31]
al-Taqi [ag][50]
(The God-Fearing)
al-Jawad[ah][51]
(The Generous)
Dokuzuncu Ali[21]		809[50] or 810 –835[50][51] / 195–220[51]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[51]		Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasidcaliphate.[52]Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, inBaghdad, Iraq on the order of CaliphAl-Mu'tasim, according to Shiite sources.[53]
Buried in theKazmain shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[50][51]
10Imam naqi.jpgAli ibn Muhammad[ai][50]
Abu al-Hasan III[aj][31]
[54]
al-Hadi [ak][55]
(The Guide)
al-Naqi [al][50]
(The Pure) 
Onuncu Ali[21]		827–868[50][54] / 212–254[54]
Surayya, a village nearMedina,
Saudi Arabia[54]		He taught religious sciences until 243/857.[50]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 and religious vows.[54]According to Shia sources, he was poisoned inSamarra, Iraq on the order of CaliphAl-Mu'tazz.[56]
Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[50]
11Alaskeri.jpgHasan ibn Ali[am][50]
Abu Muhammad[an][57][58]
al-Askari[ao][50][59]
(The Citizen of a Garrison Town)
Onbirinci Ali[21]		846–874[59] / 232–260[50][59]
Medina,
Saudi Arabia[59]		For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father.[60] Repression of the Shiite population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.[61]According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamidin Samarra,[60]Iraq.
Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[50][60][61]
12Al mehdi.jpgMuhammad ibn al-Hasan[ap][50]
Abu al-Qasim[aq][32]
(The Guided One or The Guide),
(The Proof)
sahib al-Zaman [au][57](The Lord of Our Times)
Sahibu'l-Amr[av][57]
(The one vested with Divine authority)
al-Qa'im[aw][32]
(The one who will rise and fill the universe with the Justice)
Baqiyyat Allah [ax][32]
(God's Remainder)
Onikinci Ali[21]		868–Now[65][65]/ 255 or 256[50] –Now[65]
Samarra,Iraq		According to Twelver Shiite doctrine, he is an actual historical personality and is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Christ. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.[66]According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in theOccultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.[65]

Ismaili Imams[edit]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
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Main article: List of Ismaili imams
The Ismaili line of imams for both sects (the Nizari and the Mustali) continues undivided until Mustansir Billah (d. 1094). After his death the line of the imamat separates into the Nizari and Mustali dynasties.
The line of imams of the Mustali Ismaili Shia Muslims (also known as the Bohras/Dawoodi Bohra) continued up to Aamir ibn Mustali. After his death, they believe their 21st ImamTaiyab abi al-Qasim went into a Dawr-e-Satr (period of concealment) that continues to this day. In the absence of an imam they are led by a Dai-al-Mutlaq (absolute missionary) who manages the affairs of the Imam-in-Concealment until re-emergence of the Imam from concealment. Dawoodi Bohra's present 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq is His Holiness SyednaMufaddal Saifuddin (TUS) who succeeded his predessor the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA). Furthermore there has been a split in theDawoodi Bohra sect which has led to the formation of Qutbi Bohra sect which was formed and led by Khuzaima Qutbuddin.
The line of imams of the Nizari Ismaili Shia Muslims (also known as the Agha-khani Ismailis in South and Central Asia) continues to their present living 49th hereditary imam, Aga Khan IV (son of Prince Aly Khan). They are the only Shia Muslim community today led by a present and living (Hazir wa Mawjud) imam.[67]
See also: Mustali, Hafizi and Nizari

Zaidi Imams[edit]

Main article: Imams of Yemen
The Zaidi branch of Shi'ism established its own line of Imams starting in the year 897; the line continued without interruption until 1962 when the North Yemen Civil War brought the Imamate to an end and established a republic.

Sunni view on shia imāmate[edit]

The Twelver's imāmology is not shared by Sunnis. The Syrian mufti Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728/1328) composed a long refutation of it in his "Minhāj al-Sunnat al-Nabawiyya".[68]
Further information: Minhaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah and Taqi ad-Din Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah
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