Imam
From Free net encyclopedia
Imam (Arabic: إمام , Persian: امام ) is an Arabic word meaning "Leader". The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. However, the capitalized term or The Imam (Arabic: الإمام) has important connotations in the Islamic tradition especially in Shia Beliefs .
Contents |
Prayer Leader
The common everyday use of the word is for a person leading the Muslim congregational prayers, salah. In this meaning the imam is not required to be a cleric.
Clerical "Imams"
Shia "Imams"
In the Shia context, Imam has a meaning more central to belief.
The Shia believe that The Imam is someone who is able to lead mankind in all aspects of life. In addition they believe that an Imam is a perfect example in everything. According to Shia, an Imam is a leader that must be followed since he is appointed by Allah (God).
The Shia interpretation is that the Quran clearly says that only God can appoint an Imam and no one else has the power to designate one. The incident of Ghadeer-e-Khum is referenced as when Muhammad declared Ali as the leader of the community after him.
According to the Twelve-Imam Shiite, Imam is a divine status like Prophethood. A Prophet can also be an Imam but not all Prophets are Imams. Since Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet, there could be no Prophets after him and so the 12 Imams are not Prophets but only Imams. These 12 Imams are as great in a sense as all the previous prophets except Prophet Muhammed who is the greatest of all. Following is a listing of the rightful successors of Muhammad, as recognized by ("Twelver") Shias. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, except for Husayn who was the brother of Hasan and Ali being Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. The Shi'a argue that is in Honor of the Muhammed that God made the Imams of his lineage through Fatima and it is not a simple inheritance like a kingdom. See Shia Imams for details.
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661)
- Hasan ibn Ali (625–669)
- Husayn ibn Ali (626–680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Zainul Abideen
- Muhammad al Baqir (676–743)
- Jafar as Sadiq (703–765)
- Musa al Kazim (745–799)
- Ali ar Rida (765–818)
- Muhammad at Taqi (810–835)
- Ali al Hadi (827–868)
- Hasan al Askari (846–874)
- Muhammad al Mahdi (868–?))
The Ismailis trace a different line of Imams, branching at one of Husayn's descendants, Ismail bin Jafar.
The Zaiddiyah trace a different line, branching at Husayn's grandson, Zaid ibn Ali.
Sunni "Imams"
The term is also used for a recognized religious leader or teacher in Islam, often for the founding scholars of the four Sunni madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh). For example, Imam Abu Hanifa. Or the Imams of the sciences related to Hadith such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Abu Dawood. Or the heads of the Prophet's descendants in their times such as Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hussein, and Imam Jafar Sadiq.
Theocratical "Imams"
In a few historical cases, the title of imam was used for a de facto Muslim theocratic ruler, especially sectarian, sort of a mini-caliph or Mahdi; notably :
See also
External links
da:Imam de:Imam es:Imán (religión) eo:Imamo fa:امام fr:Imam ko:이맘 id:Imam is:Imam it:Imam he:אימאם ka:იმამი nl:Imam ja:イマーム no:Imam pl:Imam pt:Imam ru:Имам sk:Imám sl:Imamiti fi:Imaami sv:Imam th:อิมาม tr:İmam zh:阿訇
Categories: Islam | Imams | Arabic words