Shi'a Imam
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The Imam (Arabic:إمام) is an Islamic term meaning Leader. Shi'a give the word a different meaning to it than the Sunnis.
Within Shi'ism, there are various sects that differ over the number of Imams, or path of succession. The issue of who is the rightful Imam has led to the growth of numerous sects within Shi'ism including: Twelvers (with Shaykhís), Ismailis (Seveners), Zaidis (Fivers), Alawites, Alevites, Druze, Ahl-e Haqq and others.
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Twelver view
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.
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (600 CE-661 CE)
- Hasan ibn Ali (625-669)
- Husayn ibn Ali (626-680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (658-713), also known as Zayn al-Abidin
- Muhammad al-Baqir (676-743)
- Jafar al-Sadiq (703-765)
- Musa al-Kazim (745-799)
- Ali al-Rida (765-818) also known as Ali al-Reza
- Muhammad al-Taqi (810-835)also known as Muhammad Al-Jawad
- Ali al-Hadi (827-868) also known as Ali al-Naqi
- Hasan al-Askari (846-874)
- Muhammad al-Mahdi (b. 868)
Ismaili view
The Ismailis believe that the first five of the first six Imams listed above are the rightful successors of Muhammad, but differ as to the seventh, believing that Ismail bin Jafar was the rightful successor, and not his brother Musa al-Kazim. From Ismail bin Jafar, the Ismaili line of Imams diverges to the descendants of Ismail, from whom the Aga Khans claim descent and their continuity. See [1].
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (600 CE-661 CE)
- Husayn ibn Ali (626-680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (658-713), also known as Zayn al-Abidin
- Muhammad al-Baqir (676-743)
- Jafar al-Sadiq (703-765)
- Ismail bin Jafar
It is important to note that Hasan ibn Ali is not counted as Imam by the Ismailis on the ground that continuation of the Imamate can only occure from the current Imam to a male decendant. Since Hasan and Husayn were siblings, the Imamate could not pass from one of them to the other.
Zaidi view
The Zaidis believe that the first four Imams listed above are the rightful successors of Muhammad, but differ as to the fifth. The Zaidis believe that Zayd bin Ali, and not his brother Muhammad al-Baqir was the rightful successor to the Imamah. The Imamah, for Zaidis, is thus transferred from Zayd bin Ali to the other Imams who followed him; they often took the title of caliph. Unusually, the Zaidi caliphate was not hereditary, although the caliph has to be descended from Ali.
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (600 CE-661 CE)
- Hasan ibn Ali (625-669)
- Husayn ibn Ali (626-680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (658-713), also known as Zayn al-Abidin
- Zayd ibn Ali (d. 740)
Important: Not All Zaidis believe that Zaid was the true Imam. Zaidis known as Wastis believe in the Twelwe Imams. They are part of Shi'a Ithna Ashari. Most of them settled in India and Pakistan. The biggest group of Zaidis having their belief in the Twelve Shi'a Imams is known as Saadat-e-Bahra. Saadat means descendants of Husayn ibn Ali and Bahra means "twelve" in the Hindi and Urdu Languages.
Saadat-e-Bahra's biggest gathering is in Karachi, Pakistan and Muzaffarnagar, India.
See also
External links
- Graphical illustration of the Shia sects
- History of Imams from the "Aga Khani" point of view
- Twelve Successorsar:أئمة الشيعة
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