Imam
From Wikipedia, the free 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 origins in the Islamic tradition for, especially in Shi'a beliefs. In first few centuries of Islam, it was used to refer to the Caliph in both Sunni and Shia religious text. It is also an honorific title; for example "Imam Abu Hanifa" could arguably be translated as "the honorable/leader father of Hanifa."
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[edit] Prayer leader
The 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.
[edit] Clerical "Imams"
[edit] Shi'a "Imams"
In the Shi'a context, Imam has a meaning more central to belief. The Shi'a believe that The Imam is someone who is able to lead mankind in all aspects of life. In addition, Shi'a believe that an Imam is a perfect example in everything. According to the Shi'a, an Imam is a leader that must be followed since he is appointed by Allah (God).
The Islamic Prophet Mohammed informed that the numbers of Imams after him are twelve, as the compilers of Sahih Hadith have narrated it.
In Sahih Muslim the Prophet Muhammad said: "The Islamic religion will continue until the Hour (day of resurrection), having twelve Imams for you, all of them will be from Quraysh.” and also "He who does not know the Imam of his time dies the death of an un-believer."
[edit] Sunni "imams"
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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). It may also refer to the imams of the sciences related to Hadith 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 [1].
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.
However, there are some people whom Sunnis call "Imams" who aren't prayer leaders. They aren't Imams in the Shi'a sense of the word, but they are those who started the 4 Sunni Madhabs. List:
an-Nasaf writes:
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Imamate: The Vicegerency of the Prophet referencing at-Taftazani: Sharh 'Aqa'idi'n-Nasafi, p.185.
[edit] External links
- www.ShiaCode.com
- Detailed description of the Shiite belief
- Graphical illustration of the Shia sects
- List of Sunni Imams
- The Imam Movie
