Twelve Imams

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The Twelve Imams (

Alevi.[1]

According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemplary human individuals who not only rule over the community with justice, but also are able to keep and interpret sharia and the esoteric meaning of the Quran. The words and deeds of Muhammad and the imams are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin (known as ismah, or infallibility) and must be chosen by divine decree through Muhammad.[2][3]

Imamah

Main article:
Imamate (Twelver doctrine)

It is believed in

al-Jamia, and unaltered past books the Torah and Injeel. Imamat, or belief in the divine guide, is a fundamental belief in the Twelver Shia doctrine and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.[6]

According to Twelvers, there is at all times an Imam of the era who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community.

Hadith of the 12 accomplishers
. All of the Imams met unnatural deaths, with the exception of the last Imam who, according to Twelver and Alevi belief, is living in occultation.

Some of the Imams also have a leading role within some Sufi orders and are seen as the spiritual heads of Islam,[citation needed] because most of the Silsila (spiritual chain) of Sufi orders leads back to Muhammad through one of the Twelve Imams.[citation needed]

List

Number Name
Kunya
Arabic title
Persian title
Turkish title[7]
 Lived (CE)
Lived (AH)[8]
Place of birth 		Age when assumed Imamat Age at death Duration of Imamat Importance Reason & place of death
Place of burial[9]
1 Ali ibn Abi Talib
ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ ٱبْن أَبِي طَالِب عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Hasan
أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن
  • ʾAmīr al-Muʾminīn
    (أَمِير ٱلْمُؤْمِنِين)
    (Commander of the Faithful)[10]
  • al-Murtaḍā
    (ٱلْمُرْتَضَىٰ)
    (The Beloved)
  • al-Waṣīy
    (ٱلْوَصِيّ)
    (The Successor)
  • al-Walīy
    (ٱلْوَلِيّ)
    (The Wali)
  • al-Haydar
    (حيدر)
    (The Lion)
  • Sheer-e-Khuda
    (شیر خدا)
    (The Lion of God)
  • Shah-e-Mardan
    (شاه مردان)
    (The King of the Brave)
Birinci Ali[11]
 599–661[10]
23 (before
Hijra)–40[12]
Hijaz[10]
 33 61 28 Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. According to Twelver Shia belief he was the only person to have been born in the
Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[10]
 Assassinated by
Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq
.
2 Hasan ibn Ali
ٱلْإِمَام ٱلْحَسَن ٱبْن عَلِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Muhammad
أَبُو مُحَمَّد
  • al-Mujtabā
    (ٱلْمُجْتَبَىٰ)
    (The Chosen)
  • Sibṭ an-Nabīy
    (سِبْط ٱلنَّبِيّ)
    (Grandchild of the Prophet)
İkinci Ali[11] 		625–670[14]
3–50[15]
Hijaz[14]
 39 47 8 He was the eldest surviving grandson of
Muawiyah, he relinquished control of Iraq following a Caliphate of seven months.[14]
 Poisoned by his
Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia
.
3 Husayn ibn Ali
ٱلْإِمَام ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱبْن عَلِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Abdillah
أَبُو عَبْد ٱللَّٰه
  • Sayyid ash-Shuhadāʾ
    (سَيِّد ٱلشُّهَدَاء)
    (Master of the Martyrs)
  • al-Maẓlūm
    (ٱلْمَظْلُوم)
    (The Tyrannized)
  • Sibṭ an-Nabīy
    (سِبْط ٱلنَّبِيّ)
    (Grandchild of the Prophet)
Üçüncü Ali[11] 		626–680[17]
4–61[18]
Hijaz[17]
 46 57 11 He was a grandson of
commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become central to Shia identity.[17]
 Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.
Buried at the Imam Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq.[17]
4
Ali ibn Husayn

ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ ٱبْن ٱلْحُسَيْن ٱلسَّجَّاد عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Muhammad
أَبُو مُحَمَّد
  • as-Sajjād
    (ٱلسَّجَّاد)
    (The Consistently Prostrating)
  • Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn
    (زَيْن ٱلْعَابِدِين)
    (Ornament of the Worshippers)[19]
Dördüncü Ali[11] 		658/9[19] – 712[20]
38[19]–95[20]
Hijaz[19]
 23 57 34 Author of prayers in
Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet."[20]
He survived the Battle of Karbala because he was told not to participate due to a debilitating illness. 		He was poisoned on the order of Caliph
Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia
.
5 Muhammad ibn Ali
ٱلْإِمَام مُحَمَّد ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْبَاقِر عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Ja'far
أَبُو جَعْفَر
  • Bāqir al-ʿUlūm
    (بَاقِر ٱلْعُلُوم)
    (The Opener of Knowledge)[21]
Beşinci Ali[11] 		677–732[21]
57–114[21]
Hijaz[21]
 38 57 19 Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure.[21][22] He was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in
Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia
.
6
Ja'far ibn Muhammad
ٱلْإِمَام جَعْفَر ٱبْن مُحَمَّد ٱلصَّادِق عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Abdillah[23]

أَبُو عَبْد ٱللَّٰه
  • aṣ-Ṣādiq[24]
    (ٱلصَّادِق)
    (The Honest)
Altıncı Ali[11] 		702–765[24]
83–148[24]
Hijaz[24]
 31 65 34 Established the
Abu Hanifah and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Jabir ibn Hayyan in science and alchemy.[24]
 He was poisoned in
Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia
.
7 Musa ibn Ja'far
ٱلْإِمَام مُوسَىٰ ٱبْن جَعْفَر ٱلْكَاظِم عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Hasan I
أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْأَوَّل[25]
  • al-Kāẓim[26]
    (ٱلْكَاظِم)
    (The Confined)
Yedinci Ali[11] 		744–799[26]
128–183[26]
Hijaz[26]
 20 55 35 Leader of the Shia community during the schism of
Mahdavia; the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[28]
 Imprisoned and poisoned in
Al-Kazimiyah Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq.[26]
8 Ali ibn Musa
ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُوسَىٰ ٱلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Hasan II
أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلثَّانِي[25]
  • ar-Riḍā[29]
    (ٱلرِّضَا)
    (The Pleasing)
Sekizinci Ali[11] 		765–817[29]
148–203[29]
Hijaz[29]
 35 55 20 Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[29] He was poisoned in
Mashad, Iran.[29]
9 Muhammad ibn Ali
ٱلْإِمَام مُحَمَّد ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْجَوَّاد عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu Ja'far
أَبُو جَعْفَر
  • al-Jawwād[30]
    (ٱلْجَوَّاد)
    (The Generous)
  • at-Taqīy[30]
    (ٱلتَّقِيّ)
    (The God-Fearing)
Dokuzuncu Ali[11] 		810–835[30]
195–220[30]
Hijaz[30]
 8 25 17 Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the
Abbasid caliphate
. 		Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in
Al-Kazimiyah Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq.[30]
10 Ali ibn Muhammad
ٱلْإِمَام عَلِيّ ٱبْن مُحَمَّد ٱلْهَادِي عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Hasan III
أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلثَّالِث[31]
  • al-Hādī[31]
    (ٱلْهَادِي)
    (The Guide)
  • an-Naqīy[31]
    (ٱلنَّقِيّ)
    (The Pure)
Onuncu Ali[11] 		827–868[31]
212–254[31]
Surayya, a village near
Hijaz[31]
 8 42 34 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.[31] He was poisoned in
Al Askari Mosque
in Samarra, Iraq.
11 Hasan ibn Ali
ٱلْإِمَام ٱلْحَسَن ٱبْن عَلِيّ ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Mahdi
أَبُو ٱلْمَهْدِيّ
  • al-ʿAskarīy[33]
    (ٱلْعَسْكَرِيّ)
    (The Garrison Town One)
Onbirinci Ali[11] 		846–874[33]
232–260[33]
Hijaz[33]
 22 28 6 For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father. Repression of the Shia population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.[34] He was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra, Iraq.
Buried in Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[35]
12
Hujjat Allah ibn al-Hasan

ٱلْإِمَام حُجَّة ٱللَّٰه ٱبْن ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْمَهْدِيّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَام
Abu al-Qasim
أَبُو ٱلْقَاسِم
Onikinci Ali[11] 		869–present[39]
255–present[39]
Samarra, Iraq[39] 		5 unknown present According to Twelver Shia doctrine, he is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with the prophet Isa (Jesus). He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and establish justice and peace in the whole earth.[40] According to Twelver Shia doctrine, he has been living in the
Occultation since 874, and will continue as long as God wills.[39]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Olsson, Ozdalga & Raudvere 2005, p. 65
  2. ^ Tabataba'i 1977, p. 10
  3. ^ Momen 1985, p. 174
  4. ^ Tabataba'i 1977, p. 15
  5. ^ Corbin 2014, pp. 45–51
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-02-865604-0
    .
  7. Alevi
    , a fringe Twelver group, who make up around 10% of the world Shia population. The titles for each Imam literally translate as "First Ali", "Second Ali", and so forth. Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. Gale Group. 2004.
    ISBN 978-0-02-865769-1. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help
    )
  8. ^ The abbreviation CE refers to the Common Era solar calendar, while AH refers to the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar.
  9. ^ Except Twelfth Imam
  10. ^ a b c d e Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. "Ali". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-0-02-865769-1. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help
    )
  12. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.190–192
  13. ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.192
  14. ^ a b c Madelung, Wilferd. "ḤASAN B. ʿALI B. ABI ṬĀLEB". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  15. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.194–195
  16. ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.195
  17. ^ a b c d Madelung, Wilferd. "ḤOSAYN B. ʿALI". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  18. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.196–199
  19. ^ a b c d Madelung, Wilferd. "ʿALĪ B. ḤOSAYN B. ʿALĪ B. ABĪ ṬĀLEB, ZAYN-AL-ʿĀBEDĪN". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  20. ^ a b c d e Tabatabae (1979), p.202
  21. ^ a b c d e Madelung, Wilferd. "BĀQER, ABŪ JAʿFAR MOḤAMMAD". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  22. ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.203
  23. ^ "JAʿFAR AL-ṢĀDEQ, ABU ʿABD-ALLĀH". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Tabatabae (1979), p.203–204
  25. ^ a b Madelung, Wilferd. "ʿALĪ AL-REŻĀ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  26. ^ a b c d e Tabatabae (1979), p.205
  27. ^ Tabatabae (1979) p. 78
  28. ^ Sachedina 1988, pp. 53–54
  29. ^ a b c d e f Tabatabae (1979), pp.205–207
  30. ^ a b c d e f Tabatabae (1979), p. 207
  31. ^ a b c d e f g Madelung, Wilferd. "ʿALĪ AL-HĀDĪ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  32. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.208–209
  33. ^ a b c d Halm, H. "ʿASKARĪ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  34. ^ Tabatabae (1979) pp. 209–210
  35. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.209–210
  36. ^ "THE CONCEPT OF MAHDI IN TWELVER SHIʿISM". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  37. ^ "ḠAYBA". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  38. ^ "Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujjah". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  39. ^ a b c d Tabatabae (1979), pp.210–211
  40. ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp. 211–214

References

External links

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