Imam
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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 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, they 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).
Besides the concept of Imamah, some Twelver Shi'a honor Ayatollah Khomeini with the title "Imam", while other Twelvers object to that use, arguing that the Twelver connotation makes it wrong to give the title to someone else while the twelfth Imam, Imam Mahdi, is the current Imam.
The Islamic Prophet Mohammed informed that the numbers of Imams after him are twelve, as the compilers of Sihah and Masanid have narrated it.
In Sahih Muslim the Islamic Prophet Mohammed said: "The Islamic religion will continue until the Hour (day of resurrection), having twelve Imams for you, all of them will be from Quraysh.”
[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 as does 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.
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an-Nasaf writes:
| The Muslims cannot do without an Imam who shall occupy himself with the enforcing of their decisions, and in implementing their hudud (penal code) and guarding their frontiers, and equipping their armies, and receiving their alms, and putting down robberies and thieving and highwayman, and maintaining the Friday and 'id prayers, and removing quarrels that fall between people, and receiving evidence bearing on legal claims, and marrying minors who have no guardians and dividing booty [2]. |
[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 - The Guide to Heaven (www.shiacode.com)
