Imam
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. It is also a
Honorific title, for example
Imam Abu Hanifa could be arguably translated as "The honorable/leader father of Hanifa"
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.
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 Shi'a, an Imam is a leader that
must be followed since he is appointed by
Allah (God).
Beside from the concept of Imamah, some
twelver Shi'a honour
Ayatollah Khomeini with the title "Imam", while others twelvers object to that use, arguing that the twelver conotation makes it wrong to give the title to somone else while the twelfth Imam, Imam
Mahdi is the current Imam.
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 [
1]. Or the heads of the Prophet's descendants in their times such as Imam Ali, Imam Hasan, Imam Hussein, and Imam
Jafar Sadiq. In other words, "Imam Ali" is a phrase used by both Shi'a and Sunni, although used with different conotations.
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. So it is not Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim,...and so on. Its Sheikh Bukhari and Sheikh Muslim....and so on.
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Shia Imam*
Women as imams*
The Shia Islamic Guide / Imam Stories (shiacode.com)
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Detailed description of the Shiite belief*
Graphical illustration of the Shia sects
