Twelve Imams
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The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Twelver or Ithna-‘ashariyyah branch of Shia Islam and in Alevi Islam.[1] According to the theology of Twelvers, the Twelve Imams are infallible human individuals who not only ruled over the community with justice, but also were able to keep and interpret sharia and the esoteric meaning of the Quran. Muhammad and Imams' words and deeds are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet.[2][3] It is believed by Twelver Shia Muslims that the Twelve Imams were foretold in the Hadith of the Twelve Successors.
It is believed in Twelver and Ismaili Shia Islam that ‘aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge called ḥikmah and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees.[1][4][5] Although the Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, he had a close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the Imam in turn guides the people. The Imams were also guided by secret texts in their possession, such as al-Jafr and al-Jamia. Imamate, or belief in the divine guide is a fundamental belief in the Twelver and Ismaili Shia branches and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.[6]
According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the Age, who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. Ali was the first of the Twelve Imams, and, in the Twelvers' view, the rightful successor to Muhammad, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the brother of Hasan ibn Ali.[1] The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and hidden in the Major Occultation until he returns to bring justice to the world.[6] All of the Imams met unnatural deaths, with the exception of the last Imam.
List of Imams
| Number | Modern (Calligraphic) Depiction | Name (Full/Kunya) |
Title (Arabic/Turkish)[7] |
Date of Birth Death (CE/AH)[8] |
Importance | Place of birth | Reason & place of death and place of burial[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Ali ibn Abu Talib علي بن أبي طالب Abu al-Hasan أبو الحسن |
Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful)[10]
Birinci Ali[11] |
600–661[10] 23(before Hijra)–40[12] |
The First Imam and the rightful Successor of Muhammad of all Shia; however, the Sunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[10] | Mecca, Saudi Arabia[10] |
Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite in Kufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword while he was praying.[10][13] Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq. |
| 2 |  |
|
Hasan ibn Ali حسن بن علي Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Mūjtabā
İkinci Ali[11] |
624–670[14]
3–50[15] |
He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad through Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah az-Zahra. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in Kufa, and on the basis of peace treaty with Muawiya I, he relinquished control of Iraq following a reign of seven months.[16] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[14] |
Poisoned by his wife in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya, according to Twelver Shiite belief.[17] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 3 | 
|
Husayn ibn Ali حسین بن علي Abu Abdillah أبو عبدالله |
Sayyid ash-Shuhada
Üçüncü Ali[11] |
626–680[18]
4–61[19] |
He was a grandson of Muhammad and brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Husayn opposed the validity of Caliph Yazid I. As a result, he and his family were later killed in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid's forces. After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a central ritual in Shia identity.[18][20] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[18] |
Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.[18] Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. |
| 4 | 
|
Ali ibn Husayn علي بن الحسین Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Sajjad, Zayn al-'Abidin
Dördüncü Ali[11] |
658/9[21] – 712[22]
38[21]–95[22] |
Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet."[22] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[21] |
According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[22] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 5 | 
|
Muhammad ibn Ali محمد بن علي Abu Ja'far أبو جعفر |
Baqir al-Ulum
Beşinci Ali[11] |
677–732[23]
57–114[23] |
Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure.[23][24] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[23] |
According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.[22] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 6 | 
|
Ja'far ibn Muhammad جعفر بن محمد Abu Abdillah أبو عبدالله |
as-Sadiq[25]
Altıncı Ali[11] |
702–765[25]
83–148[25] |
Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence and developed the theology of Twelvers. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Geber in science and alchemy.[25][26] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[25] |
According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.[25] Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 7 | 
|
Musa ibn Ja'far موسی بن جعفر Abu al-Hasan I أبو الحسن الاول[27] |
al-Kazim[28]
Yedinci Ali[11] |
744–799[28]
128–183[28] |
Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq.[29] He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shia community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan. He holds a high position in Mahdavia; the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[30] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[28] |
Imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, according to Shiite belief. Buried in the Kazimayn shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[28] |
| 8 |
|
Ali ibn Musa علي بن موسی Abu al-Hasan II أبو الحسن الثانی[27] |
ar-Rida, Reza[31]
Sekizinci Ali[11] |
765–817[31]
148–203[31] |
Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[31] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[31] |
According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Mashad, Iran on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad, Iran.[31] |
| 9 | 
|
Muhammad ibn Ali محمد بن علي Abu Ja'far أبو جعفر |
al-Taqi, al-Jawad[32]
Dokuzuncu Ali[11] |
810–835[32]
195–220[32] |
Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate. | Medina, Saudi Arabia[32] |
Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim, according to Shiite sources. Buried in the Kazmain shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[32] |
| 10 | 
|
Ali ibn Muhammad علي بن محمد Abu al-Hasan III أبو الحسن الثالث[33] |
al-Hadi, al-Naqi[33]
Onuncu Ali[11] |
827–868[33]
212–254[33] |
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.[33] | Surayya, a village near Medina, Saudi Arabia[33] |
According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Samarra, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.[34] Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq. |
| 11 | 
|
Hasan ibn Ali الحسن بن علي Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Askari[35]
Onbirinci Ali[11] |
846–874[35]
232–260[35] |
For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu'tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father. Repression of the Shiite population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.[36] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[35] |
According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra, Iraq. Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[37] |
| 12 | 
|
Muhammad ibn al-Hasan محمد بن الحسن Abu al-Qasim أبو القاسم |
al-Mahdi, Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah[38]
Onikinci Ali[11] |
868–unknown[39]
255–unknown[39] |
According to Twelver Shiite doctrine, he is an actual historical personality and is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Christ. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.[40] | Samarra, Iraq[39] | According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.[39] |
See also
- Ahl al-Bayt
- Alevi
- Bektashi
- Hadith of the Twelve Successors
- The Fourteen Infallibles
- Imamah (Shia Twelver doctrine)
- Islamic leadership
- Shia Islam
- Succession to Muhammad
- Sufism
- Twelvers
- Wali
Footnotes
- ^ a b c "Shi'ite". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
- ^ Nasr (1979), p.10
- ^ Momen (1985), p.174
- ^ Nasr (1979), p.15
- ^ Corbin (1993), pp.45–51
- ^ a b Gleave, Robert. "Imamate". Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world; vol.1. MacMillan. ISBN 0-02-865604-0.
- ^ The Imam's Arabic titles are used by the majority of Twelver Shia who use Arabic as a liturgical language, including the Usooli, Akhbari, Shaykhi, and to a lesser extent Alawi. Turkish titles are generally used by 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) - ^ The abbreviation CE refers to the Common Era solar calendar, while AH refers to the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar.
- ^ Except Twelfth Imam
- ^ a b c d e Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. "Ali". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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) - ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.190–192
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.192
- ^ a b "Hasan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.194–195
- ^ Madelung, Wilferd. "ḤASAN B. ʿALI B. ABI ṬĀLEB". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.195
- ^ a b c d "al-Husayn". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.196–199
- ^ Madelung, Wilferd. "ḤOSAYN B. ʿALI". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
- ^ a b c d Madelung, Wilferd. "'ALÈ B. AL-HUOSAYN". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ a b c d e Tabatabae (1979), p.202
- ^ a b c d e Madelung, Wilferd. "AL-BAQER, ABU JAFAR MOHAMMAD". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), p.203
- ^ a b c d e f Tabatabae (1979), p.203–204
- ^ "Wasil ibn Ata". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ a b Madelung, Wilferd. "'ALÈ AL-HAÚDÈ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
- ^ a b c d e Tabatabae (1979), p.205
- ^ Tabatabae (1979) p. 78
- ^ Sachedina (1988), pp.53–54
- ^ a b c d e f Tabatabae (1979), pp.205–207
- ^ a b c d e Tabatabae (1979), p. 207
- ^ a b c d e f Madelung, Wilferd. "'ALÈ AL-HAÚDÈ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.208–209
- ^ a b c d Halm, H. "'ASKARÈ". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Tabatabae (1979) pp. 209–210
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp.209–210
- ^ "Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujjah". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ a b c d Tabatabae (1979), pp.210–211
- ^ Tabatabae (1979), pp. 211–214
References
- Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Encyclopædia Iranica. Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University. ISBN 1-56859-050-4.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Martin, Richard C. Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world; vol.1. MacMillan. ISBN 0-02-865604-0.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - 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) - Corbin, Henry (1993 (original French 1964)). History of Islamic Philosophy, Translated by Liadain Sherrard, Philip Sherrard. London; Kegan Paul International in association with Islamic Publications for The Institute of Ismaili Studies. ISBN 0-7103-0416-1.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Momen, Moojan (1985). An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelve. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-03531-4.
- Sachedina, Abdulaziz Abdulhussein (1988). The Just Ruler (al-sultān Al-ʻādil) in Shīʻite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0-19-511915-0.
- Tabatabae, Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn (1979). Shi'ite Islam. SUNY press. ISBN 0-87395-272-3.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
- A brief introduction of Twelve Imams
- A Brief History Of The Lives Of The Twelve Imams a chapter of Shi'ite Islam by Allameh Tabatabaei
- The Twelve Imams Taken From "A Shi'ite Anthology" By Allameh Tabatabaei
- A Short History of the Lives of The Twelve Imams