Twelve Imams

The Twelve Imams are central spiritual and political successors in Twelver Shia Islam.

This belief system includes branches like the Alawite and Alevi traditions. According to Twelver theology, these twelve individuals are exemplary human beings. They are expected to rule the community with justice. They also possess the ability to interpret the Quran and the sharia, which is Islamic law. Most importantly, followers believe the Imams are free from error and sin. This quality is known as ismah, or infallibility. They are not self-appointed leaders. Instead, they are chosen by divine decree through the prophet Muhammad.

The concept of Imamah is a fundamental part of Twelver doctrine. It is based on the idea that God would not leave humanity without divine guidance. This guidance is often referred to as Hikmah, or special wisdom. The Imams are believed to be guided by preserved sacred texts. These include al-Jafr, al-Jamia, and unaltered versions of the Torah and Gospel. Twelvers hold that there is always an Imam present in every era. This Imam serves as the divinely appointed authority for all matters of faith and law. Their lives and teachings serve as a model for the entire Muslim community.

The succession began with Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad.

Ali is considered the rightful successor in the Twelver view. Most Imams were the sons of the previous Imam in a direct line. However, there was one exception in this lineage. The third Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, was the brother of the second Imam, Hasan ibn Ali. This lineage of Imams is also highly significant to many Sufi orders. Most Sufi spiritual chains, or Silsila, lead back to Muhammad through one of these Imams.

Many of the Imams faced significant hardship and persecution. In fact, all of the first eleven Imams were assassinated. The first Imam, Ali, was struck with a poisoned sword while praying in Kufa, Iraq. The second Imam, Hasan, was poisoned in Madinah. The third Imam, Husayn, was killed and beheaded during the Battle of Karbala. This specific event became a central part of Shia identity. Other Imams, such as Ali ibn Husayn, survived battles due to illness. Many others, including the sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, and eleventh Imams, were poisoned. These deaths often occurred under the orders of various caliphs.

Each Imam had a unique role and contribution to the faith. For example, the fifth Imam, Muhammad ibn Ali, was a very eminent legal scholar. The sixth Imam, Ja'far ibn Muhammad, established the Ja'fari jurisprudence. He also developed much of the Twelver theology used today. The seventh Imam, Musa ibn Ja'far, established a network of agents to collect khums, which is a religious tax. The eighth Imam, Ali ibn Musa, was famous for debating religious scholars. The tenth Imam, Ali ibn Muhammad, worked to strengthen the network of deputies within the community. These leaders provided structure and knowledge during difficult times.

Specific details about their lives vary across the different Imams. The first Imam, Ali, is uniquely believed by Twelvers to have been born in the Ka'bah. The fourth Imam, Ali ibn Husayn, authored the Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, known as the Psalm of the Household of the Prophet. The ninth Imam, Muhammad al-Jawad, was noted for his piety during the Abbasid caliphate. Even the eleventh Imam, Hasan ibn Ali, faced heavy restrictions from the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu'tamid. These historical details show the intense political and religious pressure the Imams faced. Their suffering is often viewed by devotees as a means of divine grace.

The lineage concludes with the twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. Unlike the others, he is believed to be currently alive. Twelver and Alevi Muslims believe he has been in the Major Occultation since the year 874. This means he is hidden from the sight of the world. It is believed he will eventually return to the earth. Upon his return, he is expected to work alongside the prophet Isa, or Jesus. His mission will be to reestablish rightful governance and bring justice and peace to the whole world. This belief connects the history of the Imams to a future hope for all humanity.