Imamat

Qualities of the Imams

• The Imams were given divine wisdom (aql) and
knowledge (hikmah)
• They suffered for the sake of religion and their
sufferings were a means of divine grace to their
devotees
• He had a close relationship with God, through
which God guides him, and the Imam in turn
guides the people.
• 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

Belief in Imamate
• Belief in Imamat, the divinely appointed leadership after the
death of the Holy Prophet is an integral part of Shi’te faith
• Only Ali & the Prophet’s descendents can be Imams
• Their role is to protect and guide mankind with the revealed
Truth, the Holy Qur'an and the true practices of the Holy
Prophet himself
• They play an integral part in the protection of all the
Messengers and their divine Messages
• Allah appointed them through the Holy Prophet himself to
protect mankind from misrepresenting and misinterpreting
the Truth
• Imams have direct knowledge from God, and their verdict is
the verdict of God

Qualities of the Imams
• Only the 12 Imams are the spiritual and political successors to the
Prophet
• Each of them is an infallible human individual
• Only he is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its real
meaning
• The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds are a guide and model
for the community to follow
• They are free from error and sin
• Chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet
• It is believed by Twelver Shi'a Muslims that the Twelve Imams were
foretold in the Hadith of the Twelve Successors: "The (Islamic)
religion will continue until the Hour (day of resurrection), having
twelve Caliphs for you, all of them will be from Quraysh."


• The Imams were given divine wisdom (aql) and
knowledge (hikmah)
• They suffered for the sake of religion and their
sufferings were a means of divine grace to their
devotees
• He had a close relationship with God, through
which God guides him, and the Imam in turn
guides the people.
• 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

List of the 12 Imams
1. ‘Alī ibn Abu Talib
2. Hassan ibn ‘Alī
3. Husayn ibn ‘Alī
4. ‘Alī ibn al-Hussein
5. Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī
6. Ja'far ibn Muḥammad
7. Musa ibn Ja'far
8. ‘Alī ibn Musa
9. Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī
10. ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad
11. Hassan ibn ‘Alī
12. Muḥammad ibn al-
Hassan