View source for Imamate in Shia doctrine

{{Short description|Doctrine of Shia Islam}}

{{For|the turban that Muslim men wear|Ammama}}
{{Shia Islam|Branches}}
{{Aqidah|Shia}}
In [[Shia Islam]], the '''Imamah''' ({{langx|ar|إمامة}}) is a [[doctrine]] which asserts that certain individuals from the lineage of the [[Prophets in Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] are to be accepted as leaders and guides of the [[ummah]] after the [[Succession to Muhammad|death of Muhammad]]. Imamah further says that Imams possess divine knowledge and authority ([[Ismah]]) as well as being part of the [[Ahl al-Bayt]], the family of Muhammad.<ref name="Vali reza">{{harvnb|Nasr|2006|p=38}}</ref> These Imams have the role of providing commentary and interpretation of the Quran<ref>Mir Mohammed Ibrahim (2008), ''Sociology of religions: perspectives of Ali Shariati''</ref> as well as guidance.

== Etymology ==
The word "Imām" denotes a person who stands or walks "in front". For [[Sunni Islam]], the word is commonly used to mean a person who leads the course of prayer in the [[mosque]]. It also means the head of a ''[[madhhab]]'' ("school of thought"). However, from the Shia point of view this is merely the ''basic'' understanding of the word in the Arabic language and, for its proper religious usage, the word "Imam" is applicable ''only'' to those members of the house of Muhammad designated as [[Infallibility|infallible]] by the preceding Imam.

== Introduction ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2025}}
The Shia believe that only the [[Imams|A'immah]] (Imams) have the legitimate right to serve as caliphs, viewing all other caliphs—whether chosen by [[Ijma|consensus]] or otherwise—as political leaders who usurped a divinely designated role.

According to the [[hadith]], Muhammad said: "To whomsoever I am [[Mawla]], [[Ali]] is his Mawla."{{cn|date=June 2025}} This hadith has been related in different ways in no less than 45 Shia and Sunni hadithic sources,{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} including compendia by [[al-Tirmidhi]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3713 – Chapters on Virtues – كتاب المناقب عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم |website=Sunnah.com |url=https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3713 |access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref> [[Ibn Majah]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunan Ibn Majah 121 - The Book of the Sunnah - كتاب المقدمة |website=Sunnah.com |url=https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:121 |access-date=31 July 2023 }}</ref> and others.The major conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims centers on the interpretation of the word "mawla." For Shia Muslims, "mawla" means "master" and holds the same elevated significance as it did when the term was used to address Muhammad during his lifetime. They believe that Muhammad publicly designated Ali as "Mawla" for all Muslims at the Ghadiri Khum Oasis, just months before his death. This event involved Muhammad’s closest companions—[[Abu Bakr]], [[Umar]], and [[Uthman]] (the three future Caliphs who preceded Ali)—taking Ali's hand in both of theirs as a token of their allegiance to him. Those who viewed Ali as Muhammad's immediate successor, even before Muhammad's death, came to be known as the Shia.

In contrast, for Sunni Muslims, "mawla" means "beloved" or "revered" and does not hold any significant implications beyond that.

== Sects ==
{{Main|Muslim sects}}
{{Islam |history}}

Within Shia Islam (Shiism), the various sects came into being because they differed over their Imams' successions, just as the Shia–Sunni separation within Islam itself came into being from the dispute that had arisen over the succession to [[Muhammad]]. Each succession dispute brought forth a different [[tariqah]] (literal meaning 'path'; extended meaning 'sect') within Shiism. Each Shia tariqah followed its own particular Imam's dynasty, resulting in different numbers of Imams for each particular Shia tariqah. When the dynastic line of the separating successor Imam ended with no heir to succeed him, then either he (the last Imam) or his unborn successor was believed to have gone into a concealment known as [[The Occultation]].

The Shia tariqah with a majority of adherents are the [[Twelvers]] who are commonly known as "Shia". After that come the [[Nizari]] Ismailis commonly known as the [[Ismailism|Ismailis]], then the Mustalian Ismailis also called the "Bohras", and there are further schisms within their Bohri tariqah. The [[Druze]] tariqah initially were part of the Fatimid Ismailis but separated from them after the death of the Fatimid Imam and Caliph Al Hakim Bi Amrillah. The Shia Sevener tariqah no longer exists. Another small tariqah is that of the [[Zaidiyyah|Zaidi]] Shias, or the "Fivers"; they do not believe in the Occultation of their last Imam.

Although all these different Shia tariqahs belong to the Shia (as opposed to the Sunni) sect in Islam, there are major doctrinal differences between the main Shia tariqahs. After that there is the complete doctrinal break between all the different Shia tariqahs whose last Imams have gone into Occultation and the Shia Nizari Ismailis, who deny the concept of Occultation and so have to have a present and living Imam until the end of time.{{citation needed|date=September 2014}} <!--Thus if any living Nizari Ismaili Imam fails to leave behind a successor after him then the Nizari Ismailism's cardinal principle would be broken and its very raison d'être would come to an end.{This seems to be (a) the wrong kind of language for Wikipedia, (b) based on the preceding uncited statement and (c) a direct implication of the preceding sentence and so redundant to state again anyway. But feel free to add it back in if you have reason to disagree.}-->

===Twelver view===
{{Main|Theology of Twelvers|Twelver}} {{see|Twelve Imams}}
{{Twelvers|collapsed=1}}

Shias believe that Imamah is of the Principles of Faith [[Theology of Twelvers|(Usul al-Din)]]. As the verse 4:165<ref>{{Cite Quran|4|165|style=nosup}}</ref> of [[Quran]] expresses the necessity to the appointment of the [[prophets]], so after the demise of the prophet who will play the role of the prophet, until the people have no plea against [[Allah]]. The same logic that necessitated the assignment of prophets also is applied for Imamah. That is, Allah must assign someone similar to the prophet in his attributes and Ismah as his successor to guide the people without any deviation in religion.<ref>{{harvnb|Tabataba'i|2008}}</ref>

They refer to the verse 5:3 ("This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion")<ref>{{Cite Quran|5|3|style=nosup}}</ref> of the [[Quran]] which was revealed to the prophet when he appointed [[Ali]] as his [[Succession to Muhammad|successor]] at the day of [[Hadith of the pond of Khumm|Ghadir Khumm]].<ref>{{harvnb|al-Tijani al-Samawi|2013|p=79}}</ref>

{{incomprehensible|section|reason=the passage is not written in full sentences or with coherent syntax|date=December 2024}}
By the verse Quran, 2:124,<ref>{{Cite Quran|2|124|style=nosup}}</ref> Shias believe that Imamah is a divine position always Imamah is accompanied by the word guidance, of course a guidance by God's Command. A kind of guidance which brings humanity to the goal. no age can be without an Imam. Regarding 17:71,<ref>{{Cite Quran|17|71|style=nosup}}</ref> So, according to the upper verse, 1. Imamah is a position which is appointed by God and must be specified by Him; 2. Imam is protected by a divine protection and no one excels him in nobility; 3. No age can be without an Imam and finally Imam knows everything which is needed for human being to get to the truth and goal.<ref>{{harvnb|Ayoub|1984|p=157}}</ref>

====Why only specific members of Muhammad's family?====
Sunnis reject the doctrine of Imamate on the basis of their interpretation of verse 33:40 of the [[Qur'an]] which says that [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]], as the {{transliteration|ar|[[Khatam an-Nabiyyin|seal of the Prophets]]}}, "is not the father of any of your men"; and that is why God let Muhammad's sons die in infancy.{{efn| See Goldziher, ''Muhammedanische Studien'', II, 105–06; Y. Friedmann, "Finality of Prophethood in Sunni Islam", JSAI, 7 (1986), 177–215, at 187–189.<ref name="Madelung 17">{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=17}}</ref>}} This is why Muhammad did not nominate a successor, as he wanted to leave the succession to be resolved "by the Muslim Community on the basis of the Qur’anic principle of consultation ({{transliteration|ar|[[shura]]}})".<ref name="Madelung 17"/> The question Madelung proposes here is why the family members of Muhammad should not inherit aspects of Muhammad's character, apart from prophethood, such as rule ({{transliteration|ar|[[hukm]]}}), wisdom ({{transliteration|ar|[[Hikmah|hikma]]}}), and leadership ({{transliteration|ar|[[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|imama]]}}). Since the Sunni concept of the "true caliphate" itself defines it as a "succession of the Prophet in every respect except his prophethood", Madelung further asks, "If God really wanted to indicate that he should not be succeeded by any of his family, why did He not let his grandsons and other kin die like his sons?"<ref name="Madelung 17" />

It is narrated that it is forbidden for the Divine Leader not to be from the family of Muhammad.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sahih Moslem|last=Moslem bin Hajjaj|publisher=Dar Tayibbah|year=2006|pages=882}}</ref> According to [[Ali al-Ridha]], since it is obligatory to obey him, there should be a sign to clearly indicate the Divine Leader. That sign is his well-known ties of kinship with Muhammad and his clear appointment so that the people could distinguish him from others, and be clearly guided toward him.<ref name="al-Shaykh al-Saduq">{{harvnb|al-Shaykh al-Saduq|2006|p=194}}</ref> Otherwise others are nobler than Muhammad's offspring and they are to be followed and obeyed; and the offspring of Muhammad are obedient and subject to the offspring of Muhammad's enemies such as [[Amr ibn Hisham|Abi Jahl]] or Ibn Abi Ma’eet. However, Muhammad is much nobler than others to be in charge and to be obeyed.<ref name="al-Shaykh al-Saduq"/> Moreover, once the prophethood of Muhammad is testified they would obey him, no one would hesitate to follow his offspring and this would not be hard for anyone.<ref name="al-Shaykh al-Saduq"/> While to follow the offspring of the corrupted families is difficult.{{Original research inline|date=December 2015}} And that is maybe why the basic characteristic of Muhammad and other prophets was their nobility.{{Original research inline|date=December 2015}} For none of them, it is said, were originated from a disgraced family.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} It is believed that all Muhammad's ancestors up to Adam were true Muslims.{{efn|The Sufi spiritual leader [[Ibn Arabi]] said: "A Muslim is a person who has dedicated his worship exclusively to God&nbsp;... ''Islam'' means making one's religion and faith God's alone."<ref>Razi, ''Commentary on the Qur'an'', I, p. 432, Cairo, 1900</ref>}}{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} Jesus was also from a pious family, as it is mentioned in the Quran that after his birth, people said to [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]: "O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Maryam - 28 |url=https://quran.com/maryam/28 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Quran.com |language=en}}</ref>{{efn|[http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.sahih/ 19:28]}}{{Synthesis inline|date=December 2015}}

===The Ismā'īlī view===
{{Main|Imamah (Ismaili doctrine)|Imamate in Nizari doctrine|Musta'li|Tayyibi Isma'ilism|Hafizi}}

The doctrine of the Imamate in Isma'ilism differs from that of the Twelvers because the Isma'ilis had living Imams for centuries after the last Twelver Imam, [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]], went into [[Occultation (Islam)|hiding]]. They followed Isma'il ibn Jafar, elder brother of [[Musa al-Kadhim]], as the rightful Imam after his father, [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]. The Ismailis believe that whether Imam Ismail did or did not die before Imam Ja'far, he had passed on the mantle of the imamate to his son Muhammad ibn Isma'il as the next imam.

According to Isma'ilism, [[God in Islam|God]] has sent seven great prophets known as ''Nātiq''s "Speaker" in order to disseminate and improve his [[din (Arabic)|dīn]] of ''[[Islam]]''. All of these great prophets has also one assistant known as ''Sāmad'' "Silent" Imām. At the end of each seven ''Sāmad'' [[silsila]]s, one great ''Nātiq'' has been sent in order to improve the faith. After [[Adam]] and his son [[Seth]], and after six ''Nātiq–Sāmad'' silsila<ref>{{Iranica|dawr-1|Dawr 1}}</ref> ([[Noah in Islam|Noah]]–[[Shem]], [[Abraham in Islam|Abraham]]–[[Ishmael in Islam|Ishmael]], [[Moses]]–[[Aaron]], [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]]–[[Simeon (son of Jacob)|Simeon, son of Jacob]],{{clarify|reason=This doesn't make chronological sense. This Simeon lived hundreds of years ''before'' Jesus. Is [[Peter in Islam|Shamoun as-Safa]] meant instead?|date=December 2024}} [[Muhammad]]–[[Ali]]), the silsila of ''Nātiq''s and ''Sāmad''s have been completed with [[Muhammad ibn Isma'il]].

====Why Imams from only (specific) family members====
Ismailis view Imams as the true representative of God. God has made all prophets his representative. Individual prophets era are distinct. After one prophets God created next prophet. Islam view that Mohammed is last prophet. Mohammed appointed his specific representative Ali. Ali made imams as his next representative and one imam appointed another until date. The Isma'ili view that these Imam are only from their hereditary chain and their appointment is a must, and Earth cannot remain vacant, without presence of Imam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iis.ac.uk/ru/node/254471 |title=Historical representations of a Fatimid Imam-caliph: Exploring al-Maqrizi's and Idris' writings on al-Mu'izz Li Din Allah, Dr. Shainool Jiwa |access-date=2016-12-30 |archive-date=2016-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230160540/http://iis.ac.uk/ru/node/254471 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-12 |title=A Shi'ite Encyclopedia |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.al-islam.org |language=en}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=December 2016|comment=clear citation required}}

===Zaidi view===
{{Main|Zaidiyyah|Imamate in Zaydi doctrine}}
[[Zaidiyyah]] or Zaidi is a Shia [[madhhab]] (sect, school) named after the imam [[Zayd ibn Ali]]. Followers of the Zaidi fiqh are called Zaidis (or are occasionally called '''Fivers''' in the West). However, there is also a group called the Zaidi ''Wasītī''s who are Twelvers.

In the context of the Shi'a Muslim belief in spiritual leadership or Imamate, Zaydis believe that the leader of the [[Ummah]] or Muslim community must be ''[[Fatimid]]s'': descendants of Muhammad through his only surviving daughter [[Fatimah]], whose sons were [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hasan ibn ʻAlī]] and [[Husayn ibn Ali|Husayn ibn ʻAlī]]. These Shi'a called themselves Zaydi so they could differentiate themselves from other Shi'is who refused to take up arms with Zayd ibn Ali.

Zaydis believe Zayd ibn Ali was the rightful successor to the Imamate because he led a rebellion against the [[Umayyad Caliphate]], who he believed were tyrannical and corrupt. [[Muhammad al-Baqir]] did not engage in political action and the followers of Zayd believed that a true Imām must fight against corrupt rulers.<ref>{{Cite web |date= 16 March 2019|title=IMAMS: GIVING ISLAM A BAD REP (part 1/3) - JURAVIN REVIEWS + NEWS + OPINION - Medium |url=https://medium.com/opinion-by-juravin/juravin-fights-for-the-truth-in-islam-exposes-imam-and-good-quran-c2e0e9b531c0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228044042/https://medium.com/opinion-by-juravin/juravin-fights-for-the-truth-in-islam-exposes-imam-and-good-quran-c2e0e9b531c0 |archive-date=2019-12-28 |access-date= |website=medium.com}}</ref><ref name="Arab East 1996, p97">Abdul Ali (1996). ''Islamic Dynasties of the Arab East: State and Civilization during the Later Medieval Times''. M.D. Publications. p. 97.</ref> The renowned Muslim jurist [[Abu Hanifa]], who is credited for the [[Hanafi]] school of [[Sunni]] Islam, delivered a [[fatwā]] or legal statement in favour of Zayd in his rebellion against the Umayyad ruler. He also urged people in secret to join the uprising and delivered funds to Zayd.<ref>Abu Bakr al-Jassas al-Razi, ''Ahkam al-Quran''. Vol. 1. Dar Al-Fikr Al-Beirutiyya. p. 100.</ref>

Unlike [[Twelver]] Shi'ites, Zaydis do not believe in the infallibility of Imāms<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Francis Robinson]] (1984). ''Atlas of the Islamic World Since 1500''. p. 47. [[New York City|New York]]: [[Facts on File]]. {{ISBN|0871966298}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Zaidiyyah |title=Zaidiyyah|work=The Free Dictionary}}</ref> The Imamate can be passed down to anyone of the household of Muhammad.

==The period of occultation==
===Twelver view===
{{Main|The Occultation}}
The period of occultation (''ghaybah'') is divided into two parts:

* ''Ghaybah al-Sughra'' or Minor Occultation (874–941) consists of the first few decades after the Imam's disappearance when communication with him was maintained through deputies of the Imam.
* ''Ghaybah al-Kubra'' or Major Occultation began in 941 and is believed to continue until a time decided by [[God in Islam|God]], when the Mahdi will reappear to bring absolute justice to the world.

During the Minor Occultation (''Ghaybah al-Sughrá''), it is believed that al-Mahdi maintained contact with his followers via deputies ({{langx|ar-Latn|an-nuwāb al-arbaʻa}}, "the Four Leaders"). They represented him and acted as agents between him and his followers. Whenever the believers faced a problem, they would write their concerns and send them to his deputy. The deputy would ascertain his verdict, endorse it with his seal and signature and return it to the relevant parties. The deputies also collected [[zakat]] and [[khums]] on his behalf.

For the Shia, the idea of consulting a hidden Imam was not something new because the two prior [[Imamate (Twelver doctrine)|Twelver Imams]] had, on occasion, met with their followers from behind a curtain. Also, during the oppressive rule of the later Abbasid caliphs, the Shia Imams were heavily persecuted and held prisoners, thus their followers were forced to consult their Imams via messengers or secretly.

Shia Tradition hold that four deputies acted in succession to one another:

# [[Uthman ibn Sa’id al-Asadi]]
# [[Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman]]
# [[Abul Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti]]
# [[Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri]]

In 941 (329 AH), the fourth deputy announced an order by al-Mahdi, that the deputy would soon die and that the deputyship would end and the period of the Major Occultation would begin.

The fourth deputy died six days later and the Shia Muslims continue to await the reappearance of the Mahdi. In the same year, many notable Shia scholars such as [[Ali ibn Babawayh Qummi]] and [[Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni|Muhammad ibn Ya'qub Kulayni]], the learned compiler of ''[[Kitab al-Kafi]]'', also died.

One view is that the Hidden Imam is on earth "among the body of the Shia" but "incognito". "Numerous stories" exist of the Hidden Imam "manifesting himself to prominent members of the ulama".<ref>Momen, Moojan, ''An Introduction to Shi'i Islam'', Yale University Press, 1985, p. 199</ref>

===The Ismā'īlī view===
{{Main|Imamah (Ismaili doctrine)}}
{{Ismailis}}

The Ismailis differ from [[Twelver]]s because they had living [[imam]]s for centuries after the last Twelver Imam went into concealment. They followed [[Isma'il ibn Jafar]], elder brother of [[Musa al-Kadhim]], as the rightful Imam<ref>W. Ivanow. ''Rise of The Fatimids''. pp. 81, 275.</ref> after his father [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]. The Ismailis believe that whether Imam Ismail did or did not die before Imam Ja'far, he had passed on the mantle of the imamate to his son Muḥammad ibn Ismail as the next imam.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ismailism-xvii-the-imamate-in-ismailism|title=Ismaʿilism xvii. The Imamate in Ismaʿilism|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica}}</ref> Thus, their line of imams is as follows (the years of their individual imamats during the Common Era are given in brackets):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| [[Nizārī]] [[Imām]] || [[Mustali|Mustā‘lī]] [[Imām]] || [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || Period 
|-
| 1 || Asās/Wāsīh || [[Ali]]: [[Mustaali]] "Foundation" and first [[Nizārī]] [[Imām]] || (632–661)
|-
| [[Pir (Sufism)|Pir]] || 1 || [[Hasan ibn Ali]]: First [[Mustaali]] [[Imām]]; [[Nizārī]]s consider him a [[Pir (Sufism)|pir]], not an [[Imām]] || (661–669) [[Mustali|Mustā‘lī]]
|- 
| 2 || 2|| [[Husayn ibn Ali]]: Second [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || (669–680) [[Mustali|Mustā‘lī]] <br /> (661–680) [[Nizārī]]
|-
| 3 || 3 || [[Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin]]: Third [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || (680–713)
|- 
| 4 || 4 || [[Muhammad al-Baqir]]: Fourth [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || (713–733)
|- 
| 5 || 5 || [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]: Fifth [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || (733–765) 
|- 
| 6 || 6 || [[Isma'il ibn Jafar]]: Sixth [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] and first distinctly [[Ismā'īlī]] ''(non-[[Twelver]]) [[Imām]]''|| (765–775) 
|- 
| 7 || 7 || [[Muhammad ibn Ismail]]: Seventh [[Ismā'īlī]] [[Imām]] || (775–813)
|- 
|}

====First phase====
The eighth Imam, [[Ahmad al-Wafi (Abadullah)|Abd Allah al-Akbar]] of the [[Ismailism|Ismaili Shia]] remained hidden but continued the Ismaili movement in the 9th century in [[Salamiyah]], Syria. The eighth to tenth Imams ([[Ahmad al-Wafi (Abadullah)|Abadullah]], [[Muhammad at-Taqi (Ahmed ibn Abadullah)|Ahmed]] and [[Rabi Abdullah|Husain]]), remained hidden and worked for the movement against the period's time's rulers. First phase of seclusion ends with 10th Imam. The 11th Imam [[Abdullah al-Mahdi Billah]], under the guise of being a merchant, and his son had made their way to [[Sijilmasa]],{{sfn|Yeomans|2006|p=43}} fleeing persecution by the [[Abbasid]]s. Imam Abdullah founded [[Fatimid Caliphate]]. The Fatimid Ismaili Imams continued until the 20th Imam also holding the post of caliph, ruling a vast part of the Arabian peninsula.

====Second phase====
Upon the death of the twentieth [[Imam]], [[al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-Lah]] (d. {{AH|526}}), his two-year-old child [[at-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim]] (b. {{AH|524}}) was appointed twenty-first Imam. The supporters of Tayyeb became the [[Tayyibi]] [[Ismāʿīlī]]. As Tayyeb was not in a position to run the [[dawah]], Queen [[Arwa al-Sulayhi]], the [[Da'i al-Mutlaq]], acted as his [[regent]].  Imam Tayyeb was hidden, and the second phase of seclusion started. The Da'i had now been given absolute authority and made independent from political activity. With the period of time the Tayyibi divided further into several sects headed by different Dais. These [[Da'i al-Mutlaq]] continued acting on behalf of the hidden Tayyibi Ismāʿīlī Imams until date.{{huh?|date=December 2024}} [[Dawoodi Bohra]] is the biggest sub-sect amongst the Tayyibi Ismāʿīlī with a population spread over many countries.

== Imams ==
[[File:Mahdi.JPG|thumb|The name of the last Twelver Imam [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]] as it appears in [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]]]]

===Twelver Imams===
{{Main|Imamah (Twelver Shi`i Doctrine)}}
According to the majority of Shī'a, namely the [[Twelver]]s (''Ithnā'ashariyya''), the following is a listing of the rightful successors to Muḥammad. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam except for [[Husayn ibn Ali|Hussayn ibn 'Alī]], who was the brother of [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hassan ibn 'Alī]].The belief in this succession to Muḥammad stems from various Quranic verses which include: 75:36, 13:7, 35:24, 2:30, 2:124, 36:26, 7:142, 42:23.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} They support their discussion by citing Genesis 17:19–20 and Sunni hadith:Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4478, English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.<ref>{{cite book|author=[[Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj|Imam Muslim]] (translated by Aftab Shahryar)|title=Sahih Muslim Abridged|publisher=Islamic Book Service|year=2004|isbn=81-7231-592-9}}</ref>{{original research inline|date=December 2015}}

====List of The Twelve Imams====
{{Main|The Twelve Imams}}
According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the era, 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 and Sufis' view, the [[Succession to Muhammad|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]]. The twelfth and final Imam is [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]], who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and hidden in [[The Occultation#Major Occultation|the Major Occultation]] until he returns to bring justice to the world.<ref name="Imamat">{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world |volume=1 |last=Gleave |first=Robert |title=Imamate |year=2004 |publisher=MacMillan |isbn=0-02-865604-0}}</ref> It is believed by Twelver and [[Alevism|Alevi]] Muslims that the Twelve Imams have been foretold in the [[Hadith of the Twelve Successors]]. All of the Imams met unnatural deaths, with the exception of the last Imam, who according to Twelver and Alevi belief, is living in occultation.

=== Ismaili Imams ===
{{Main|List of Ismaili imams}}
{{See also|Musta'li|Hafizi|Nizari}}

The Ismaili line of imams for both sects (the [[Nizari]] and [[Musta'li]]) continues undivided until [[al-Mustansir Billah]] (d. 1094). After his death the line of the imamat separates into the Nizari and Musta'li dynasties.

The line of imams of the Musta'li Muslims (also known as the Bohras/[[Dawoodi Bohra]]) continued up to Aamir ibn Mustali. After his death, they believe their 21st Imam, [[at-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim]] went into a Dawr-e Satr (period of concealment) that continues to this day. In the absence of an imam they are led by a [[Da'i al-Mutlaq]] (absolute missionary) who manages the affairs of the Imam-in-Concealment until re-emergence of the Imam from concealment.

The line of imams of the Nizari Ismaili Shia Muslims (also known as the Agha-khani Ismailis in South and Central Asia) continues to their present living 50th hereditary imam, [[Aga Khan V]] (son of [[Aga Khan IV]]). They are the only Shia Muslim community today led by a present and living (Hazir wa Mawjud) imam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akdn.org|title=Aga Khan Development Network}}</ref>

[[File:Branch of Shi'a Islam.png|upright=1.8|thumb|center|Succession of imams in various branches of Shia Islam. The [[Kaysanites|Kaysani]] imam [[Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah]] is a descendant of Ali through Ali's wife [[Khawlah bint Ja'far]].]]

=== Zaidi Imams ===
{{Main|Imams of Yemen}}
The Zaidi branch of Shi'ism established its own line of Imams starting in the year 897; the line continued without interruption until 1962 when the [[North Yemen Civil War]] brought the Imamate to an end and established a republic.

== Sunni view of the Shia Imamate ==
[[Ibn Taymiyyah]] (d. 728 AH/1328 AD) composed a long refutation of the notion of the Imamate in his ''[[Minhaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah]]''.<ref>Yahya Michot (2014). "Ibn Taymiyya's Critique of Shia Imamology. Translation of Three Sections of his 'Minhāj al-Sunna{{'"}}. ''The Muslim World''. 104/1–2. pp. 109–149.</ref>

The belief of the Twelver Imamah with the consideration of the sacred status of the four [[Rashidun]] Caliphs is shared in [[Sunni Islam]], due to the following hadith of Muhammad:

{{quote|I heard the Prophet of Allah say "Islam shall not cease to be glorious up to twelve Caliphs, every one of them being from the [[Quraysh|Quraish]]". (And in a narration) "The affairs of men will not cease to decline so long as twelve men will rule over them, every one of them coming from Quraish. And in a narration: The religion will continue to be established till the hour comes as there are twelve Caliphs over them, everyone of them coming from the Quraish<ref>Mishkat al Masabih Vol 4 p 576, Hadith 5</ref>}}

{{quote|The affairs of the people will continue to be conducted as long as they are governed by twelve men, he then added from Quraish<ref>Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4478</ref>}}

{{quote|I will be followed by twelve Khalifas all will be Quraysh<ref>Sunan Tirmidhi Volume 1 page 813</ref>}}

== Succession ==
{{chart top|collapsed=no|Various Imāmah sects emerged from the descendants of [[Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah|Al-"Imām"]] and [[Ja'far al-Sadiq|Al-Sādiq]]}}
{{chart/start|align=center}}
{{chart|WAM|v|BAU| |FBA|v|AMJ|v|NBJ| |BAU=[[Barrah bint Abdul Uzza|Barrah]]|WAM=[[Wahb ibn Abd Manaf|Wahb]]|FBA=[[Fatimah bint Amr|Fatimah]]|AMJ=[[Abdul-Muttalib]]|NBJ=[[Natila bint Janab|Natīla]] |boxstyle_AMJ= background-color:Aquamarine; |boxstyle_FBA= background-color:Aquamarine; |boxstyle_WAM= background-color:MediumSpringGreen; |boxstyle_BAU= background-color:MediumSpringGreen; }}
{{chart| |,|-|'| |,|-|v|-|-|-|'| | | |`|-|.| |}}
{{chart|ABW|v|ABM|!|ABH|v|FBQ| |ABB|ABW=[[Aminah bint Wahab]]|ABM=[[Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib|ʿAbd Allāh]]  |HMZ=[[Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib|Hamza]]|ABB= [[‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib|‘Abbas]]|FBQ=Fatimah bint Qays|ABH=[[Asad ibn Hashim|Asad]] ibn [[Hashim ibn Abd al-Manaf|Hashim]]|boxstyle_ABH= background-color:PaleGreen; |boxstyle_ABT= background-color:MediumSpringGreen; |boxstyle_ABW= background-color:MediumSpringGreen; |boxstyle_FBQ= background-color:PaleGreen; |boxstyle_ABM= background-color:Aquamarine; }}
{{chart| | | |`|-|.| |`|-|.| |`|-|.| | | |!| | }}
{{chart|HBH|v|MHD| |ABT|v|FBA| |ABA| | | | | | | |MHD= '''[[Muhammad]]'''<br>([[Family tree of Muhammad|Family tree]]) |HBH=[[Khadija bint Khuwaylid]]|ABA=[[Abdullah ibn Abbas|ʿAbd Allāh]] |ABT=[[Abi Talib]]| FBA=[[Fatimah bint Asad]]|boxstyle_MHD= background-color:DeepSkyBlue;  |boxstyle_HBH= background-color:Aqua; |boxstyle_ABH= background-color:MediumSpringGreen; |boxstyle_FBA= background-color:PaleGreen; |boxstyle_ABT= background-color:Aquamarine; }}
{{chart| |,|-|'| | | |,|-|-|-|'| | | | | |!|}}
{{chart|FAT|-|v|-|ALİ|-|v|-|KBJ| |AAA|FAT='''[[Fatima Zahra]]'''|AAA=[[Ali ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas|ʿAli]] bin [[Abdullah ibn Abbas|ʿAbd Allāh]] b. [[‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib|‘Abbas]]|KBJ=[[Khawlah bint Ja'far|Khawlah b. Ja'far]] [[Banu Hanifah|al-Hanafiyyah]]| ALİ='''[[Ali al Murtaza]]'''<br>([[Family tree of Ali|Family tree]]) |boxstyle_ALİ= background-color:DodgerBlue; | boxstyle_FAT= background-color:SkyBlue; |boxstyle_KBJ= background-color:PowderBlue; }}
{{chart| | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |`|-|-|-|.| | |!| | | |}}
{{chart| |HAS| |HUS|v|SBN| |MBH|7|`|.|SBN=[[Shahr Banu]]|MBH='''[[Ibn al hanifiyyah|Ibn al-Hanifiyyah]]'''|HAS='''[[Hasan al Mujtaba]]'''|HUS='''[[Husayn ibn Ali]]''' ([[Family tree of Husayn ibn Ali|Family]])|boxstyle_HAS= background-color:LightSkyBlue; |boxstyle_HUS= background-color:LightSkyBlue; |boxstyle_MBH= background-color:LightSteelBlue; }}
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{{chart| |FTM|-|v|-|ZAYN|v|JSN|!|KAY|!| | | | | |ZAYN=[[Ali al-Sajjad|Zayn al-'Abidin]]|FTM=[[Fatimah bint Hasan]]|JSN=Jayda al-Sindhi|KAY=[[Kaysanites]] ([[Al-Mukhtar]])|boxstyle_KAY= background-color:MistyRose;|boxstyle_ZAYN= background-color:Turquoise;|boxstyle_FTM= background-color:Turquoise;  }}
{{chart | | | | | |!| | | | |!| | | |!| |:| |!| }}
{{chart|UFQ|v|BAQ| | |ZAY| | |`|AHS|!|BAQ=[[Muhammad al-Baqir]]|UFQ=[[Farwah bint al-Qasim|Farwah]] bint<br>[[Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr|Al-Qasim]] ibn [[Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr|Muhammad]]|ZAY=[[Zayd ibn Ali|Zayd ash-Shahīd]] ([[Zaydiyyah]])||AHS= First [[Sufism|Sufi]]<br> [[Abu Hashim]] ([[Hashimiyya]])|boxstyle_HUS1= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_AHS= background-color:Lavender; |boxstyle_UFQ= background-color:Azure; |boxstyle_ZAY= background-color:PaleTurquoise;|boxstyle_BAQ= background-color:Turquoise; }}
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{{chart| | |AMJ| | AMJ=[[Ja'far al-Sadiq]]| boxstyle_AMJ= background-color:LightCyan;| |YEM|A|ZYD| |MAI|(|MAI=[[Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abdallah|Muhammad "al-Imām"]]|ZYD=[[Zaydi]]-[[Alavids]]|boxstyle_ZYD= background-color:AliceBlue;|YEM=[[Imams of Yemen|Yemen]]-[[Fiver (sect)|Fivers]] |boxstyle_YEM= background-color:AliceBlue; }}
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{{Tree chart|İBJ| |FAT| |ALD| |KAD| |IAI| |İBJ= [[Isma'il ibn Jafar]]|IAI=Ibrāhim ibn Ali ibn [[Abdullah ibn Abbas|′Abd Allah]]| |FAT=[[Abdullah al-Aftah ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq|Al-Aftah]]<br>([[Aftahiyya]])|ALD=[[Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq (Al-Dibaj)|Al-Dibaj]] <br>(Sumaytiyya)|KAD= [[Musa al-Kadhim]]|boxstyle_FAT= background-color:LemonChiffon; |boxstyle_İBJ= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_KAD= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_ALD= background-color:Ivory;}}
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{{chart|İSM|7|AAA| |İBR| |İSN|F|MUS| |İSM=[[Imamah (Ismaili doctrine)|Imāmī]] [[Ismā'īlī]]sm|MUS=[[Abu Muslim Khorasani|Muslim’īyyah]] ([[Sinbad the Magean|Sīnbād]])|boxstyle_İSM= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_İSN= background-color:#FFFFCC;|İSN=[[Imāmī]] [[Athnā‘ashariyyah]]|AAA=[[Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Aftah|Muhammad al-Aftah]]|İBR=[[Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Kazim|Ibrāhim ibn Mūsā]]|boxstyle_MUS= background-color:LightPink; }}
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{{chart|MBİ| |SEV| | | | |F|ARD|:|TUR|TUR=[[Ishaq al-Turk]]|MBİ= [[Muhammad ibn Isma'il|Al-Maktūm]] <br>(Mubārakʾiyya)| |SEV=[[Seveners]]| | |ARD= [[Ali al-Rida]]| |boxstyle_MBİ= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_SEV= background-color:PeachPuff;}}
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{{chart|WAF| |QAR| | | | |:|JAW| |MUH|QAR=Ḥamdān Qarmaṭ'l-ʾAšʿaṯ| | |WAF= [[Ahmad al-Wafi|ʿAbadullāh ''(Wafī Aḥmad)'']]|JAW= [[Muhammad al-Jawad|Muhammad al-Taqī ''(Jawad)'']]|MUH=[[Muḥammirah|Muhammerah]] ([[Muqanna]])|boxstyle_MUH= background-color:LightCoral; }}
{{chart| |!| | | |:| | | | | |:| |!| | | |!| | }}
{{chart|HAS1132| |SAD| | | | |:|HAD|7|KHR|HAD= [[Ali al Hadi]]|SAD=[[Abu Sa'id al-Jannabi|Abū Sa'id]]|HAS1132= [[Muhammad at-Taqi (Ahmed ibn Abadullah)|Aḥmad ''(Taqī Muhammad)'']]| |KHR=[[Khurramites|Khurrāmīyah]] ([[Babak Khorramdin|Pāpak]], Maziar)| boxstyle_KHR= background-color:HotPink; }}
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{{chart|HAS2132| |TAH| | |:| |F|HAS242|:|KIZ| |HAS2132= [[Radi Abdullah|Ḥusayn ''(Raḍī ʿAbdillāh)'']]| |HAS242= [[Hasan al-Askari]]| TAH=[[Abū-Tāhir Al-Jannābī|Abū-Tāhir]]|KIZ=[[Kızılbaş]] |boxstyle_KIZ= background-color:Plum; }}
{{Tree chart|boxstyle=background:LightBlue;| |!| | | |!| | | |:| |:| | | |:| |!| | | | }}
{{Tree chart|UAM| |QAR| |NAM|X|-|.|NUS|!|NUS=[[Ibn Nusayr]] ([[Namiriya|‘Ulyāʾiyya]])|UAM= [[Ubayd Allah al-Mahdi Billah|Ubayd Allāh]] ([[Fatimids]])|NAM=[[Fazlallah Astarabadi (Naimi)|Nāimī]]-[[Hurufi|Ḥurūfīs]]|QAR=[[Qarmati]]s| |boxstyle_QAR= background-color:PeachPuff; |boxstyle_UAM= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_NUS= background-color:Moccasin; |boxstyle_NAM= background-color:Linen;}}
{{Tree chart| |!| | | |F|~|T2|-|'| |:| |!| |!| |!| | | | }}
{{chart|HAS223|HAS223= [[Al-Qa'im (Fatimid caliph)|al-Qāʾim]]|F|AAA|:| | |MAH|`|ALK|!| |AAA=ʿAlī Al-Aʿlā ([[Bektashiyyah|Baktāsh’īyyah]])|MAH=[[Muhammad al-Mahdi|Muhammad]] ([[Imam e Zamana|Imām Zāmān]])|ALK=[[Al-Khaṣībī]] ([[Nusairi]]s)|boxstyle_NAM= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_MAH= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_ALK= background-color:Moccasin;|boxstyle_AAA= background-color:Linen; }}
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{{chart|HAS224|:|NUQ| | | |TWE| |BEK|!|HAS224= [[al-Mansur Billah|al-Manṣūr]]|NUQ=[[Mahmoud Pasikhani|Pasīkhānī]] ([[Nuktawiyya]])|NUS=[[Nusairi]]s| |TWE=[[Imamiyyah]] ([[Theology of Twelvers|Twelvers]])|BEK=[[Balım Sultan]] ([[Bektaşi|Baktāshī]]s)|boxstyle_NUS= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_TWE= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_NUQ= background-color:Linen; |boxstyle_BEK= background-color:Pink; }}
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{{Tree chart|HAS225|L|NES| |JAF| |ALE|X|-|'|HAS225= [[Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah|al-Muʿizz]]|NES=[[Nesîmî|Nasīmī]]|JAF=[[Ja'fari]]s|ALE=[[Alevi]]s| boxstyle_JAF= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_ALE= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_NES= background-color:Linen;}}
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{{chart|ALA| |AKH| |SHY| |USL|:| |ALA= [[Al-Aziz Billah|al-ʿAzīz]]|AKH=[[Akhbari]]s|SHY=[[Shaykhi]]s|USL=[[Usuli]]s | | | boxstyle_QAR= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_AKH= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_SHY= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_USL= background-color:#FFFFCC; }}
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{{chart|HAS234|7|SAF| |BAB|.|VEF|:|HAS234=[[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah|al-Ḥākim]]|BAB=[[Nuqta-yi Ula]] ([[Bábis]])| VEF=[[Velayat-e-faqih]] ([[Iran, Islamic Rep.]])|SAF=[[Safavids]] ([[Safaviyya]] [[Safavid conversion of Iran to Shia Islam|Iran]])| | | }}
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{{chart|HAS312|HAS312=[[Ali az-Zahir|al-Ẓāhir]]| |DRZ| |AZL| |BHI|F|OAL|DRZ=[[Durzi]]s <br>([[Al-Muqtana]]) |OAL=[[Aleviler|Other Alevis]] ([[Bektashism and folk religion|Bektashism]])|AZL=[[Mirza Yahya|Mírzá Yaḥyá]] ([[Azalis]])|BHI=[[Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Núrí|Mírzá Ḥusayn]] ([[Faith|Baháʼís]])|boxstyle_OAL= background-color:LavenderBlush; }}
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{{chart| | |ALM|~|NKH|-|BAP| |YAR|!|YAR=[[Yarsani]]s <br>([[Sultan Sahak]])|ALM=[[Al-Mustansir Billah|Al-Mustanṣir]]|NKH=[[Nasir Khusraw]]| | | | | |BAP=[[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region|Badakhshan]] & [[Badakhshan Province|Afgan]] [[Pamiris]] | boxstyle_NKH= background-color:Seashell; | boxstyle_BAP= background-color:Seashell;}}
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{{chart|HAS3112|HAS3112=[[Al-Musta'li]] ([[Musta'li]]s)| |MBM| |NIZ|NIZ=[[Nizār ibn al-Mustanṣir billāh|Al-Nizār]] <br>([[Nizārī]]s)| | | |YEZ|!|YEZ=[[Ostad Elahi]] <br>([[‘Ali-Ilahis]])| |BAM=[[Baha'uddin al-Muqtana|Baha'uddin Muqtana]]|ADD=[[Nashtakin al-Darazi|Nashtakin<br>al-Darazi]]|MBM=Muḥammad ibn [[Abū Tamīm Ma'add al-Mustanṣir bi-llāh|Abū Tamīm]] | boxstyle_HAS3112= background-color:#FFFFCC;| boxstyle_ADD= background-color:#FFFFCC;| boxstyle_NIZ= background-color:PapayaWhip; }}
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{{chart|TAQ|TAQ=[[At-Tayyib Abu'l-Qasim|At-Tayyib]] ([[Tayyibi]]s)|:|HAF|HAF=[[Al-Hafiz|Al-Ḥāfīz]] ([[Hafizi]]s)| |HAS|HAS=[[Hassan Ala Dhikrihi's Salam|Ḥasan ʿAlā]] ([[Alamut Castle|Alamūt]] [[Nizārī Ismā'īlī state|Nizārī]]s) | | | |ALN|!|ALN=[[Alians]] ([[Demir Baba Teke|Demir]] &[[Otman Baba]]s) | |  | boxstyle_HAF= background-color:LightYellow; | boxstyle_HAS= background-color:PapayaWhip; |boxstyle_TAQ= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_ALN= background-color:LavenderBlush; }}
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{{chart|ARW|ARW=[[Arwa al-Sulayhi|Arwa <br>al-Sulayhi]]|-|DAW|.|AGA| | | |HAR|HAR=[[Harabati baba tekke|Harabatis]] <br>([[Baba Rexheb]]) | | |DAW=[[Zoeb bin musa|Zoeb Musa]] ([[Dawoodi Bohra|Dawoodis]])|AGA=[[Aga Khan|Agha Khans]] ([[Imamate in Nizari doctrine|Nizārī Ismā'īlī]]s)|boxstyle_DRZ= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_DAW= background-color:#FFFFCC; | boxstyle_AGA= background-color:PapayaWhip; |HUS2232=[[Dawoodi Bohra#Intra-Bohra schisms|Other Bohra]]s|boxstyle_HAR= background-color:LavenderBlush; }}
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{{chart|SUL| |ALA|!|HEB|,|ATB| |SUL=[[Sulayman bin Hassan|Sulayman]] ([[Sulaymanis]]) |HEB=[[Hebtiahs Bohra]]|ALA=Ali bin Ibrāhim<br>([[Alavi Bohra]]) |PDB=[[Progressive Dawoodi Bohra|Progressive Dawoodis]] |boxstyle_HEB= background-color:#FFFFCC;|ATB=[[Abdul Hussain Jivaji|A . Hussain Jivaji]]<br> ([[Atba-i-Malak]]) | boxstyle_SUL= background-color:#FFFFCC; |boxstyle_ALA= background-color:#FFFFCC;| boxstyle_ATB= background-color:#FFFFCC;| }}
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{{chart|JAF| |PDB| |AMV| |AMB| |JAF=[[Jafari Bohras]] ([[Syed Jafar Ahmad Shirazi]])|PDB=[[Progressive Dawoodi Bohra|Progressive Dawoodis]] ([[Asghar Ali Engineer|Asghar Ali]])|AMB=[[Atba-e-Malak Badar|Atba-i-Malak Badar]] ([[Badruddin Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan Saheb|Ghulam Hussain Miya Khan]])|AMV=[[Atba-i-Malak Vakil]] ([[Abdul Qadir Ebrahimji|A. Qadir Ebrahimji]])|  boxstyle_PDB= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_AMB= background-color:#FFFFCC;|boxstyle_AMV= background-color:#FFFFCC;| }}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}

== See also ==
*[[Imams of Yemen]]
*[[Imamzadeh]]
*[[Ismah]]
*[[Mahdi]]
*[[Succession to Muhammad]]

== Footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{cite book |last1=al-Shaykh al-Saduq |author-link=Ibn Babawayh |year=2006 |title=Uyun Akhbar Al-Reza: The Source of Traditions on Imam Reza (a.s.) |volume=2 |url=http://www.maaref-foundation.com/english/library/hadith/uyun_akhbar_al_reza/ |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |location=Qomindex.htm |page=194 }}
* {{cite book |last=Al-Tabataba'i |first=Muhammad H. |year=1977 |title=Shi'ite Islam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be5DeNM8d1EC&pg=PA258 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-87395-390-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=al-Tijani al-Samawi |first=Muhammad |title=To Be with the Truthful |date=30 January 2013 |url=http://www.al-islam.org/be-truthful-muhammad-al-tijani-al-samawi/belief-imamate-both-sects#1-imamate-holy-qur’ān }}
* {{cite book |last=Amir-Moezzi |first=Mohammad Ali |date=27 September 1994 |title=The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4g6Od9f1rFAC&pg=PA115 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-2122-2 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Amir-Moezzi |first=Mohammad Ali |year=2005 |title=Shiʿite Doctrine |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |access-date=2014-07-07 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/shiite-doctrine }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Amir-Moezzi |first=Mohammad Ali |year=2007 |title=Islam in Iran vii. The Concept of Mahdi in Twelver Shiʿism |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/islam-in-iran-vii-the-concept-of-mahdi-in-twelver-shiism }}
* {{cite book |last=Amir-Moezzi |first=Mohammad Ali |date=15 February 2011 |title=The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Belief and Practices |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZadmgNbs91sC&pg=PA206  |publisher=I.B. Tauris |isbn=978-1-84511-738-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Ayoub |first=Mahmoud |author-link=Mahmoud M. Ayoub |year=1984 |title=The Qur'an and Its Interpreters |volume=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIXpFtvp2JYC&pg=PA156 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-87395-727-4 }}
* {{cite book |last=Chittick |first=William C. |year=1980|title=A Shi'ite Anthology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rMnFZOHkurcC&pg=PA138 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-87395-510-2 }}
* {{cite book |last=Corbin |first=Henry |author-link=Henry Corbin |year=1993 |title=History of Islamic Philosophy |translator1-first=Liadain |translator1-last=Sherrard |translator2-first=Philip |translator2-last=Sherrard |translator2-link=Philip Sherrard |location=London |publisher=Kegan Paul International in association with Islamic Publications for The Institute of Ismaili Studies |isbn=0-7103-0416-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Dungersi |first=Mohammed Raza |title=A Brief Biography of Imam Hasan bin Ali (a.s.): al-Askari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P1RkAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA3 |publisher=Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania |id=GGKEY:NT86H2HXN40 }}
* {{cite book |title=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. }}
* {{cite book |title=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]] |publisher=Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University |isbn=1-56859-050-4 |date=March 1997 }}
* {{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa |year=2004 |publisher=Gale Group |isbn=978-0-02-865769-1 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Halm |first=H. |year=1987 |title=ʿAskarī |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/askari-abu-mohammad-hasan-b }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last1=Kohlberg |first1=E. |last2=Poonawala |first2=I. K. |year=1985 |title=ʿAli B. Abi Ṭāleb |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-b-abi-taleb |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |access-date=2014-07-07 }}
* {{cite book |last=Martin |first=Richard C. |title=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World |volume=1: A–L |year=2004 |publisher=MacMillan |isbn=0-02-865604-0 }}
*{{cite book|last = Madelung|first = Wilferd|author-link = Wilferd Madelung|title = The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate|publisher = Cambridge University Press|year = 1997|isbn = 978-0-521-64696-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Madelung |first1=Wilferd |author-link1=Wilferd Madelung |last2=Daftary |first2=Farhad |author-link2=Farhad Daftary |last3=Meri |first3=Josef W. |author-link3=Josef W. Meri |year=2003 |title=Culture and Memory in Medieval Islam: Essays in Honor of Wilferd Madelung |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxqxdJGMkx8C&pg=PA338 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |isbn=978-1-86064-859-5 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |date=1985a |title='Alī Al-Hādī |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-al-hadi-abul-hasan-b }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |date=1985b |title=ʿAlī Al-Reżā |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-al-reza }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |year=1985c |title=ʿAlī Al-Reżā |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-al-reza |access-date=2007-11-09 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |year=1988  |title=Al-Baqer, Abu Jafar Mohammad |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica|access-date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/baqer-abu-jafar-mohammad }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |year=2003  |title=Hasan ibn Ali |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hasan-b-ali }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd |author-link=Wilferd Madelung |date=2004 |title=Ḥosayn B. ʿAli i. Life and Significance in Shiʿism |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Iranica |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hosayn-b-ali-i }}
* {{cite book |last=Mashita |first=Hiroyuki |year=2002 |title=Theology, ethics and metaphysics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ItWsAgAAQBAJ |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |location=London |isbn=9780700716708 }}
* {{cite book |last=Momen |first=Moojan |year=1985 |title=An Introduction to Shi'i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelve |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=0-300-03531-4 }}
* {{cite book |last=Motahhari |first=Morteza |author-link=Morteza Motahhari |title=Master and Mastership |publisher=Islamic Seminary Publications |asin=B0006E4J0C }}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Nasr |first=Seyyed Hossein |author-link=Seyyed Hossein Nasr |year=2007 |title=Ali |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005712/Ali }}
* {{cite book |last=Nasr |first=Seyyed Hossein |author-link=Hossein Nasr |date=2013 |title=Islamic Spirituality: Foundations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncz9AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-53895-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Nasr |first=Seyyed Vali Reza |year=2006 |title=The Shia Revival: How Conflicts Within Islam Will Shape the Future |url=https://archive.org/details/shiarevivalhowco00nasr |edition=1st |location=New York |publisher=Norton |isbn=0-393-06211-2 |url-access=registration }}
* {{cite book |last=Qurashi |first=Baqir Sharif |year=1999 |title=The Life of Imam Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Baqir |url=http://maaref-foundation.com/english/library/pro_ahl/imam05_baqir/imam_baqir/index.htm |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |isbn=9644380444 }}
* {{cite book |last=Qurashi |first=Baqir Shareef  |year=2005|title=The Life of Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad |url=http://maaref-foundation.com/english/library/pro_ahl/imam09_jawad/the_life_of_imam_jawad/index.htm |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |location=Qom }}
* {{cite book |last=Qurashi |first=Baqir Sharif |year=2007 |title=The Life of Imām Zayn al 'Abidin (A.S.) |url=http://maaref-foundation.com/english/library/pro_ahl/imam04_sajjad/zayn_al_abidin/index.htm |publisher=Ansariyan Publications |isbn=978-9644381652 }}
* {{cite book |last=Rizvi |first=Sayyid Saeed Akhtar |author-link=Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi |year=1988 |title=Imamate: The Vicegerency<!--sic: not viceregency--> of the Holy Prophet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0f2qAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA49 |publisher=Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania |isbn=978-9976-956-13-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Sachedina |first=Abdulaziz Abdulhussein |author-link=Abdulaziz Sachedina |title=The Just Ruler (al-sultān Al-ʻādil) in Shīʻite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence |publisher=Oxford University Press US |year=1988 |isbn=0-19-511915-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Tabatabai |first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn |author-link=Allameh Tabatabaei |year=1975 |title=Shi'ite Islam |translator=[[Seyyed Hossein Nasr|Sayyid Hossein Nasr]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be5DeNM8d1EC&pg=PA258 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=0-87395-390-8 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Tabataba'i |first1=Muhammad Husayn |date=2008 |title=Islamic Teachings in Brief |location=Qum |publisher=Ansariyan |url=http://www.al-islam.org/islamic-teachings-in-brief-allamah-tabatabai }}
*{{cite book|last=Yeomans|first=Richard |title=The art and architecture of islamic cairo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sNVBbTuPcPkC&pg=PA53|year=2006|publisher=Garnet & Ithaca Press|isbn=978-1-85964-154-5}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.imamah.com/ Al-imamah (emamah) page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027112603/http://www.imamah.com/ |date=2019-10-27 }}
*[http://al-islam.org/twelve/7.htm A brief introduction of Twelve Imams]
*[https://en.shafaqna.com/87990/shia-islam-history-and-doctrines/ Shia Islam: History and Doctrines]
*[http://www.islamology.com/InDepth/Beliefs/murajaat/murajaat/index.htm Al-Muraja'at] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924045726/http://www.islamology.com/InDepth/Beliefs/murajaat/murajaat/index.htm |date=2016-09-24 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080329020223/http://www.balagh.net/english/shia/shia/10.htm#00011 A Brief History Of The Lives Of The Twelve Imams] a chapter of [[Shi'ite Islam (book)]] by [[Allameh Tabatabaei]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20010422001750/http://www.geocities.com/ahlulbayt14/12imams.html "The Twelve Imams"]—Taken from ''A Shi'ite Anthology'' by [[Allameh Tabatabaei]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080618012237/http://www.ummah.net/khoei/imam.htm#12 A Short History of the Lives of The Twelve Imams]
*[http://slaveofali.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/imamah-in-the-quran-p1-introduction/ Imamah in the Qur'an]
*[https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9042173/imam "Imam"]—An article by ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080417024636/http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v12f4/v12f4011.html "Hojjat"]}} by [[Maria Massi Dakake|Maria Dakake]], an entry in the ''[[Encyclopædia Iranica]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041025093409/http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html Graphical illustration of the Shia sects]
*[http://www.shiacode.com/ The Shia Islamic Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825161911/http://www.shiacode.com/ |date=2019-08-25 }} (shiacode.com)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110624022630/http://www.ummah.net/Al_adaab/ahlibayt/imamate.html Imamah in Sunni Islam]

{{Shia Imams}}
{{Islamic Theology|state=collapsed}}
{{Islam topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Islamic state}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shia belief and doctrine]]
[[Category:Islamic states by type]]
[[Category:Islamic terminology]]
[[Category:Imamate]]