Editing Imam (section)

==Sunni imams==
[[Sunni Islam]] does not conceive of the role of imams in the same sense as [[Shia Islam]]: an important distinction often overlooked by non-Muslims. In everyday terms, an ''imam'' for Sunni Muslims is the person charged with leading formal Islamic prayers ([[Fard]]){{em dash}}even in locations besides the mosque{{em dash}}whenever prayer is performed in a group of two or more. The imam leads the worship and the congregation copies his actions. [[Friday Sermon|Friday sermons]] are most often given by an appointed imam. All mosques have an imam to lead the congregational prayers{{em dash}}even though it may sometimes just be a member from the gathered congregation rather than an officially appointed, salaried person. [[Women as imams|Women cannot be imams]] when men are present but are allowed to be when no men are present. An imam should be chosen, according to [[Hadith]],{{which|date = July 2024}} based on his knowledge of the [[Quran]] and ''[[Sunnah]]'' and his moral character.

===Title of scholarly authority===

Another well-known use of the term is as an honorary title for a recognized religious scholarly authority in Islam. It is especially used for a [[Faqīh|jurist (''faqih'')]] and often for the founders of the four Sunni ''[[madhhab]]''s or schools of [[fiqh|jurisprudence (''fiqh'')]], as well as an authority on [[Tafsir|Quranic exegesis (''tafsir'')]], such as [[Al-Tabari]] or [[Ibn Kathir]].

It may also refer to the [[Muhaddith|''Muhaddithūn'']] or scholars who created the analytical sciences related to [[Hadith]]; due to their scholarly authority, the term may also refer to the heads of [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]]'s family in their generational times.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dhami|first1=Sangeeta|last2=Sheikh|first2=Aziz|date=November 2000|title=The Muslim family|journal=Western Journal of Medicine|volume=173|issue=5|pages=352–356|issn=0093-0415|pmc=1071164|pmid=11069879|doi=10.1136/ewjm.173.5.352}}</ref>

{{Infobox occupation
| name               = Imam Ibrahim Hawlery
| synonyms           = 
| pronounce          = 
| image              = 
| imagesize          = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| official_names     = 
| type               = [[vocation]]
| activity_sector    = religion
| competencies       = Knowledge of Quran and Sunnah, religious devotion
| formation          = Madrassa, [[İmam Hatip school]] or university education
| employment_field   = Mosque
| related_occupation = [[Mufti]]
}}

=== The position of imams in Turkey ===
Imams are appointed by the state to work at mosques and they are required to be graduates of an [[İmam Hatip school|İmam Hatip high school]] or have a university degree in theology. This is an official position regulated by the [[Presidency of Religious Affairs]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diyanet.gov.tr/en/home |title=Presidency of Religious Affairs|website=www.diyanet.gov.tr}}</ref> in Turkey and only men are appointed to this position, whilst female officials under the same state organisation work as preachers and Qur'an course tutors, religious services experts, etc. These officials are supposed to belong to the [[Hanafi school]] of the Sunni sect.

A central figure in an Islamic movement is also called an imam, like [[Al-Nawawi|Imam Nawawi]] in Syria.