Editing Shia Islam (section)

====The Twelve Imams====
{{main|Imamate in Twelver doctrine|The Twelve Imams|Hadith of the Twelve Successors|l2 = Sunni reports about there being 12 successors to the Prophet}}
{{further|Occultation (Islam)|Reappearance of Hujjat Allah al-Mahdi|The Fourteen Infallibles}}

According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor of Muhammad is an [[Ismah|infallible]] human individual who not only rules over the [[Ummah|Muslim community]] with justice but also is able to keep and interpret the [[Sharia|divine law]] (''sharīʿa'') and its esoteric meaning. The words and deeds of Muhammad and the Twelve Imams are a guide and model for the Muslim community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and [[Islamic views on sin|sin]], and Imams must be chosen by [[Nass (Islam)|divine decree]] (''nass'') through Muhammad.<ref name="Nasr_a" /><ref name="Momen 1985, p. 174" /> The twelfth and final Imam is [[Muhammad al-Mahdi|Hujjat Allah al-Mahdi]], who is believed by Twelvers to be currently alive and hidden in [[Occultation (Islam)|Occultation]].<ref name="Imamat" />