Editing Imam (section)

==Shia imams==
{{Main|Imamate in Shia doctrine|Twelve Imams}}

In the Shi'a context, an imam is not only presented as the man of God ''par excellence'', but as participating fully in the names, attributes, and acts that theology usually reserves for God alone.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Amir-Moezzi|first1=Ali|title=Spirituality and Islam |date=2008 |publisher=Tauris |location=London |isbn=9781845117382|page=103}}</ref> Imams have a meaning more central to belief, referring to leaders of the community. [[Twelver]] and [[Ismaili]] Shi'a believe that these imams are chosen by God to be perfect examples for the faithful and to lead all humanity in all aspects of life. They also believe that all the imams chosen are free from committing any sin, impeccability which is called ''[[ismah]]''. These leaders must be followed since they are appointed by God.

===Twelver===
Here follows a list of the [[Twelver Shi`ism|Twelvers]] Shia imams:

{|class="wikitable" width="100%" style="background:#ffffff;"
|- style="border-bottom:3px solid #CCCCFF"
! Number !! Name<br />(Full/[[Kunya (Arabic)|Kunya]]) !! Title<br />([[Arabic language|Arabic]]/[[Turkish language|Turkish]])<ref>The imam's Arabic titles are used by the majority of Twelver Shia who use [[Arabic]] as a [[liturgical language]], including the [[Usooli]], [[Akhbari]], [[Shaykhi]], and to a lesser extent [[Alawites|Alawi]]. Turkish titles are generally used by [[Alevi]], a fringe Twelver group, who make up around 10% of the world Shia population. The titles for each imam literally translate as "First Ali", "Second Ali", and so forth. {{cite book | last = Mattar | first = Philip | title = Encyclopedia of the modern Middle East & North Africa | publisher = Macmillan Reference USA | location = Detroit, Mich | year = 2004 | isbn = 9780028657691 }}</ref>!! Birth–Death<br />([[Common Era|CE]]/[[Islamic calendar|AH]]){{efn|The abbreviation CE refers to the [[Common Era]] [[solar calendar]], while AH refers to the Islamic [[Islamic calendar|Hijri]] [[lunar calendar]].}}!! Importance !! Birthplace (present day country) !! Place of death and burial
|-
|1
|[[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]]<br />علي بن أبي طالب<hr>Abu al-Hassan or Abu al-Husayn<br /> أبو الحسین or أبو الحسن
|[[Amir al-Mu'minin]]<br />(Commander of the Faithful)<ref name="Ali in Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Nasr |first=Seyyed Hossein | author-link=Seyyed Hossein Nasr | title=Ali | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online | access-date=2007-10-12|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005712/Ali}}</ref><hr>Birinci Ali<ref name="Alevi">{{cite book | last = Mattar | first = Philip | title = Encyclopedia of the modern Middle East & North Africa | publisher = Macmillan Reference USA | location = Detroit, Mich | year = 2004 | isbn = 9780028657691 }}</ref>
|600–661<ref name="Ali in Britannica"/><hr>23&nbsp;BH–40<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp.190-192</ref>
|The first [[imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)|imam]] and [[Succession to Muhammad|successor of Muhammad]] in [[Shia Islam]]; however, the [[Sunni]]s acknowledge him as the [[Rashidun|fourth Caliph]] as well. He holds a high position in almost all [[Sufism|Sufi]] [[Tariqah|Muslim orders]] (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.<ref name="Ali in Britannica"/>
|[[Mecca]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Ali in Britannica"/>
|Assassinated by [[Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam]], a [[Kharijite]] in [[Kufa]], who slashed him with a poisoned sword.<ref name="Ali in Britannica"/><ref>Tabatabae (1979), p.192</ref> Buried at the [[Imam Ali Shrine|Imam Ali Mosque]] in [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]].
|-
|2
|[[Hasan ibn Ali|Hassan ibn Ali]]<br />الحسن بن علي<hr>Abu Muhammad<br />أبو محمد
|al-Mujtaba<hr>İkinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|624–670<ref name="Hasan in Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia| title=Hasan | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039439/Hasan }}</ref>
----3–50<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp.194–195</ref>
|He was the eldest surviving grandson of [[Muhammad]] through Muhammad's daughter, [[Fatimah Zahra]]. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in [[Kufa]], and on the basis of peace treaty with [[Muawiya I]], he relinquished control of [[Iraq]] following a reign of seven months.<ref name="Hasan ibn Ali Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Madelung |first=Wilferd | author-link=Wilferd Madelung | title=Hasan ibn Ali | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2008-03-23 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hasan-b-ali}}</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Hasan in Britannica"/>
|Poisoned by his wife in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>Tabatabae (1979), p.195</ref> Buried in [[Jannat al-Baqi]].
|-
|3
|[[Husayn ibn Ali]]<br />الحسین بن علي<hr>Abu Abdillah<br />أبو عبدالله
|Sayed al-Shuhada<hr>Üçüncü Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|626–680<ref name="Husayn in Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia| title=al-Husayn | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9041622/al-Husayn-ibn-Ali }}</ref>
----4–61<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp.196–199</ref>
|He was a grandson of [[Muhammad]]. Husayn opposed the validity of [[Caliph]] [[Yazid I]]. As a result, he and his family were later killed in the [[Battle of Karbala]] by Yazid's forces. After this incident, the [[commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali]] has become a central ritual in Shia identity.<ref name="Husayn in Britannica"/><ref name="Husayn ibn Ali Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Calmard |first=Jean | title=Husayn ibn Ali | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2008-03-23 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/hosayn-b-ali }}</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Husayn in Britannica"/>
|Killed on [[Day of Ashura]] (10 Muharram) and beheaded at the [[Battle of Karbala]].<ref name="Husayn in Britannica"/> Buried at the [[Imam Husayn Shrine]] in [[Karbala]], [[Iraq]].
|-
|4
|[[Ali ibn Husayn|Ali ibn al-Hussein]]<br />علي بن الحسین<hr>Abu Muhammad<br />أبو محمد
|al-Sajjad, Zain al-Abedin<ref name="Ali ibn Husayn in Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd | author-link=Wilferd Madelung | title='ALĪ B. AL-ḤOSAYN | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-b-hosayn-b-ali }}</ref>
----Dördüncü Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|658–9<ref name="Ali ibn Husayn in Iranica"/> – 712<ref name="Tabatabae">Tabatabae (1979), p.202</ref>
----38<ref name="Ali ibn Husayn in Iranica"/>–95<ref name="Tabatabae"/>
|Author of prayers in [[Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya]], which is known as "The Psalm of [[Ahl al-Bayt|the Household of the Prophet]]."<ref name="Tabatabae"/>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Ali ibn Husayn in Iranica"/>
|According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph [[al-Walid I]] in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="Tabatabae"/> Buried in [[Jannat al-Baqi]].
|-
|5
|[[Muhammad al-Baqir|Muhammad ibn Ali]]<br />محمد بن علي<hr>Abu Ja'far<br />أبو جعفر
|al-Baqir al-Ulum<br />
(splitting open knowledge)<ref name="Muhammad al-Baqir in Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd | author-link=Wilferd Madelung | title=AL-BAQER, ABU JAFAR MOHAMMAD | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/baqer-abu-jafar-mohammad }}</ref>
----Beşinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
| 677–732<ref name="Muhammad al-Baqir in Iranica"/>
----57–114<ref name="Muhammad al-Baqir in Iranica"/>
|Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent [[Faqih|legal scholars]], teaching many students during his tenure.<ref name="Muhammad al-Baqir in Iranica"/><ref>Tabatabae (1979), p.203</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Muhammad al-Baqir in Iranica"/>
|According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]] on the order of Caliph [[Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik]].<ref name="Tabatabae"/> Buried in [[Jannat al-Baqi]].
|-
|6
|[[Jafar al-Sadiq|Ja'far ibn Muhammad]]<br />جعفر بن محمد<hr>Abu Abdillah<br />أبو عبدالله
|al-Sadiq<ref name="Jafar al-Sadiq">Tabatabae (1979), p.203-204</ref>
<br />(the Trustworthy)
----Altıncı Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
| 702–765<ref name="Jafar al-Sadiq"/>
----83–148<ref name="Jafar al-Sadiq"/>
|Established the [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]] and developed the [[Theology of Shia]]. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including [[Abu Hanifah]] and [[Malik ibn Anas]] in [[fiqh]], [[Wasil ibn Ata]] and [[Hisham ibn Hakam]] in [[Kalam|Islamic theology]], and [[Jābir ibn Hayyān]] in science and [[alchemy]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| title= Wāṣil ibn ʿAṭāʾ| encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |date = 1 January 2019 |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9076198/Wasil-ibn-Ata }}</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Jafar al-Sadiq"/>
|According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]] on the order of Caliph [[Al-Mansur]].<ref name="Jafar al-Sadiq"/> Buried in [[Jannat al-Baqi]].
|-
|7
|[[Musa al-Kazim|Musa ibn Ja'far]]<br />موسی بن جعفر<hr>Abu al-Hassan I<br />أبو الحسن الأول<ref name="Ali al-Reza in Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd | author-link=Wilferd Madelung | title='ALĪ AL-HĀDĪ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2007-11-09 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-al-reza}}</ref>
|al-Kazim<ref name="Musa al-Kazim">Tabatabae (1979), p.205</ref>
----Yedinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|744–799<ref name="Musa al-Kazim"/>
----128–183<ref name="Musa al-Kazim"/>
|Leader of the Shia community during the schism of [[Ismaili]] and other branches after the death of the former imam, [[Jafar al-Sadiq]].<ref>Tabatabae (1979)  p. 78</ref> He established the network of agents who collected [[khums]] in the Shia community of the Middle East and the [[Greater Khorasan]].<ref>Sachedina (1988), pp.53–54</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Musa al-Kazim"/>
|Imprisoned and poisoned in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]] on the order of Caliph [[Harun al-Rashid]]. Buried in the [[Kazimayn|Kazimayn shrine]] in Baghdad.<ref name="Musa al-Kazim"/>
|-
|8
|[[Ali al-Rida|Ali ibn Musa]]<br />علي بن موسی<hr><ref name="Ali al-Reza in Iranica"/>
|al-Rida, Reza<ref name="Ali al-Reza">Tabatabae (1979), pp.205–207</ref>
----Sekizinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|765–817<ref name="Ali al-Reza"/>
----148–203<ref name="Ali al-Reza"/>
|Made crown-prince by Caliph [[Al-Ma'mun]], and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.<ref name="Ali al-Reza"/>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Ali al-Reza"/>
|According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in [[Mashad]], [[Iran]] on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun. Buried in the [[Imam Reza shrine]] in [[Mashad]].<ref name="Ali al-Reza"/>
|-
|9
|[[Muhammad al-Taqi|Muhammad ibn Ali]]<br />محمد بن علي<hr>Abu Ja'far<br />أبو جعفر
|al-Taqi, al-Jawad<ref name="Muhammad al-Taqi">Tabatabae (1979), p. 207</ref>
----Dokuzuncu Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|810–835<ref name="Muhammad al-Taqi"/>
----195–220<ref name="Muhammad al-Taqi"/>
|Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the [[Abbasid caliphate]].
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Muhammad al-Taqi"/>
|Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]] on the order of Caliph [[Al-Mu'tasim]]. Buried in the [[Kazmain|Kazmain shrine]] in Baghdad.<ref name="Muhammad al-Taqi"/>
|-
|10
|[[Ali al-Hadi|Ali ibn Muhammad]]<br />علي بن محمد<hr>Abu al-Hassan III<br />أبو الحسن الثالث<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica"/>
|al-Hadi, al-Naqi<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Madelung |first=Wilferd | author-link=Wilferd Madelung | title='ALĪ AL-HĀDĪ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ali-al-hadi-abul-hasan-b}}</ref>
----Onuncu Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|827–868<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica"/>
----212–254<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica"/>
|Strengthened the network of [[Vakil|deputies]] in the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the [[khums]] and religious vows.<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica"/>
|Surayya, a village near [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Ali al-Hadi in Iranica"/>
|According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in [[Samarra]], [[Iraq]] on the order of Caliph [[Al-Mu'tazz]].<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp.208–209</ref> Buried in the [[Al Askari Mosque]] in Samarra.
|-
|11
|[[Hasan al-Askari|Hassan ibn Ali]]<br />الحسن بن علي<hr>Abu Muhammad<br />أبو محمد
|al-Askari<ref name="al-Askari in Iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Halm |first=H | title='ASKARĪ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Iranica | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/askari-abu-mohammad-hasan-b}}</ref>
----Onbirinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|846–874<ref name="al-Askari in Iranica"/>
----232–260<ref name="al-Askari in Iranica"/>
|For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, [[Al-Mu'tamid]], placed restrictions on him after the death of his father. Repression of the Shi'ite population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power.<ref>Tabatabae (1979)  pp. 209–210</ref>
|[[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="al-Askari in Iranica"/>
|According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph [[Al-Mu'tamid]] in [[Samarra]], [[Iraq]]. Buried in [[Al Askari Mosque]] in Samarra.<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp.209–210</ref>
|-
|12
|[[Muhammad al-Mahdi|Muhammad ibn al-Hassan]]<br />محمد بن الحسن<hr>Abu al-Qasim<br />أبو القاسم
|[[Mahdi|al-Mahdi]], Hidden Imam,  al-Hujjah<ref name="al-Hujjah in Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia| title=Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujjah | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online | access-date=2007-11-08 |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9054165/Muhammad-al-Mahdi-al-Hujjah}}</ref>
----Onikinci Ali<ref name = "Alevi"/>
|868–unknown<ref name="al-Hujjah">Tabatabae (1979), pp.210–211</ref>
----255–unknown<ref name="al-Hujjah"/>
|According to Twelver doctrine, he is the current imam and the promised [[Mahdi]], a messianic figure who will return with [[Jesus in Islam|Isa]] (Jesus). He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.<ref>Tabatabae (1979), pp. 211–214</ref>
|[[Samarra]], [[Iraq]]<ref name="al-Hujjah"/>
|According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in the [[Occultation (Islam)|Occultation]] since 872, which shall continue as long as God wills it.<ref name="al-Hujjah"/>
|-
|}

[[Fatimah]], also Fatimah al-Zahraa, daughter of Muhammed (615–632), is also considered infallible but not an Imam. The Shi'a believe that the last Imam, the 12th Imam [[Mahdi]] will one day emerge on the [[Day of Resurrection]] (''Qiyamah'').

=== Ismaili ===
: ''See [[Imamah (Ismaili doctrine)]] and [[List of Ismaili imams]] for Ismaili imams.''

===Zaidi===
:''See details under [[Zaidiyyah]], [[Islamic history of Yemen]] and [[Imams of Yemen]].''