Imamah: The History and Significance of Imamah in Islam

Imamah is a doctrine that emphasizes that certain members of the lineage of Prophet Muhammad are chosen by God as the spiritual and temporal leaders and guides of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad. Imamah is one of the core beliefs of Shi’a Islam, and it differs from the Sunni concept of caliphate, which is based on the election and consensus of the Muslim community.

The word imam means the one who stands or walks in front. He is the guide. It is commonly used to mean the person who leads the prayer in the mosque, or the head of a school. However, for the Shi’a Muslims, imam has a special and sacred meaning, as it refers to the infallible and divinely appointed successors of Muhammad, who have the authority and knowledge to interpret and implement the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

The origin of Imamah can be traced back to the question of succession after the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The majority of the Muslims, who later became known as the Sunnis, accepted Abu Bakr, the father-in-law and close friend of Muhammad, as the first caliph or successor of Muhammad. They recognized three more caliphs after Abu Bakr, namely Umar, Uthman, and Ali. The Sunnis believe that these four caliphs, also known as the Rashidun or the rightly guided ones, were the legitimate successors of Muhammad, and that the caliphate should be based on the election and consensus of the Muslim community.

However, a minority of the Muslims, who later became known as the Shi’a, believed that Muhammad had appointed Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, as his successor, and that the caliphate should be based on the divine designation and the bloodline of Muhammad. The Shi’a believe that Ali was the first imam, and that he was followed by eleven more imams, who were his descendants through his sons Hasan and Husayn. The Shi’a believe that these twelve imams, also known as the Twelvers, were the true and rightful successors of Muhammad, and that they possessed the qualities of infallibility, inspiration, and esoteric knowledge.

The Shi’a doctrine of Imamah is based on several sources, such as the Qur’an, the Hadith, the historical events, and the rational arguments. Some of the evidences that the Shi’a use to support their belief in Imamah are:

• The Qur’anic verses that mention the word imam or its derivatives, such as 2:124, 21:73, 32:24, and 36:12, which imply that God chooses and appoints the imams as the leaders and guides of the people.
• The Hadith of Ghadir Khumm, which is a narration that reports that Muhammad declared Ali as his successor and the mawla (master) of the Muslims at a place called Ghadir Khumm, on his way back from his farewell pilgrimage in 632 CE. The Shi’a consider this Hadith as the most authentic and decisive proof of Imamah.
• The Hadith of the Two Weighty Things, which is a narration that reports that Muhammad said that he was leaving behind two weighty things for the guidance of the Muslims: the Qur’an and his Ahl al-Bayt (the people of his household), and that whoever holds fast to them will never go astray. The Shi’a interpret the Ahl al-Bayt as the twelve imams, who are the custodians and interpreters of the Qur’an.
• The historical events that show the merits and virtues of the twelve imams, such as their knowledge, piety, courage, justice, and sacrifice, and their oppression and martyrdom at the hands of the tyrannical rulers, such as the Umayyads and the Abbasids, who usurped their rights and persecuted their followers.
• The rational arguments that demonstrate the necessity and importance of Imamah, such as the need for a divinely guided leader to preserve and protect the religion, to explain and implement the laws, to resolve the disputes, and to represent the will of God on earth.

The Shi’a doctrine of Imamah has several implications and consequences for the Shi’a faith and practice, such as:

• The love and reverence for the twelve imams, who are considered as the role models and the sources of guidance and inspiration for the Shi’a Muslims.
• The obedience and allegiance to the twelve imams, who are considered as the authorities and the representatives of God on earth, and whose commands and teachings are binding and obligatory for the Shi’a Muslims.
• The belief in the occultation and the return of the twelfth imam, who is also known as the Mahdi or the guided one, who is believed to be alive but hidden by God, and who will reappear at the end of times to establish justice and peace on earth.
• The recognition and respect for the scholars and the jurists, who are considered as the deputies and the spokespersons of the twelfth imam, and who have the right and the duty to derive and disseminate the religious rulings and the legal opinions for the Shi’a Muslims.

Imamah is a distinctive and fundamental belief of Shi’a Islam, and it is one of the main differences between the Shi’a and the Sunni Muslims. Imamah is a doctrine that reflects the Shi’a understanding and appreciation of the leadership and the guidance that God has provided for the Muslim community through the twelve imams, who are the spiritual and temporal successors of Muhammad. Imamah is a doctrine that expresses the Shi’a devotion and loyalty to the twelve imams, who are the infallible and divinely appointed leaders and guides of the Shi’a Muslims.