Imams of the Shi'a

This article is about the twelve Imams of Shi'a. For the principle of Shi'a school, see Imamate.

Imāms (a) of the Shīʿa are twelve men from the progeny of the Prophet (s) who are, according to Shi'a teachings, successors of the Prophet (s) and the guardians and leaders of the society after the Prophet (s). The first Imam (a) is Imam 'Ali (a) and the other Imams (a) are his and lady Fatima's (a) sons and grandsons.

These Imams (a) are appointed by God. Divine knowledge, infallibility and the right of intercession [for people] are bestowed them by Allah. One can get closer to God through making tawassul to them. In addition to religious authority, Imams (a) have the political leadership of the society. Verses of the Qur'an have discussed the issue of imamate without mentioning the names of the Imams (a); such as the verses of Uli al-Amr, Tathir, al-Wilaya, al-Ikmal, al-Tabligh and al-Sadiqin.

In some narrations from the Prophet (s), the qualities, the names and the number of Imams (a) have been mentioned; such as Hadith al-Thaqalayn, Hadith of Manzila, Hadith of Safina, Hadith of Yawm al-Dar, Hadith of Madinat al-'Ilm, Hadith al-Tayr al-Mashwiy, Hadith al-Rayat, Hadith al-Kisa', Hadith of Jabir and Hadith of the Twleve Caliphs. According to these narrations, all of Imams (a) are from Quraysh and they are the Ahl al-Bayt (a) (household) of the Prophet (s) and the last Imam (a) is the Promised Mahdi (a).

Also, there are many hadiths from the Prophet (s)about the imamate of Imam Ali (a) who is the first Imam (a). Also, there are hadiths from the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a) which have explicitly mentioned the imamate of the second Imam (a). Afterwards, every Imam (a) explicitly has introduced the Imam (a) after himself. According to these explicit mentioning, Imams (a) and the caliphs after the Prophet (s) are twelve. Accordingly, the successors of the Prophet (s) are the following twelve individuals: Ali b. Abi Talib (a), al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a), al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a), 'Ali b. al-Husayn (a), Muhammad b. 'Ali (a), Ja'far b. Muhammad (a), Musa b. Ja'far (a), 'Ali b. Musa (a), Muhammad b. 'Ali al-Jawad (a), 'Ali b. Muhammad (a), al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a) and Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Mahdi (a).

The majority of the Shi'a maintain that the eleven Imam (a) were martyred; the last Imam, the Promised Mahdi (a), is alive and in occultation. He will return in future and establish justice on earth.

Position among Shi'a

The belief in the imamate of the Twelve Imams (a) is among fundamental beliefs of the Twelver Shi'a and many reports from the Prophet (s) and Imams (a) in available hadiths references support it. Shi'a exegetes and theologians believe that the Qur'an has referred to this belief implicitly in the Uli l-Amr, al-Tathir, al-Wilayah, al-Ikmal, al-Tabligh, and al-Sadiqin verses.

In the Shiite view, the Imams (a) have the duties of the Prophet (s) such as explaining the Quran, teaching religious rulings, training the members of society, answering religious questions, establishing justice in society, and protecting Islam. The difference between them and the Prophet (s) is only in receiving revelation and divine law.

According to Twelver Shi'a beliefs, the imamate of the Twelve Imams (a) began with demise of the Holy Prophet (s) in 11/632 and the imamate of Imam 'Ali (a) and have continued until now without interruption. Since 260/874, after Imam al-'Askari's (a) demise and transition of Imamate to his son, Imam al-Mahdi (aj), the imamate turned from apparent state to occultation and the long term imamate of Imam al-Mahdi's (a) has been in occultation.

Shi'a believe that Imams (a) are infallible and have knowledge of the unseen; and also believe that one can get close to God through making tawassul to them. Visiting the graves of Imams (a) is among Shi'a traditions and they are known to have the position of making shafa'a (intercession).

Characteristics

In the view of the majority of the Shiʿa, the Twelve Imams (a) have the following characteristics:

• Infallibility: The Imams (a), like the Prophet (s) are immune to all sins and mistakes.

• Superiority: The Imams (a) are superior to all prophets (except Prophet Muhammad [s]), angels, and the rest of people. The hadiths that indicate the superiority of the Imams (a) to all creation are considered to be massively transmitted.

• Knowledge of the Hidden: God has bestowed upon the Imams (a) the knowledge of Hidden realities.

• creative and legislative wilaya: Most Twelver Shiite scholars maintain that the Imams (a) have creative wilaya, and they also agree that the Imams (a) have legislative wilaya in the sense of having control over the lives and properties of people. According to some hadiths, the Imams (a) also have legislative authority in the sense of having the right to legislate religious rulings.

• Intercession: Like the Prophet (s), the Imams (a) have the position of intercession.

• Religious and scholarly authority: According to a number of hadiths like Hadith al-Thaqalayn and Hadith al-Safina, the Imams have religious and scholarly authority, and people must refer to them in religious matters.

• Leadership and society: The leadership of the Muslim society after the Prophet (s) belongs to the Imams (a).

• Obedience:According to Qur'an 4:59, it is obligatory on people to obey the Imams (a), as it is obligatory to obey God and the Prophet (s).

The majority of Shiite scholars maintain that the first eleven Imams (a) were martyred and the Twelfth Imam (a) too will be martyred. They adduce some hadiths in this regard, such as the one which reads, "By God, there is none of us but murdered and martyred."

Proofs of Imamate

Main article: Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a)

Proofs for Imamate have always been an important topic of books for Twelver Shi'a and Shi'a scholars have many works with different approaches about that. Kitab Sulaym b. Qays al-Hilali's written in late 1st/7th century is among the oldest works in which the Twelve Imams (a) are mentioned.

About the explicit mentioning of the Twelve Imams (a), there are works such as Ibn 'Ayyash al-Jawhari's Muqtadab al-athar (d. 401/1010-1) and al-Khazzaz al-Qummi's Kifayat al-athar (late 4th/10th century) in which their authors have made efforts to collect narrations about the explicit mentioning of the Twelve Imams (a) from different Shi'a and Sunni sources.

In addition to the books of nusus (explicit references), other works under the general title of "Dala'il al-Imama" (proofs for imamate) about the Imams' (a) acts of wonder and miracles can be mentioned such as Dala'il al-imama attributed to Ibn Rustam al-Tabari (printed 1383/1963, Najaf), or works under the general title of "al-Wasiyya" which explain the transmission of deputyship in the chain of the Twelve Imams (a) such as al-Mas'udi's Ithbat al-wasiyya (printed Najaf, Haydariyyah library).

Proving the imamate of the Twelve Imams (a) based on hadith has also been a focus of Twelver Shi'a theologians and many important theological works have been dedicated to this topic. Among the most famous of these hadiths are Hadith al-Thaqalayn, Hadith al-Manzila, Hadith al-Safina, Hadith Yawm al-Dar, Hadith Madinat al-'Ilm, Hadith al-Tayr al-Mashwiy, Hadith al-Rayat, Hadith al-Kisa', Hadith of Jabir, and Hadith of the Twleve Caliphs.

The Hadith of Jabir

Main article: Hadith of Jabir b. 'Abd Allah

After the revelation of Qur'an 4:59, Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari asked the Prophet (s) about the meaning of the expression "those vested with authority among you." The Prophet (s) responded, “Those are my successors and the leaders of Muslims after me; the first of them is Ali b. Abi Talib, and after him al-Hasan, al-Husayn, 'Ali b. al-Husayn (a), Muhammad b. 'Ali (a), Ja'far b. Muhammad (a), Musa b. Ja'far (a), 'Ali b. Musa (a), Muhammad b. 'Ali (a), 'Ali b. Muhammad (a), al-Hasan al-'Askari (a) and after him, his son who has the same name and teknonym as me.”

Hadith of the Twelve Caliphs

Main article: Hadith of Twelve Caliphs

In addition to Shi'a hadiths, there are certain hadiths narrated in Sunni sources referring to twelve caliphs or imams after the Prophet (s). During the 1st/7th century, there are hadiths narrated from some of the Companions of the Prophet (s), giving the good news about twelve imams (a) after the Prophet (s) which were being circulated in various meetings. Among those hadiths, the hadith narrated by Jabir b. Samura which is mentioned in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim is the most famous one. In this hadith, it is mentioned that emirs (imams or caliphs) after the Prophet (s) are 12 from Quraysh. This hadith which is among the most famous hadiths in the Islamic world, was first mentioned in Sunni sources and then in Shi'a sources.

In a lower level, a hadith narrated from Ibn Mas'ud can be mentioned which implies that the number of caliphs after the Prophet (s) are twelve as the same number of the chiefs of Banu Israel. Sunni scholars give a different interpretation of these twelve imams and introduce people other than the Imams (a) of Shi'a.

Introducing the Imams (a) of Shi'a

Twelver Shiites believe that based on rational arguments as well as traditional evidence, such as the massively transmitted Hadith al-Ghadir and Hadith al-Manzila, the immediate rightful successor of the Prophet (s) was Ali b. Abi Talib (a). After Imam Ali (a) the divinely appointed leaders of the Muslim ummah were Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a), Imam al-Sajjad (a), Imam al-Baqir (a), Imam al-Sadiq (a), Imam al-Kazim (a), Imam al-Rida (a), Imam al-Jawad (a), Imam al-Hadi (a), Imam al-Askari (a) and Imam al-Mahdi (a).

Name	Titles	Teknonym	Day of Birth	Year of Birth	Birth place	Day of Martyrdom	Year of Martyrdom	Place of Martyrdom	Imamate	Duration of Imamate	Mother's name
'Ali b. Abi Talib (a)	Amir al-Mu'minin	Abu l-Hasan	13 Rajab/10 October	23 BH/600	Ka'ba	21 Ramadan/28 January	40/661	Kufa	11/632-40/661	29 years	Fatima bt. Asad
al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a)	Al-Mujtaba	Abu Muhammad	15 Ramadan/1 March	3/625	Medina	28 Safar/27 March	50/670	Medina	40/661-50/670	10 years	Lady Fatima (a)
al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a)	Sayyid al-Shuhada'	Abu 'Abd Allah	3 Sha'ban/8 January	4/626		10 Muharram/10 October	61/680	Karbala	50/670-61/680	10 years
'Ali b. al-Husayn (a)	al-Sajjad, Zayn al-'abidin	Abu l-Hasan	5 Sha'ban/6 January	38/659		25 Muharram/20 October	95/713	Medina	61/680-95/713	35 years	Shahrbanu
Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)	Baqir al-'ulum	Abu Ja'far	1 Rajab/10 May	57/677		7 Dhu l-Hijja/28 January	114/733		95/713-114/733	19 years	Fatima
Ja'far b. Muhammad (a)	al-Sadiq	Abu 'Abd Allah	17 Rabi' I/20 April	83/702		25 Shawwal/14 December	148/765		114/733-148/765	34 years	Fatima
Musa b. Ja'far (a)	al-Kazim	Abu l-Hasan	7 Safar/8 November	128/745		25 Rajab/1 September	183/799	Kadhimiyya	148/765-183/799	35 years	Hamida al-Barbariyya
'Ali b. Musa (a)	al-Rida	Abu l-Hasan	11 Dhu l-Qa'da/29 December	148/765		End of Safar/5 September	203/818	Mashhad	183/799-203/818	20 years	Najma
Muhammad b. 'Ali (a)	al-Taqi, al-Jawad	Abu Ja'far	10 Rajab/8 April	195/811		End of Dhu l-Qa'da/25 November	220/835	Kadhimiyya	203/818-220/835	17 years	Sabika
'Ali b. Muhammad (a)	al-Hadi, al-Naqi	Abu l-Hasan	15 Dhu l-Hijja/6 March	212/828		3 Rajab/28 June	254/868	Samarra	220/835-254/868	34 years	Samana al-Maghribiyya
al-Hasan b. 'Ali (a)	al-Zakiyy, al-'Askari	Abu Muhammad	8 Rabi' II/2 December	232/846		8 Rabi' I/1 January	260/874		254/868-260/874	6 years	Hudayth
Hujja b. al-Hasan (a)	al-Qa'im	Abu l-Qasim	15 Sha'ban/29 July	255/869	Samarra	Since 260/874 up to(1446)					Narjis

Imam Ali (a)

The shrine of Imam 'Ali (a) in Najaf, Iraq.

Main article: Imam 'Ali (a)

Imam Ali (a), was son of Abu Talib, uncle of Prophet (s) and an important leader of Banu Hashim. Abu Talib adopted the Prophet (s) in his childhood and raised him in his house. He was alive until after beginning of the Prophet's (s) mission and supported the Prophet (s) and protected him against the threats posed by Arab disbelievers and especially Quraysh.

At the time of the Prophet (s)

Imams	Life span & Duration of Imamate	Caliphs
Imam 'Ali (a)	Life span: (b.3 BH/600 - d.40/661)	Abu Bakr • 'Umar b. Khattab • 'Uthman b. 'Affan
	Duration of Imamate: (b.3 BH/600 - d.40/661)
Imam al-Hasan (a)	Life span: (b. 3/625 - d. 50/670)	Abu Bakr • 'Umar b. Khattab • 'Uthman b. 'Affan • Imam 'Ali (a) • Mu'awiya
	Duration of Imamate: 40/661 - 50/670
Imam al-Husayn (a)	Life span: (b. 4/626 - d. 61/680)	Abu Bakr • 'Umar b. Khattab • 'Uthman b. 'Affan • Imam 'Ali (a) • Imam al-Hasan (a) • Mu'awiya • Yazid b. Mu'awiya
	Duration of Imamate: 50/670 - 61/680
Imam al-Sajjad (a)	Life span: (b. 38/658 – d. 94/713)	Imam 'Ali • Imam al-Hasan (a) • Mu'awiya • Yazid • Mu'awyia b. Yazid • Marwan b. Hakam • 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan • Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik
	Duration of Imamate: b. 61/680 – 94/713
Imam al-Baqir (a)	Life span: (b. 57/677 – d. 114/733)	Mu'awiya • Yazid b. Mu'awiya • Mu'awyia b. Yazid • Marwan b. Hakam • 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan • Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik • Sulayman b. 'Abd al-Malik • 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz • Yazid b. 'Abd al-Malik • Hisham b. 'Abd al-Malik
	Duration of Imamate: 94/713 - 114/733
Imam al-Sadiq (a)	Life span: (b. 83/704 – d. 148/765)	'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan • Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik • • Sulayman b. 'Abd al-Malik • 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz • Yazid b. 'Abd al-Malik • Hisham b. 'Abd al-Malik • Walid b. Yazid • Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik • Ibrahim b. Walid • Marwan b. Muhammad • Abu l-'Abbas al-Saffah • al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi
	Duration of Imamate: 114/733 - 148/765
Imam al-Kazim (a)	Life span: (b. 128/745 - d. 183/799)	Marwan b. Muhammad • Abu l-'Abbas al-Saffah • al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi • al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi • al-Hadi al-'Abbasi • Harun al-Rashid
	Duration of Imamate: 148/765 - 183/799
Imam al-Rida (a)	Life span: (b. 148/766 – d. 203/818)	Al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi • Mahdi al-'Abbasi • Hadi al-'Abbasi • Harun al-Rashid • Amin al-'Abbasi • Ma'mun al-'Abbasi
	Duration of Imamate: 183/799 - 203/818
Imam al-Jawad (a)	Life span: (b. 195/811 - d. 220/835)	Amin al-'Abbasi • Ma'mun al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tasam al-'Abbasi
	Duration of Imamate: 203/818 - 220/835
Imam al-Hadi (a)	Life span: (b. 212/828 - d. 254/868)	Ma'mun al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tasam al-'Abbasi • al-Wathiq bi Allah • al-Mutawakkil al-'Abbasi • al-Muntasir al-'Abbasi • al-Musta'in al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tazz al-'Abbasi
	Duration of Imamate: 220/835 - 254/868
Imam al-'Askari (a)	Life span: (b. 232/846 - d. 260/874)	al-Mutawakkil al-'Abbasi • al-Muntasir al-'Abbasi • al-Musta'in al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tazz al-'Abbasi • al-Muhtadi al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tamad al-'Abbasi
	Duration of Imamate: 254/835 - 260/874
Imam al-Mahdi (a)	Life span: (b. 255/869 - alive)	al-Mu'tazz al-'Abbasi • al-Muhtadi al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tamad al-'Abbasi • al-Mu'tadad al-'Abbasi • al-Muktafi al-'Abbasi • al-Muqtadir al-'Abbasi • al-Qahir al-'Abbasi • al-Radi al-'Abbasi • ...
	Duration of Imamate: 260/874 - alive

'Ali (a), (based on the most famous reports), was born ten years before the beginning of the Prophet's (s) mission. Six years after the famine which struck Mecca and its suburbs, 'Ali (a) moved to the house of the Prophet (s) following the Prophet's (s) request and since then was adopted and raised by him (s).

At the beginning of the Prophet's (s) mission, when he (s) returned from the cave of Hira to his house, 'Ali (a) and Khadija (s), the wife of the Prophet (s) accepted Islam as the first Muslims. At the beginning of the Prophet's (s) public mission, at the event of Yawm al-Dar, 'Ali (a) was the first and only person who expressly announced his faith in that gathering. He (a) never worshiped anything other than One God.

'Ali (a) always accompanied the Prophet (s) until the Prophet (s) emigrated from Mecca to Medina and on the eve of his immigration, when disbelievers besieged the house of the Prophet (s) and rushed in to kill him in his bed, 'Ali (a) slept in the Prophet's (s) bed to save the Prophet's (s) life and the Prophet (s) went to Medina. The occasion of the revelation of the al-Ishtira' verse is this sacrifice.

'Ali (a) accompanied the Prophet (s) in Medina too, where he (a) married lady Fatima (s), the Prophet's (s) daughter. When the Prophet (s) was establishing the oath of brotherhood with his companions, appointed 'Ali (a) as his brother.

'Ali (a) participated in all the battles the Prophet (s) attended except the battle of Tabuk when the Prophet (s) had ordered 'Ali (a) to stay in Medina in his own place. 'Ali (a) never retreated in any battle or turned away from any enemies and did not disobey the Prophet (s) in any issues, as the Prophet (s) said, "'Ali (a) never separates from the truth and the truth never separates from 'Ali (a)".

After the Prophet (s)

On the day the Prophet (s) passed away, 'Ali (a) was thirty-three years old. He (a) was superior to anyone in all religious merits and was distinguished among the companions and on several occasions, such as the event of Ghadir, when the Prophet (s) introduced him as the caliph after himself, but people him aside from caliphate with the excuse that he (a) was young and had spilled much blood in the battles of the Prophet (s) which had earned him numerous enemies. Thus he was completely removed from all public affairs. After some objections, he (a) was isolated for 25 years (which lasted to the end of caliphate of the third caliph). During these twenty-five years he compiled the Qur'an and trained some individuals. After the Third Caliph was killed, people gave allegiance to 'Ali (a) and chose him as the caliph.

He (a) was engaged in three wars during his caliphate which lasted almost four years and nine months:

1. The Battle of Jamal: Some of the companions of the Prophet (s) who were led by Aisha, Talha, and Zubayr used the pretext of claiming the blood of the Third Caliph and rebelled and waged the battle of Jamal near Basra.
2. The Battle of Siffin: It took place on the border of Iraq and Syria with Mu'awiya. It lasted one year and half.
3. The Battle of Nahrawan: The last great mischief of his time was the battle with Khawarij.

Most of the time of his caliphate was spent to solve internal conflicts. Soon afterwards, he was hit on the head at the dawn of 19th of Ramadan 40/661 in the Mosque of Kufa when he was praying and passed on in the eve of 21st of the same month.

Merits

As witnessed in the history and reported by his friends and enemies, Imam 'Ali (a) did not lack anything in human perfections and in Islamic merits, he was a perfect exemplar of the Prophet's (s) education.

In knowledge, 'Ali (a) was the most knowledgeable person among the companions of the Prophet (s) and all other Muslims. He (a) was the first Muslim who used reasoning in his scientific opinions and made philosophical discussions in theological teachings and spoke about the interior of the Qur'an and to preserve its exterior, he (a) established the rules of Arabic syntax and was the most competent Arab in speech.

In bravery, he (a) was an exemplar and he was unique in piety and worshiping God. There are many stories about him showing mercy to his subordinates and showing sympathy and generosity towards the poor.

Imam al-Hasan (a)

Main article: Imam al-Hasan (a)

Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a) and his brother, Imam al-Husayn (a), were two sons of Imam 'Ali (a) and Lady Fatima (s). The Prophet (s) frequently is quoted saying, "al-Hasan (a) and al-Husayn (a) are my children".

Imam al-Hasan (a) was born in 3/625 in Medina. When he was seven years old, he lost his grandfather, the Prophet (s), and soon afterwards he lost his mother, lady Fatima (s).

After the martyrdom of his father, he became the Imam following the God's command and the will of Imam 'Ali (a) and for six months, he managed Muslims' affairs as the caliph of Muslims. During his caliphate, Mu'awiya who was a great enemy of 'Ali (a) and his family and had fought for years (seeking caliphate firstly through claiming revenge for the Third Caliph's death and then overtly claiming caliphate itself), moved his army towards Iraq which was the capital of Imam al-Hasan's (a) caliphate and waged a war against him.

Mu'awiya gradually lured commanders of Imam al-Hasan's (a) army by giving them substantial amounts of money and tempting offers and made Imam's (a) army revolt against him so he (a) had to make the peace with Mu'awiya and to hand the caliphate to Mu'awiya under the conditions that after the death of Mu'awiya, caliphate would return to Imam al-Hasan (a) and that his family and followers would be safe from any type of harm or offence.

At the beginning of his caliphate, Mu'awiya broke his promise for observing the conditions. During Mu'awiya's caliphate which lasted 10 years, Imam al-Hasan (a) lived having great hardships and not being safe even in his own house. He was finally poisoned and martyred in 50/670 by his wife who was encouraged by Mu'awiya.

Imam al-Husayn (a)

The shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala, Iraq

Main article: Imam al-Husayn (a)

Imam al-Husayn (a), known as "Sayyid al-Shuhada'" (English: Master of the martyrs), the second son of Imam 'Ali (a) and lady Fatima (s), was born in 4/626 and became Imam after martyrdom of his brother, Imam al-Hasan (a), following the order of God and the will of Imam al-Hasan (a).

Imam al-Husayn (a) was Imam for ten years and except the last six months, his imamate coincided with the caliphate of Mu'awiya, during which he (a) lived under great hardships and severe conditions. During the last 6 months of Imam al-Husayn's (a) imamate, Mu'awiya tried to establish the caliphate of his profligate son, Yazid. In the middle of 60/680, Mu'awiya died and his son acceded to power.

Imam al-Husayn's (a) Journey from Medina to Karbala

Main article: Imam al-Husayn's (a) Journey from Medina to Karbala

Quickly, Yazid ordered the governor of Medina to take Imam al-Husayn's (a) allegiance with Yazid, otherwise sends his head for him. When the governor of Medina delivered the message of Yazid to Imam al-Husayn (a), he (a) asked for time to think about that and moved towards Mecca at night and took refuge in al-Haram al-Makki (which is the common refuge in Islam) for four months.

Meanwhile, the Imam (a) received a stream of letters from Iraq and especially from Kufa, who were asking him to go there and lead the people and rise up against injustice. During the rituals of hajj, Imam (a) was informed that some of the agents of Yazid had entered Mecca wearing the clothes of hajj pilgrims and were ordered to kill the Imam (a).

In the gathering of people, Imam (a) delivered a short speech and informed them of his travel towards Iraq, mentioned his martyrdom and asked them to help him in his goal and to spend their blood on the way of God. The next day, he (a) moved towards Iraq accompanied by his family and some of his companions.

Some of the distinguished people tried to stop him on his way advising and reminding him of the risk of such a movement, but in reply, the Imam (a) told them, "I would not give allegiance and do not approve the government of injustice and I know that wherever I go, they will kill me. And I leave Mecca to save it from being disrespected by spilling of my blood in it. "

In Karbala

Main article: Event of 'Ashura'

Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions were besieged by the army of Yazid about seventy kilometers away from Kufa in the desert of Karbala. During these eight days, the siege became tighter and tighter, and the number of the enemy's army increased. Soon, Imam al-Husayn (a), his family and his few companions were surrounded by circles of thirty thousand armed soldiers.

During those days, the Imam (a) strengthened the position of his companions and refined them. He (a) gathered them at night, made a short speech and said, "we have nothing ahead but martyrdom and they have nothing to do with anyone except me. Here, I waive my rights to your allegiance with me, so anyone can benefit the darkness of night and save his life from this horrible danger. "

At the end of 9th day of Muharram, the enemy gave the Imam (a) the final deadline and he (a) asked them for one more night and kept the night vigil and worshiped. The 10th of Muharram 61/680, the Imam (a) and his few companions (less than 90 people, forty of whom were old companions of the Imam (a), thirty some others joined the Imam (a) from the enemy's army and the rest were Hashimi relatives of the Imam (a), including his children, nephews and cousins) stood against the countless number of enemy's army and the war began.

On that day, they fought from dawn to sunset and the Imam (a) and all his soldiers were martyred. Among the martyrs were two very young sons of Imam al-Hasan (a), a baby and Imam al-Husayn's (a) infant.

Captivity of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Imam (a)

Main article: Captives of Karbala

After the war finished, the army of enemy looted the tents of the Imam (a) and took the heads of martyrs and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Imam (a) to Kufa and then to Damascus to Yazid.

The Battle of Karbala, captivity of women and girls, taking them from one city to another, speeches made by Imam al-Sajjad (a) and lady Zaynab (a), daughter of Imam 'Ali (a) who were among the captives disgraced Umayyads and neutralized Mu'awiya's previous propaganda, so that even Yazid publicly renounced the acts of his agents. The Battle of Karbala was so effective in the history of Islam in a way that in a long term it caused the government of Umayyads to be toppled. It also strengthened the roots of Shi'a. Among its short term effects were the revolutions and revolts which lasted 12 years and not a single person who participated in the murder of the Imam (a) were able to escape the revenge.

Imam al-Sajjad (a)

Main article: Imam al-Sajjad (a)

The tomb of four Imams of Shi'a in Maqbarat al-Baqi' before its destruction in 21 April 1926. The bodies of Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Sajjad (a), Imam al-Baqir (a), and Imam al-Sadiq (a) are buried in this tomb.

The graves of four Imams of Shi'a in al-Baqi' after the destruction. The graves from left to right belong to 1. Imam al-Sadiq (a), 2. Imam al-Baqir (a), 3. Imam al-Sajjad (a), 4. Imam al-Hasan (a), 5. al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib.

Imam 'Ali b. al-Husayn (a) titled as "Sajjad" and "Zayn al-'Abidin" was the third child of Imam al-Husayn (a), whose mother was Shahr Banu, daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last emperor of the Sassanid dynasty of Iran. His other three brothers were martyred in the Battle of Karbala, but he (a) was very sick so he could not go to the war and was sent to Syria together with other the captives.

After passing the term of captivity, Imam al-Sajjad (a) was returned to Medina respectfully by the order of Yazid to avoid the public rage. He (a) was once again arrested and chained by the order of the Umayyad caliph 'Abd al-Malik and brought from Medina back to Syria and returned to Medina later again.

After returning to Medina, the fourth Imam (a) stayed at home, closed the door to strangers and engaged in worshiping God and did not accept to meet anyone except certain Shi'a such as Abu Hamza al-Thumali, Abu Khalid al-Kabuli and alike. However, these certain people circulated the teachings they learned from the Imam (a) among Shi'a and doing so, Shi'a was promoted so that it bloomed at the time of the fifth Imam (a).

Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya is a collection of fifty-seven of his supplications. After thirty-five years of his imamate, Imam al-Sajjad (a) was poisoned and martyred in 95/713 by Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik following the inducement of Hisham, the Umayyad caliph.

Imam al-Baqir (a)

Main article: Imam al-Baqir (a)

Imam Muhammad b. 'Ali (a), known as "Baqir al-'Ulum". This is a title the Prophet (s) had given him. Imam al-Baqir (a) was born in 57/733 and was four years old in the Battle of Karbala. After his great father, he (a) became the imam following the command of God and as his forefathers had mentioned. He (a) was martyred in 114/733. According to some hadiths from Shi'a, the Imam (a) was poisoned by Ibarahim b. Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik, the nephew of Hisham, the Umayyad caliph.

At the time of the fifth Imam (a), there were frequent fights and revolts due to oppressions of the Umayyads and these challenges kept the government busy and away from annoying the Ahl al-Bayt (a). On the other hand, the occurrence of the Battle of Karbala and that the Ahl al-Bayt (a) were oppressed, made Muslims attracted to them and brought the Imam (a) such good opportunities to distribute Islamic teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) that none of the Imams (a) had in the past and this is proved by the many hadiths narrated from him.

Imam al-Sadiq (a)

Main article: Imam al-Sadiq (a)

Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad (al-Sadiq), son of the fifth Imam (a) was born in 83/702 and was poisoned and martyred by the inducement of Abbasid caliph Al-Mansur al-'Abbasi at the age of 65. Except for Imam al-Mahdi (aj) who is in occultation, Imam al-Sadiq (a) was the oldest imam.

During his imamate, due to revolutions in Islamic countries and especially the uprising of al-Musawwida (people in black clothing) made to overthrow the Umayyad caliphate, and bloody wars took place which led to the fall of the caliphate of Umayyads. Therefore, the good grounds that the fifth Imam (a) had prepared by distribution of Islamic teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) during the twenty years of his imamate, brought up more opportunities and better atmosphere to spread religious teachings.

During his thirty-four years of imamate, Imam al-Sadiq (a) distributed religious teachings and educated many scholars in different traditional and rational sciences such as Zurara, Muhammad b. Muslim, Mu'min al-Taq, Hisham b. Hakam, Aban b. Taghlib, Hisham b. Salim, Hariz, Hisham Kalbi Nasaba, Jabir b. Hayyan and others and even some Sunni scholars were honored to benefit from his classes such as Sufyan al-Thawri, Abu Hanifa (leader of Hanafi school), Qadi Sakuni, Qadi Abu l-Bakhtari and others. It is famously reported that four thousand hadith narrators and scholars were educated in his (a) classes. The hadiths narrated from al-Sadiqayn (the fifth and the sixth Imams (a)) are more than all hadiths narrated from the Prophet (s) and the other ten Imams (a).

Al-Mansur al-'Abbasi ordered his agents to arrest Imam al-Sadiq (a) in Medina. Imam (a) was arrested once before by the order of the Abbasid caliph Saffah and brought to Iraq and before that, he (a) was also arrested in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (a) by the order of the Umayyad caliph Hisham and brought to Damascus. Al-Mansur kept Imam al-Sadiq (a) under surveillance for a while and wanted to kill him but finally let the Imam (a) return to Medina and the Imam (a) lived the rest of his life in isolation, practicing Taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation). He was finally poisoned and martyred by the order of al-Mansur.

Imam al-Kazim (a)

Main article: Imam al-Kazim (a)

The seventh Imam (a) lived contemporarily with al-Mansur, al-Hadi, al-Mahdi and Harun, in a very dark and difficult time and practiced Taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation). When Harun went to Medina during the time of hajj, ordered to arrest and chain Imam al-Kazim (a) when he (a) was praying in the mosque of the Prophet (s) and prison him. Then he took him (a) from Medina to Basra and from Basra to Baghdad. He (a) was taken from one prison to another for many. He (a) was finally poisoned and martyred in the prison of al-Sindi b. Shahak and was buried in a place called "Maqabir Quraysh" which is now located in the city of Kadhimiya.

Imam al-Rida (a)

The shrine of Imam al-Rida (a) in Mashhad, Iran

Main article: Imam al-Rida (a)

The eighth Imam, 'Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a) was son of Imam al-Kazim (a) who was (according to most historical references) born in 148/765 and was martyred in 203/818.

He (a) became the Imam (a) after his father by the command of God and following the report of his forefathers. His period of imamate was partly contemporary with the Abbasid caliph Harun, then with his son al-Amin and later with Harun's other son al-Ma'mun.

After his father, al-Ma'mun had challenges with his brother al-Amin which led to bloody wars and al-Amin was finally killed. Until then, the policy of the Abbasid caliphate towards supporters of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) was aggressive and every once in a while one of the 'Alawi movements made an uprising and it was a trouble for the government. Even though the leaders of Shi'a did not cooperate with such uprisings, Shi'a who had a great population always regarded the Imams (a) as their religious leaders and considered the caliphate an impure system far away from the holiness of their leaders.

Continuity of such a condition was dangerous for the caliphate, therefore al-Ma'mun thought to put an end to these troubles that his forefathers could not solve in 70 years. He decided to announce Imam al-Rida (a) as his heir apparent, because when 'Alids found a link to the caliphate, they would not make any uprising against it anymore. On the other hand, when Shi'a saw their Imam's (a) connection with the caliphate and its rulers that he (a) had regarded as impure before, they will lose their belief and spiritual love for Imams (a) and thus their religious organization would fall and there would be no more threats from their side for the caliphate. After such an achievement, killing Imam (a) would not be difficult for al-Ma'mun.

To actualize this plot, he summoned Imam (a) in 200/816 from Medina to Merv. He first offered caliphate and then succession to power to the Imam (a), but for both, the Imam (a) brought excuses and refused his offer. However, al-Ma'mun forced the Imam (a) to accept the latter, thus the Imam (a) accepted it provided that he (a) would not interfere in appointing or dismissing anyone. Soon afterwards, when al-Ma'mun saw the swift progress of Shi'a, he realized his mistake and poisoned and martyred the Imam (a). Imam al-Rida (a) was buried in Tus which is now located in the suburb of Mashhad, in North-east of Iran.

Imam al-Jawad (a)

The shrine of Imam al-Kazim (a) and Imam al-Jawad (a) in al-Kazimiyya, Iraq

Main article: Imam al-Jawad (a)

Imam Muhammad b. 'Ali (titled as, Ibn al-Rida, al-Taqi, al-Jawad), son of the eighth Imam (a) was born in Medina in 195/811. According to Shi'a hadiths, he (a) was poisoned and martyred by his wife, daughter of al-Ma'mun induced by al-Mu'tasim. He (a) was buried in al-Kazimiyya beside his grandfather, Imam al-Kazim (a).

He (a) became the imam after his father by the command of God and following the report of his forefathers. Upon the demise of his father, Imam al-Jawad (a) was in Medina. Al-Ma'mun summoned him to Baghdad, where at the time, was the capital of caliphate. He pretended to love him (a) so much that he married her daughter to Imam (a). Then, al-Ma'mun kept the Imam (a) in Baghdad and in fact wanted to keep him under full surveillance both in his house and the outside. After a while, the Imam (a) returned to Medina and stayed there until the end of al-Ma'mun's rule. After al-Ma'mun died, al-Mu'tasim acceded to power and again summoned the Imam (a) to Baghdad and kept him under surveillance. Finally, the Imam (a) was poisoned and martyred by his wife induced by al-Mu'tasim.

Imam al-Hadi (a)

Main article: Imam al-Hadi (a)

Imam 'Ali b. Muhammad (titled as al-Naqi and al-Hadi), son of the ninth Imam (a) was born in Medina in 212/828 and (according to Shi'a reports) was poisoned and martyred by the Abbasid caliph, al-Mu'tazz, in 254/868.

Imam al-Hadi (a) was contemporary with seven Abbasid caliphs, al-Ma'mun, al-Mu'tasim, al-Wathiq, al-Mutawakkil, al-Muntasir, al-Musta'in and al-Mu'tazz.

In 243/857 and following the gossips they made about the Imam (a), al-Mutawakkil summoned the Imam (a) from Medina to Samarra where was the capital at the time. When the Imam (a) entered Samarra, al-Mutawakkil apparently did not do anything against him, but he prepared the ground for all means of annoying and disrespecting the Imam (a). He summoned the Imam (a) to his palace many times to disrespect or to kill him (a). He also searched the Imam's (a) house many times.

Al-Mutawakkil had no peer among the Abbasid caliphs in enmity with the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and especially a serious enemy of Imam 'Ali (a) and publicly cursed him. He even had hired a clown to mimic Imam 'Ali (a) in his parties. In 237/851, he ordered to destroy the Holy Shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala and many houses built around it and to level them to ground. At his time, the living condition of 'Alids in Hijaz became very wretched in a way that their women did not have enough clothes to wear, and some of them had only one old chador they wore in turn at the time of prayer. Al-Mutawakkil would make the same pressure upon Alids of Egypt as well. Imam al-Hadi (a) tolerated under tortures of al-Mutawakkil, then after he died, al-Muntasir, al-Musta'in and then al-Mu'tazz came to power until finally Imam (a) was poisoned and martyred by the plot of al-Mu'tazz.

Imam al-'Askari (a)

The shrine of al-Askariyyayn (a) in Samarra, Iraq, before its destruction in 22 February 2006

Main article: Imam al-'Askari (a)

Al-Hasan b. 'Ali (titled as al-'Askari), son of the tenth Imam (a) was born in 232/846 and (according to some Shi'a hadiths) was poisoned and martyred in 260/874 by the plot of al-Mu'tamid, the Abbasid caliph.

Imam al-'Askari (a) became the Imam after his father was martyred, by the command of God and following the reports of his forefathers. His imamate lasted seven years, during which he (a) had to practice severe Taqiyya (precautionary dissimulation) because of the caliphate's excessive harassments and closed the door of his house to the people, even to ordinary Shi'a and did not meet anyone except the elites of them. However he (a) was in prison most of his life. The first reason behind all these harassments was that the number of Shi'a had increased in that time and their power had reached a considerably high level. Also, this fact that Shi'a believed in imamate was known to everyone and Imams (a) were soon found; thus, caliphate kept them under surveillance more than before and tried to kill them in any way possible. Secondly, they knew that the elites of Shi'a believed that Imam al-Askari (a) would have a son who would be the Promised Mahdi (a) and the the Prophet (s) frequently had reported through Shi'a and Sunnis about his coming.

Therefore, Imam al-'Askari (a) was kept under surveillance more than other Imams (a) and the caliph of his time had decided to finish the imamate of Shi'a in any way possible. As soon as they reported to him about the illness of the Imam (a), he sent a doctor to his house accompanied by some trustworthy men of his and assigned some judges to watch his house and anything that happened in it. After the Imam (a) was martyred, the caliph ordered to search his house and to check the Imam's (a) wife and slaves to find out if they were pregnant. For two years, caliph's agents were looking for the Imam's (a) son, until they were fully disappointed.

Imam al-'Askari (a) was buried in his house in Samarra near his father's grave.

Imam al-Mahdi (a)

Main article: Imam al-Mahdi (a)

The Promised Mahdi (a) (usually titled as "Imam al-'Asr" and "Sahib al-Zaman") is son of the Eleventh Imam (a) whose name and teknonym was the same as the Prophet's (s). He (a) was born in Samarra in 256/870 and lived with his father hidden from people until 260/874 when his father was martyred and just few elites of Shi'a met him. After his father's (a) martyrdom, when he (a) became the Imam (a), he (a) became hidden from people.

Imam al-Mahdi'a (a) occultation is divided in two periods:

1. The Minor Occultation, which began in 260/874 and finished in 329/940 (lasted seventy years in Hijri calendar). During this period, the Imam (a) communicated with people through his special deputies.
2. and the Major Occultation which began in 329/940 and continues until now. In a hadith which is accepted by both Shi'a and Sunni, the Prophet (s) said that, "If there is nothing left from the life of this world but only one day, God will prolong that day until al-Mahdi (a) from among my children reappears and fills the world with justice just like it is filled with injustice and oppression. "

The Place of the Imams of the Shi'a in the Eyes of Sunnis

Sunnis do not regard the Twelve Imams of the Shi'a as the rightful successors of the Prophet (s) but nevertheless love them as his descendants. According to a hadith, quoted in their sources, the Prophet’s relatives whom are to be loved according to Quran 42:23 are Ali (a), Fatima (a), and their children. Based on this verse and other evidence, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, the great Sunni theologian and exegete of the sixth/twelfth]] century, maintained that it is obligatory to love Ali (a), Fatima (a), and their children.

Some Sunni scholars would visit the graves of the Imams of the Shi'a seeking their intercession, such as Abu Ali Khallal in the third/ninth century who said, “Whenever I had a problem, I would visit the grave of Musa b. Ja'far and ask him for intercession, and thus my problem would be solved.” It is reported that Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Khuzayma, the Sunni jurist, traditionist, and exegete of the third and fourth/tenth centuries, visited the grave of Imam al-Rida (a) many times and the degree of respect that he showed to the Imam (a) there would surprise people.

Ibn Hibban, a prominent Sunni traditionist in the third/ninth and fourth/tenth centuries, is reported to have said, “When I was in Tus, whenever I had a problem, I would visit the grave of Ali b. Musa al-Rida (a) and pray there. Then my prayer would be answered and my problem would be solved.”

According to Ayatollah Ja'far Subhani, many Sunni scholars accepted the Shiite Imams as religious and scholarly authorities. For instance, it is reported that Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi legal school, said, “I never saw anyone more knowledgeable in religion than Ja'far b. Muhammad.” The same statement is reported to have been said by Muhammad b. Muslim b. Shihab al-Zuhri, an outstanding Sunni jurist and traditionist of the first/seventh and second/eighth centuries, with regard to Imam al-Sajjad (a).

Abd Allah b. Ata' al-Makki, a Sunni traditionist and contemporary of Imam al-Baqir (a) said, “I have not seen scholars in such a lower level than anyone as I have seen them before Muhammad b. Ali (a). Hakam b. Utayba [the Kufan jurist] was like a student before him.”

Bibliography

Regarding the biography of the Imams and their virtues, many works have been written by both Shiite and Sunni authors.

Shiite Books

Among the books written by Shiite writers on the Imams and their virtues are the following:

• Dalaʾil al-imama, written in Arabic and attributed to Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari al-Saghir (d. 310/922-3) on the life, miracles, and virtues of Fatima al-Zahra (a) and the Imams (a).

• Al-Irshad fi ma'rifat hujaj Allah 'ala al-'ibad, a theological and historical work in Arabic, written by al-Shaykh al-Mufid (d. 413/1022). This book relates the biography and virtues of the Imams (a) on the basis of hadiths.

• Manaqib al Abi Talib, an Arabic book on the virtues of the Fourteen Infallibles by Ibn Shahrashub Mazandarani (d. 588/1192).

• I'lam al-wara bi-a'lam al-huda, a book in Arabic by Fadl b. al-Hasan al-Tabrisi (d. 548/1153-4) on the life of the Prophet (s) and the Imams (a).

• Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma, an Arabic book on the biography, virtues, and miracles of the Fourteen Infallibles, written by Ali b. Isa al-Irbili (d. 692/1293-4).

• Rawdat al-wa'izin wa basirat al-mutta'izin, by al-Fattal al-Neyshaburi (d. 508/1114-5) on the history of the Prophet (s) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

• Jala' al-'uyun, a Farsi book written by al-Allama al-Majlisi (1110/1699) on the life of the Fourteen Infallibles.

• Muntaha al-amal fi tawarikh al-Nabi wa al-al, by Shaykh Abbas Qummi (d. 1359/1941) which provides a detailed account of the life of the Fourteen Infallibles.

Sunni References

In addition to what was mentioned above, Sunnis have always remembered the Imams (a) with great respect and dignity and this respect sometimes made an inspiration for writing books regarding their merits.

The books written by Sunnis about the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) are not few. One of the inspirational movement for writers was an ode composed by Abu l-Fadl Yahya b. Salama al-Haskafi (d. 551/1156 or 553/1158) in which he has praised every one of the Imams (a).

The following are some of the books written about the merits of Imams (a) by Sunnis:

1. Matalib al-sa'ul fi manaqib Al al-Rasul (a) written by Kamal al-Din b. Talha al-Shafi'i (d. 652/1254), published in Najaf by Dar al-Kutub al-Tijariyya.
2. Tadhkirat al-khawas min al-umma fi dhikr khasa'is al-A'imma written by the Hanafite scholar Yusuf b. Qazawaghli Sibt b. al-Jawzi (d. 654/1256), frequently published including in Najaf 1369/1949.
3. Al-Fusul al-muhimma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma written by Ibn Sabbagh al-Maliki (d. 855/1451) which has been frequently published including in Najaf by Dar al-Kutub al-Tijariyya, and its many issues in libraries of the Islamic world show its wide circulation in different centuries. In his work, Ibn Sabbagh has frequently quoted from Shi'a sources such as al-Shaykh al-Mufid's al-Irshad (pp. 192/807, 213/828, etc. )
4. Al-Shadharat al-Dhahabiyya or al-A'immat al-ithna 'ashar written by Shams al-Din b. Tulun, a Hanafite scholar from Damascus (d. 953/1546), published in Beirut in 1377/1958 through the efforts of Salah al-Din al-Munjid.
5. Al-Ithaf bi-hubb al-ashraf written by 'Abd Allah b. 'Amir al-Shibrawi, the Shafiite scholar from Egypt (d. 1172/1758) published in Cairo in 1313/1895.
6. Nur al-absar fi manaqib Al Bayt al-Nabi al-mukhtar written by Sayyid Mu'min al-Shablanji (d. after 1290/1873) frequently published including in Cairo in 1346/1927.
7. Yanabi' al-mawadda written by Sulayman b. Ibrahim al-Qunduzi, the Hanafite scholar (d. 1294/1877) published in Istanbul in 1302/1885.