Imams of the Shi'a: Difference between revisions

'''Imams (a) of Shi'a''' 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 sons and grandsons and [[lady Fatima (s)]].  

In some [[narration]]s 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 of al-Tayr al-Mashwiyy]], [[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 [[Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)|the Promised Mahdi (aj).]]

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)|the noble Prophet (s)]] and Imams (a) in available [[hadith]]s references support it. Shi'a exegetes and theologians believe that the glorious [[The Qur’an|Qur’an]] has referred to this belief<ref>Nasir Makarim Shirazi, ''Payam-i Qur'an''. vol. 9, p. 182 ff</ref> implicitly in the [[Uli al-Amr Verse|Uli al-Amr]], [[al-Tathir verse|al-Tathir]], [[al-Wilayah verse|al-Wilayah]], [[al-Ikmal verse|al-Ikmal]], [[al-Tabligh verse|al-Tabligh]], and [[Al-Sadiqin verse|al-Sadiqin]] verses.  

According to Twelver Shi'a beliefs, the [[imamate]] of the Twelve Imams (a) began with demise of the noble Prophet (s) in 11/632 and the imamate of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and have continued until now without interruption. Since 260/874 AH, after [[Imam al-'Askari (a)|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 (aj) has been in [[Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)|occultation]].  

Traditional proving for the imamate of the Twelve Imams (a) has also been a focus of Twelver Shi'a theologians and many important theological works have been dedicated to this topic.<ref>Al-Sharif al-Murtada. ''al-Dhakhira fi 'ilm al-kalam'', p. 502-503; Al-Hilli, ''Kashf al-murad fi tajrid al-i'tiqad'', p. 314</ref> Among the most famous such [[hadith]]s are [[Hadith al-Thaqalayn]], [[Hadith al-Manzila]], [[Hadith al-Safina]], [[Hadith Yawm al-Dar]], [[Hadith Madinat al-'Ilm]], [[Hadith al-Tayr al-Mashwiyy]], [[Hadith al-Rayat]], [[Hadith al-Kisa']], [[Hadith of Jabir]], and [[Hadith of the Twleve 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)|the glorious 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]].<ref>see: al-Bukhari, ''Sahih al-Bukhari''. vol. 8, p. 127; Muslim b. al-Hajjaj, ''Sahih Muslim''. vol. 3, p. 1452-1453; Abu Dawud. ''Sunan''. vol. 4, p. 106</ref> 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.<ref>cf. al-Nu'mani, ''al-Ghayba'', p. 62; al-Shaykh al-Saduq, ''al-Khisal'', p. 469 ff; al-Khazzaz al-Qumi, ''Kifayat al-athar'', p. 49 ff; Ahmad b. A'yyash al-Jawhari,. ''Muqtadab al-athar'', p. 4</ref>

Imam 'Ali (a), was son of [[Abu Talib]], uncle of [[the Prophet (s)]] and an important leader of [[Banu Hashim]]. Abu Talib adopted the noble 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 kept away the threats of [[Arab]] disbelievers and especially [[Quraysh]] from the Prophet (s).<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 199</ref>

On the day the noble Prophet (s) passed away, 'Ali (a) was 33 years old. He (a) was superior to anyone in all religious merits and was distinguished among the companions and in several occasions, such as the [[event of Ghadir]], when the Prophet (s) introduced him as the [[caliph]] after himself, but with the excuse that he (a) was young and had spilled much blood in the battles of the Prophet (s) which had made him had many enemies, they put him aside from [[caliphate]]. 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 25 years he compiled [[the Qur'an]] and trained some individuals. After [[the Third Caliph]] passed away, people gave allegiance to 'Ali (a) and chose him as the caliph.<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 201</ref>

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 noble Prophet's (s) education.<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 202</ref>

In knowledge, 'Ali (a) was the most knowledgeable person among the companions of the noble 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 heart of [[the Qur'an]]. To promote the language, he (a) established the rules of Arabic syntax and was the most competent Arab in speech.<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 202-203</ref>

Imam Muhammad b. 'Ali (a), known as "Baqir al-'Ulum". This is a title [[the Prophet (s)|the noble Prophet (s)]] had given him. Imam al-Baqir (a) was born in 57/733 and was 4 years old in [[the event of Karbala]]. After his great father, he (a) became the [[imam]] following the order of [[God]] and as his forefathers had mentioned. He (a) was [[martyr]]ed in 114/733 or 117/735. According to some [[hadith]]s from [[Shi'a]], the Imam (a) was poisoned by [[Ibarahim b. Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik]], the nephew of [[Hashim]], the Umayyad [[caliph]].<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 217</ref>

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 [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|Imam al-Husayn's (a)]] [[shrine]] in [[Karbala]] and many houses built around it and to level them to ground. At his time, the living condition of [['Alawis]] 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 [[Alavites]] 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 [[martyr]]ed by the plot of al-Mu'tazz.<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 226-227</ref>

Imam al-'Askari (a) became the [[Imam]] after his father was martyred, by the order of [[God]] and following the reports of his forefathers. His imamate lasted 7 years, during which he (a) had to practice severe [[Taqiyya]] because of the caliphate's excessive harassments and closed the door of his house to people, even to the general [[Shi'a]] and did not meet anyone but 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 was 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]] and [[the Prophet (s)|the noble Prophet (s)]] frequently had reported through Shi'a and Sunnis about his coming.<ref>Tabataba'i, ''Shi'a dar Islam'', p. 228</ref>

The promised Mahdi (aj) (usually titled as "Imam al-'Asr" and "Sahib al-Zaman") is son of [[Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a)|the eleventh Imam (a)]] whose name and [[Kunya]] was the same as [[the Prophet (s)|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 (aj) became the Imam (a), he (a) became hidden from people.