Imams of the Shi'a: Difference between revisions

===Hadith of the Twelve Caliphs===

In addition to Shi'a hadiths, there are certain hadiths narrated in Sunni sources referring to twelve caliphs or imams after the [[the Prophet (s)|Holy Prophet (s)]]. During the 1st/7th century, there are hadiths narrated from some of the [[Companions|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>