The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna-‘ashariyyah branch of Shī‘ah Islam.[1] According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor of Muhammad is an infallible human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning. The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet.[2][3] It is believed by Twelver Shi'a Muslims that the Twelve Imams were foretold in the Hadith of the Twelve Successors.
It is believed in Twelver and Ismaili Shī‘ah Islam that ‘aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge called ḥikmah and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees.[1][4][5] Although the Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, he had a close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the Imam in turn guides the people. The Imam was also guided by secret texts in his possession, such as al-Jafr and al-Jamia. Imamate, or belief in the divine guide is a fundamental belief in the Twelver and Ismaili Shī‘ī branches and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.[6]
According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the Age, who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. ‘Alī was the first Imam of this line, and in the Twelvers' view, the rightful successor to the Prophet of Islam, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah Zahra. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of Husayn ibn* Ali, who was the brother of Hasan ibn Ali.[1] The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and hidden until he returns to bring justice to the world.[6] (*ibn[this means the son of e.g Imam Hussan ibn Ali Imam Hassan the son of Ali])
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| Number | Name (Full/Kunya) |
Title (Arabic/Turkish)[7] |
Date of Birth Death (CE/AH)[8] |
Importance | Place of birth | Reason & place of death
and place of burial[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali ibn Abu Talib علي بن أبي طالب Abu al-Hasan أبو الحسن |
Amir al-Mu'minin
(Commander of the Faithful)[10] Birinci Ali[11] |
600–661[10]
23(before Hijra)–40[12] |
The First Imam and the rightful successor of the Prophet of all Shi'a; however, the Sunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[10] | Mecca, Saudi Arabia[10] |
Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite in Kufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword while he was praying.[10][13]
Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq. |
| 2 | Hasan ibn Ali حسن بن علي Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Mujtaba
(The Chosen) Ikinci Ali[11] |
624–670[14]
3–50[15] |
He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad through Muhammad's daughter, Fatimah az-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.[16] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[14] |
Poisoned by his wife in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the orders of the Caliph Muawiya, according to Twelver Shi'ite belief.[17]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 3 | Husayn ibn Ali حسین بن علي Abu Abdillah أبو عبدالله |
Sayyid ash-Shuhada
(Master of the Marytrs) Ūçüncü Ali[11] |
626–680[18]
4–61[19] |
He was a grandson of Muhammad and brother of Hasan ibn Ali. 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 Shi'a identity.[18][20] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[18] |
Killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.[18]
Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. |
| 4 | Ali ibn Husayn علي بن الحسین Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Sajjad, Zayn al-'Abidin
(One who constantly Prostrates, Ornament of the Worshippers) [21] Dorduncu Ali[11] |
658/9[21] – 712[22]
38[21]–95[22] |
Author of prayers in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet."[22] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[21] |
According to most Shi'a scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina, Saudi Arabia.[22]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 5 | Muhammad ibn Ali محمد بن علي Abu Ja'far أبو جعفر |
Baqir al-Ulum
(The Revealer of Knowledge) [23] Besinci Ali[11] |
677–732[23]
57–114[23] |
Sunni and Shi'a sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure.[23][24] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[23] |
According to some Shi'a scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik.[22]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 6 | Ja'far ibn Muhammad جعفر بن محمد Abu Abdillah أبو عبدالله |
as-Sadiq[25]
(The Honest) Altinci Ali[11] |
702–765[25]
83–148[25] |
Established the Ja'fari jurisprudence and developed the Theology of Shi'a. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abu Hanifah and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Geber in science and alchemy.[25][26] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[25] |
According to Shi'a sources, he was poisoned in Medina, Saudi Arabia on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur.[25]
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia. |
| 7 | Musa ibn Ja'far موسی بن جعفر Abu al-Hasan I أبو الحسن الاول[27] |
al-Kazim[28]
(The Calm One) Yedinci Ali[11] |
744–799[28]
128–183[28] |
Leader of the Shi'a community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq.[29] He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shi'a community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan.He holds a high position in Mahdavia; the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him.[30] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[28] |
Imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, according to Shi'ite belief.
Buried in the Kazimayn shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[28] |
| 8 | Ali ibn Musa علي بن موسی Abu al-Hasan II أبو الحسن الثانی[27] |
ar-Rida, Reza[31]
(The Pleasing One) Sekizinci Ali[11] |
765–817[31]
148–203[31] |
Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma'mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars.[31] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[31] |
According to Shi'a sources, he was poisoned in Mashad, Iran on the order of Caliph Al-Ma'mun.
Buried in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad, Iran.[31] |
| 9 | Muhammad ibn Ali محمد بن علي Abu Ja'far أبو جعفر |
al-Taqi, al-Jawad[32]
(The God-Fearing, The Generous) Dokuzuncu Ali[11] |
810–835[32]
195–220[32] |
Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate. | Medina, Saudi Arabia[32] |
Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in Baghdad, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tasim, according to Shi'ite sources.
Buried in the Kazmain shrine in Baghdad, Iraq.[32] |
| 10 | Ali ibn Muhammad علي بن محمد Abu al-Hasan III أبو الحسن الثالث[33] |
al-Hadi, al-Naqi[33]
(The Guide, The Pure One) Onuncu Ali[11] |
827–868[33]
212–254[33] |
Strengthened the network of deputies in the Shi'a community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the khums and religious vows.[33] | Surayya, a village near Medina, Saudi Arabia[33] |
According to Shi'a sources, he was poisoned in Samarra, Iraq on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tazz.[34]
Buried in the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq. |
| 11 | Hasan ibn Ali الحسن بن علي Abu Muhammad أبو محمد |
al-Askari[35]
(The Citizen of a Garrison Town) Onbirinci Ali[11] |
846–874[35]
232–260[35] |
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.[36] | Medina, Saudi Arabia[35] |
According to Shi'a, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in Samarra, Iraq.
Buried in Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.[37] |
| 12 | Muhammad ibn al-Hasan محمد بن الحسن Abu al-Qasim أبو القاسم |
al-Mahdi, Hidden Imam, al-Hujjah[38]
(The Guided One, The Proof) Onikinci Ali[11] |
868–unknown[39]
255–unknown[39] |
According to Twelver Shi'ite doctrine, he is an actual historical personality and is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Christ. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace.[40] | Samarra, Iraq[39] |
According to Shi'a doctrine, he has been living in the Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.[39] |