Who are the Twelve Imams?

Sign in English Us



Who are the Twelve Imams?

3485 0  share 0

During his lifetime, the Holy Prophet (S) declared that after him there shall be twelve caliphs all of whom will be from Quraysh, and through whom Islam shall be exalted.
Jabir ibn Samurah narrates:

"سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وأله وسلم يقول : لا يزال الإسلام عزيزاً إلى اثنى عشر خليفة ثم قال كلمة لم أسمعها فقلت لأبي ما قال؟ فقال: كلهم من قريش."
I heard the Messenger of Allah (S) saying: ‘Islam will keep its honor through twelve caliphs.’ Then, he said a statement which I failed to catch. So I asked my father, “What did he (S) say?” He (my father) replied that he (S) said: “All of them will be from Quraysh.1

In the history of Islam, there are not twelve caliphs who preserve the honor of Islam except the twelve Imams in whom the Shi‘ah believe; for they are the twelve caliphs whom the Prophet (S) introduced as his successors.

Now, let us see who the twelve caliphs are. If we say that they are the four caliphs who are known by the Ahl as-Sunnah as “Rightly-Guided Caliphs” {khulafa’ ar-rashidun}, there are no other caliphs who contributed to exalting Islam.

The biography of the ‘Umayyad and ‘Abbasid caliphs is a testimony to this fact. As for the twelve Imams in whom the Shi‘ah believe, they were a clear manifestation of piety and virtue during their respective periods.

They were also preservers of the Messenger of Allah’s (S) Sunnah and the people to whom Sahabah {Companions} and Tabi‘un {Followers} were attracted,2 and whose knowledge and trustworthiness are acknowledged by historians. These twelve Imams are:

1. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib;

2. Hasan ibn ‘Ali (al-Mujtaba);

3. Husayn ibn ‘Ali;

4. ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (Zayn al-‘Abidin);

5. Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (al-Baqir);

6. Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (as-Sadiq);

7. Musa ibn Ja‘far (al-Kazim);

8. ‘Ali ibn Musa (ar-Rida);

9. Muhammad ibn ‘Ali (at-Taqi);

10. ‘Ali ibn Muhammad (an-Naqi);

11. Hasan ibn ‘Ali (al-‘Askari); and

12. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan (al-Mahdi).

There have been mutawatir traditions related from the Prophet (S) regarding the last Imam who is known as the “Promised Mahdi” transmitted by Muslim hadith scholars {muhaddithun}.

For further information about the life of these great leaders, whom the Messenger of Allah (S) himself has named, one may refer to the following books:

1. Tadhkirat al-Khawas (Tadhkirah Khawas al-Ummah);

2. Kifayat al-Athar;

3. Wafiyat al-A‘yan; and

4. A‘yan ash-Shi‘ah (by Sayyid Muhsin Amin al-‘Amili), which is the most comprehensive of the four books.

1. Muslim, Sahih (Egypt), vol. 6, p. 2.
Abdul-Hamid Siddiqui (trans.), Sahih Muslim (English Translation), vol. 3, hadith no. 4480. {Trans.}
2. Tabi‘un {‘Followers’ or ‘Successors’} refers to the second generation of Muslims who came after the Companions, who did not know the Prophet (S) but who knew his Companions. {Trans.}

Related Post

Then, Fatima Was Born!

Then, Fatima Was Born!

Growing in the house of revelation, gave her the chance to achieve the highest d...

Islamic Sayings about the Tongue and its Evils

Islamic Sayings about the Tongue and its Evils

Protection of tongue is such an important task of a man that the great religious...

Luxurious Life

Luxurious Life

A life of luxury and lavishness is not desirable in Islam. Islam condemns such l...

34) Imam Sajjad's Supplication when Afflicted

34) Imam Sajjad's Supplication when Afflicted

His Supplication when he was Afflicted or saw Someone Afflicted with the Disgrac...

Different Names and Titles of Lady Fatima (as) and Their Meanings

Different Names and Titles of Lady Fatima (as) and...

To give names to their newborn children is of a special importance to advocates ...

3) Imam Sajjad's Supplication in Sending Blessing upon the Bearers of the Throne

3) Imam Sajjad's Supplication in Sending Blessing ...

A Supplication in Calling down Blessings upon the Bearers of the Throne and Ever...

What happens on the day of judgment?

What happens on the day of judgment?

After the revival of the dead and their entrance into the domain of the Resurrec...

Eating salt before and after each meal

Eating salt before and after each meal

It is reported that the Prophet (S) always used to have salt before and after me...

Comments

Please share your comments with us.

0 Comments

Blog Categories

IslamPlus Events Article Ahlulbayt View