Twelve Imams facts for kids
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The Twelve Imams (pronounced: Al-A'immah al-Ithna 'Ashar) are very important spiritual and political leaders in a part of Islam called Twelver Shia Islam. This group includes Alawite and Alevi Muslims. They are seen as the special people who came after the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
In Twelver Shia belief, the Twelve Imams were perfect human beings. They were not only fair leaders but also knew how to understand and explain Islamic law (called sharia) and the deeper meanings of the Quran. What Muhammad and the Imams said and did is a guide for everyone to follow. Because of this, they are believed to be free from mistakes and sins (this is called ismah, or being infallible). They were also chosen by God through Muhammad.
Understanding the Imams
In Twelver Shi'ism, it is believed that the prophet Muhammad and his family were perfect and had special wisdom (called Hikmah). Their struggles and pain were seen as having a bigger purpose. They were a way for God to show kindness to their followers.
The Imams also had special old texts that guided them. These included books like al-Jafr and al-Jamia. They also had original versions of the Torah and Injeel. The idea of Imamat, which means believing in a divine guide, is a main part of Twelver Shia belief. It is based on the idea that God would always provide guidance for people.
Twelvers believe that there is always an Imam for each time period. This Imam is chosen by God to be the leader for all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. Ali, who was Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the first of the Twelve Imams. Twelvers believe he was the true leader after Muhammad. After Ali, the Imams were male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah. Each Imam was the son of the Imam before him, except for Al-Husayn, who was the brother of Al-Hasan.
The twelfth and last Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi. Twelvers believe he is alive right now but is hidden (this is called the Major Occultation). They believe he will return one day to bring fairness and justice to the world. Both Twelver and Alevi Muslims believe that the Twelve Imams were mentioned in the Hadith of the 12 accomplishers. All the Imams, except for the last one, died in unnatural ways.
Some of the Imams are also important leaders in certain Sufi groups. They are seen as spiritual heads of Islam. This is because most of the Silsila (which means a spiritual chain of teachers) in Sufi groups goes back to Muhammad through one of the Twelve Imams.
The Twelve Imams: A Quick Look
Here is a list of the Twelve Imams and some important facts about them:
1. Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Lived: 599–661 CE
- Known as: Commander of the Faithful, The Lion of God
- Importance: He was Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Shias believe he was the first rightful leader after Muhammad. He was born inside the Kaaba, which is the holiest place in Islam. Many Sufi groups trace their spiritual lineage back to him.
- Death: He was killed in Kufa while praying, struck by a poisoned sword.
- Buried: Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq.
2. Hasan ibn Ali
- Lived: 625–670 CE
- Known as: The Chosen, Grandchild of the Prophet
- Importance: He was Muhammad's oldest grandson through his daughter Fatimah. He became the leader after his father, Ali. He later made a peace treaty and gave up control of Iraq.
- Death: He was poisoned in Medina.
- Buried: Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
3. Husayn ibn Ali
- Lived: 626–680 CE
- Known as: Master of the Martyrs, Grandchild of the Prophet
- Importance: He was Muhammad's grandson and Hasan's brother. He opposed the rule of Yazid. He and his family were killed in the Battle of Karbala. This event is very important to Shia identity.
- Death: He was killed and beheaded at the Battle of Karbala.
- Buried: Imam Husayn Mosque in Karbala, Iraq.
4. Ali ibn Husayn
- Lived: 658/9–712 CE
- Known as: The Consistently Prostrating, Ornament of the Worshippers
- Importance: He wrote many prayers found in the book Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. He survived the Battle of Karbala because he was too sick to fight.
- Death: He was poisoned in Medina.
- Buried: Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
5. Muhammad ibn Ali
- Lived: 677–732 CE
- Known as: The Opener of Knowledge
- Importance: Both Sunni and Shia sources describe him as a very important early legal scholar. He taught many students.
- Death: He was poisoned in Medina.
- Buried: Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
6. Ja'far ibn Muhammad
- Lived: 702–765 CE
- Known as: The Honest
- Importance: He founded the Ja'fari jurisprudence (a school of Islamic law) and helped develop Twelver theology. He taught many famous scholars in different fields, including law, theology, and science.
- Death: He was poisoned in Medina.
- Buried: Jannat al-Baqi, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
7. Musa ibn Ja'far
- Lived: 744–799 CE
- Known as: The Confined
- Importance: He led the Shia community during a time when other groups split off. He also set up a system for collecting religious donations (called khums) from Shia communities.
- Death: He was imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad.
- Buried: Al-Kazimiyah Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq.
8. Ali ibn Musa
- Lived: 765–817 CE
- Known as: The Pleasing
- Importance: He was made a crown prince by the Caliph Al-Ma'mun. He was famous for his discussions with religious scholars, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
- Death: He was poisoned in Mashad, Iran.
- Buried: Imam Rida Mosque in Mashad, Iran.
9. Muhammad ibn Ali
- Lived: 810–835 CE
- Known as: The Generous, The God-Fearing
- Importance: He was known for his generosity and strong faith, even when facing difficulties from the government.
- Death: He was poisoned by his wife in Baghdad.
- Buried: Al-Kazimiyah Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq.
10. Ali ibn Muhammad
- Lived: 827–868 CE
- Known as: The Guide, The Pure
- Importance: He made the network of his representatives in the Shia community stronger. He sent them instructions and received financial contributions from followers.
- Death: He was poisoned in Samarra, Iraq.
- Buried: Al Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.
11. Hasan ibn Ali
- Lived: 846–874 CE
- Known as: The Garrison Town One
- Importance: For most of his life, he faced restrictions from the government. This was because the Shia population was growing and becoming more powerful.
- Death: He was poisoned in Samarra, Iraq.
- Buried: Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.
12. Hujjat Allah ibn al-Hasan
- Lived: 869 CE–present
- Known as: The Guided, The Hidden, The Proof of the House of Muhammad
- Importance: Twelver Shia Muslims believe he is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi. They believe he will return with Jesus to bring justice and peace to the entire world.
- Current Status: According to Twelver Shia belief, he has been living in Occultation (hidden from view) since 874 CE. He will remain hidden for as long as God wishes.
See also
In Spanish: Doce imanes para niños
- Ahl al-Kisa
- Succession to Muhammad
- Hadith of the Twelve Successors
- The Fourteen Infallibles
- Islamic leadership
- Salawat
- Sayyidat Nisa al-Alamin
