IMĀM

Imām is a substantive from the Arabic verb amma meaning to precede, to lead; serving as an example or object of imitation, particularly in prayer. The substantive imām may designate a person, or an object serving as a model or guide. The Prophet Muhammad is the imām of the Muslim community. In this sense, the successor to the Prophet, the caliph, is the imām of his subjects. The "four imāms" are the founders and heads of the four principal schools of the sunnites. In the sense of religious leader, the term is also applied to the great jurisconsults and theologians of Islam, such as algazel (ghazzĀlĪ, al-) and Ibn Taimīya. In the sense of guide, imām is applied to the qu’ran (sacred scripture of the Muslims) as the guide of the Muslims; it also designates the vulgate of the Qu’ran, the copying of which was ordered by the third caliph, 'Uthmān. In the Qu’ran itself, the term imām is used to designate the scripture of any people. The term was also used to designate the leader who guided travelers, or the driver of camels.

In Muslim constitutional law, the imām is the supreme head of the executive power (see islamic law). As such, "the Supreme Imām" (al-imām al-a’ẓam ) is the title given to the caliph. The function itself is called "the imamate" (al-imāma ) or "the supreme imamate" (al-imāma al-‘uẓmā ), a term that is synonymous with caliphate (khilāfa ). The imām is also the person who leads the prayer, and imāma is the term applied to that function (originally, the caliph led the prayer). This is not necessarily an official function; any competent Muslim may lead the prayer, and as such would be the imām of the prayer.

Imām is also used by the shĪ’ites to designate a legitimate successor of the Caliph ‘Alī. Shī’ites Imāms are believed by their followers (currently 9 percent of Islam) to be impeccable; in Shī’ites usage the term takes on mystical and eschatological overtones.

See Also: ismailites.

[g. makdisi]