Imamat
Die schiitische Lehre, dass die religiöse und politische Führung der Gemeinschaft den unfehlbaren, von Ali abstammenden Imamen zusteht; ein Kernprinzip des schiitischen Glaubens.
Im Kontext lesen →Auf einen Blick
- Number of Imams (Twelver)
- Twelve
- Key attribute
- Infallibility & designation (nass)
- Contrast with Sunni
- Divine appointment vs. election
Details
The Imamate in Shia Islam is the divinely appointed religious and political leadership of the Muslim community after the Prophet. Unlike the Sunni conception of an elected caliphate, Shia hold that the Imam is designated by God through explicit appointment (nass) by the Prophet or the preceding Imam, and possesses infallibility (isma — freedom from sin and error) and special religious knowledge. In Twelver Shiism the Imamate continues through twelve infallible Imams, from Ali ibn Abi Talib to the Mahdi. The Imam is regarded not only as political leader but as the ultimate authority in interpreting religion and as spiritual guide. This doctrine is the central pillar of Shia theology and jurisprudence and the source of concepts such as occultation and messianic expectation.
Verwandte Einträge
Erscheint auch in
Quellen
- Encyclopaedia Iranica — 'Emāmate'
- Britannica — 'Imam'
- W. Madelung, 'The Succession to Muhammad'