Imam

Imam (; Arabic: إمام, imām; pl.: أئمة, a'immah) is an Islamic leadership position. In Sunni Islam, an Imam generally refers to a religious leader, scholar, or the person who leads Muslims in prayer. The position is not necessarily hereditary or divinely appointed. Thus in Sunni Islam, anyone can study the basic Islamic teachings and become an Imam.

In Shia Islam, the Imams are absolute infallible leaders after the Prophet. Shia Muslims consider the term to be only applicable to the members of the Ahl al-Bayt, the family of Muhammad. In Twelver Shi'ism there are The Fourteen Infallibles, twelve of which are Imams, the final being the Mahdi who will return at the end of times.