The Twelve Imams

The Twelve Imams (Arabic: ٱلْأَئِمَّة ٱلْٱثْنَا عَشَر, al-ʾAʾimmah al-ʾIthnā ʿAšar; Persian: دوازده امام, Davâzdah Emâm) are the twelve religious and political successors of the Prophet Muhammad recognized by Twelver Shia Islam. Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the Twelve Imams were divinely appointed leaders of the Muslim community, beginning with Ali and ending with the Mahdi, who entered occultation and will return in the End Times to establish justice alongside Isa (Jesus).