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).

The Twelve Imams are regarded as authoritative interpreters of the Quran and Islamic law and as exemplars of faith and conduct. Their teachings form the central and foundational basis of Twelver Shia theology and Jaʿfari jurisprudence. The Twelve Imams are also highly revered in Sunni Islam as family members of the Prophet Muhammad and as highly important figures in Islamic history, and Sunnis visit their shrines out of veneration.