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The concept of Imamate is a central tenet of Shia Islam. It refers to the divinely ordained leadership of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Shias believe that the Imams are infallible and divinely guided and that they have the authority to interpret Islamic law and lead the community.
The Imamate is based on the belief that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Shias believe that the Imams are the successors to Muhammad and that they are the only ones who can correctly interpret and apply Islamic law.
Allah says in the Quran:
يٰٓاَيُّھَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَطِيْعُوا اللہَ وَاَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَاُولِي الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ
“O you who have faith! Obey Allah and Obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you”.
This verse obliges the Muslims to obey three entities: First, to obey Allah; second, to obey the Messenger and those vested with authority (Ulil-Amr). Ulil-Amr (those who are given authority by Allah). This is one of the places where the concept of Imamate and the necessity of obedience to them come from. (Quran 4:59)
The Imams are also believed to be the spiritual and moral leaders of the Muslim community. They are responsible for guiding the community toward righteousness and salvation.
There are twelve Imams in Shia (Isna-ashri) Islam. The first Imam was Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed to be in occultation (hiding) and will return at the end of time to establish justice on earth. In Ismaili continuous presence of the Imam in every age - Imam of the time - is the basis of belief.
The concept of Imamate is very important to Shias. It provides them with a sense of identity and unity, and it gives them guidance on how to live their lives in accordance with Islamic law and values. Other terms linked to the concept are:
Imamat: the principal or institution of imamat; in the Shia tradition the institution of Imamat is centred on the authority and leadership of the Imams directly descended from Prophet Muhammad through Hazrat Imam Ali and Hazrat Bibi Fatima.
Imam al-Hadiya: The rightly guided Imam; one of the designations of the Shia Imams.
Imam al-Haq: True Imam or leader;
Imam al-Mubeen: 'Manifest Imam' is a term in the Qur'an interpreted by the Shia as referring to the Imam of the Time.Here are some of the key functions of the Imams in Shia Islam:
To interpret and apply Islamic law
To lead the Muslim community in prayer and other religious rituals
To provide spiritual and moral guidance
To uphold justice and promote social equality
To defend Islam from its enemies
"an imam's responsibilities include caring for the quality of life of the people who he leads, including their economic progress"
The Imams are also believed to have a special connection to God and to the Prophet Muhammad. Shias believe that the Imams are infallible, meaning that they are free from error and sin. Shias also believe that the Imams have access to esoteric knowledge that is not available to ordinary people.
The concept of Imamate is a complex and nuanced one. There are many different interpretations of the Imamate among Shias, and there is a rich body of scholarship on the topic. However, the core belief is that the Imams are divinely ordained leaders who are responsible for guiding the Muslim community on the path to righteousness and salvation - SIRATAL MUSTAQIM.
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