Concept
Twelver Shi'ism
Overview
Twelver Shi'ism (Arabic: اِثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة, romanized: Ithnā ʿAshariyya; Persian: دوازده امامی, romanized: Davāzdah-emāmī) is the largest branch of Shia Islam. Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the Twelve Imams are divinely appointed as both spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and that they possess special knowledge and authority to guide the Muslim community (Ummah). According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemplary human individuals who rule over the Muslim community with justice, and are able to preserve and interpret the Islamic law (Sharia) and the esoteric meaning of the Quran. The words and deeds (sunnah) of Muhammad and the Imams are a guide and model for the Muslim community to follow. As a result, Muhammad and the Twelve Imams are free from error and sin, a doctrine known as Ismah (literally 'protection') or infallibility, and are chosen by divine decree, or nass, through Muhammad.
Globally, there are about 170–220 million Twelver Shia Muslims. These include: most of the inhabitants of Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan, about half of the Muslim population of Bahrain and Lebanon, and sizeable minorities in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Iran is the only country in the world where Twelver Shia Islam is the state religion. Twelvers share many tenets with other Shia sects, such as the belief in the Imamate. The Isma'ili and Nizari branches of Shia Islam believe in a different number of Imams and, for the most part, a different path of succession regarding the Imamate. They also differ in the role and overall definition of an Imam. Like Sunnis, Twelver Shia Muslims believe in Muhammad's status as the "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam al-Nabiyyin), reject the possibility of the abrogation of Sharia law, and affirm both the exoteric and esoteric aspects of the Quran. Alevis in Turkey and Albania, and Alawites in Syria and Lebanon, share belief in the Twelve Imams with Twelvers, but their theological doctrines are different.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Philosophers who discussed Twelver Shi'ism
Related ideas
- 'Aql
- Turkey
- Persian language
- Mulla Sadra
- India
- Iran
- Jerusalem
- Jihad
- Infallibility
- Lebanon
- Seyyed Hossein Nasr
- Bahrain
- Muhammad
- Literature
- Anthropomorphism
- Tawhid
- Muslims
- Mecca
- Ottoman Empire
- The Times of India
- Pakistan
- Kalam
- Mongol Empire
- Siege of Baghdad
Place in the tradition
Part of Monism.