Salamun alaykum Shia brothers. I want to be educated on the matter of 12 imams. I don't want to offend anyone or mock any beliefs, I pose this question and set of points as I want to receive answers. My question is, did the Prophet (SAW) and the 12 Imams really make the concept of 12 Imams clear to their people? I contest this with 3 points: 1. We have 10's of 100's of hadiths and quran verses about Salah, Zakat, Hajj, Tawhid and Prophethood. Through this repetition, we're sure about the necessity of the 5 pillars within Islam. If the concept of Imamah was essential, it would deserve the same repetition by the Prophet (SAW) and 12 Imams in hadith literature 2. On the Hadith of 12 successors , it talks about caliphs instead of imams, doesn't mention names and says they'll be from the clan of Quraysh when the 12 imams are strictly from his (SAW) progeny. The Hadith doesn't make clear who these 12 successors would be. 3. Throughout history, many Shia sects came and went, and many branches still exist today. If the Prophet (SAW) and Imams properly conveyed Imamah to their people, why such differences between the Shia sects on the matter of Imamah? They all have their own Imams, with no set of Imams having more evidence than the other (According to my knowledge). In Shia sources, does each Imam narrate a hadith where he clearly appoints the next Imam? Thanks in advance for your answers.

From [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizari) : > The Nizari Ismailis have always maintained that the Imamah (also known as 'Imamat') can only be inherited from the current Imam to a direct descendant in a father-to-son (or grandson) hereditary lineage starting with Imam Ali and then to Imam Hussain and so on until their present and living 49th Imam, Prince Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV. From [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infallibility) : > In Shi'a theology, the belief is that the Ahl al-Bayt, including Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra and **Shi'a Imams** are all infallible and do not make mistakes. According to Nizaris, they believe the Imamah continues. **Question:** Do Nizari Ismaili Shias believe in the infallibility of all the Imams? As stated above, Shias believe that their Imams are infallible. **Do Nizaris believe in infallibility and if they do so they believe in the infallibility of all the Imams, including the present** [**Aga Khan**](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aga_Khan) ?

Do Shi'as believe that the words of the Imams can abrogate the Quran? In what circumstances can this happen? If infallible Muhammad can abrogate the Quran with his own words, as many Sunnis believe, than that implies that the Imams can do the same, as they are also infallible. How do Twelvers and Ismailis differ on this question?

The Twelvers (Jafari school of thought within Shia sect) believe that Imam Al-Mahdi will re-appear at the day of Judgement, while a small faction (known as the Mustali's) within Shia's Ismaili (also known as the Seveners) community believe that Tayyib will re-appear at the day of Judgement, where both Imam Al-Mahdi and Tayyib are in what these respective communities call as occultation (i.e. not visible to the sight but exists). Since the Sunnis believe in the appearance of a prominent Islamic figure at the day of Judgement before the Isa re-appears (as based on a number of hadiths by the Prophet Muhammad), do they believe him to be Imam Al-Mahdi or Tayyib by this?

Twelver believe there has been continously a vicegerant on earth from times of adam. They say 12 imams are for mankind. What about jinnkind? I have asked twlevers on discord regarding the same and no answer is given by them. So the question is who's vicegerant for jinns? The necessity for jinns requiring vicegerant as per twelver logic is from Quran verse 51:56. > We didn't not create jinn and men except to worship me. I also have come to conclusion that the population of jinn is more than mankind at any given time based on hadith which says every human has a devil companion. > His companion (qareen) will say: ‘Our Lord! I did not push him to transgression, (in disbelief, oppression, and evil deeds), but he was himself in error far astray.’ > Allaah will say: ‘Dispute not in front of Me, I had already in advance sent you the threat. > The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust  to the slaves’” [Qaaf 50:27-29] > The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one among you but a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, “Even me, but Allaah helped me with him and he became Muslim (or: and I am safe from him), so he only enjoins me to do that which is good.”  According to another report, “… There is assigned to him a companion from among the jinn and a companion from among the angels.”  Narrated by Muslim, 2814

Wikipedia seems to say so > After Ali's death, Kufi Muslims pledged allegiance to his eldest son > Hasan without dispute, as Ali on many occasions had declared that just > People of the House of Muhammad were entitled to rule the Muslim > community. At this time, Muawiyah held both the Levant and Egypt > and, as commander of the largest force in the Muslim Empire, had > declared himself caliph and marched his army into Iraq, the seat of > Hasan's caliphate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali That seems like the cornerstone of the Shia beliefs right? Is this something the Sunnis believe in too? This question is reasked here https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/58430/did-ali-say-that-only-muhammads-descendants-can-rule

I was going through this answer on the shias imam and came across "ulelamr". This word is used in the verse 4:59 . According to the answer this is what ulelamr means > With the above observations, ulel 'Amr are identified with the appointed Imam(s). Imams can also be identified with their full knowledge of everything. They never say "I do not know" in response to any question. 2 questions: 1. What is the sunni point of view of the meaning of ulelamr? 2. What is the context of this ayat 4:59 ? (any account of what was happening during the period of revelation of this ayat) (Both sunni and shia stance)

I am informed one imam stays silent regarding divine guidance when 2 are present. . Raifidi hadith by Imam Sadiq (RH) > حدثنا محمد بن الحسين عن الحسن بن محبوب عن العلاء عن عبد الله بن ابى يعفور عن ابى عبد الله عليه السلام قال كان على بن ابى طالب عليه السلام عالم هذه الامة والعلم يتوارث وليس يمضى منا احد حتى يرى من ولده من يعلم علمه ولا تبقى الارض يوما بغير امام منا تفزع إليه الامة قلت يكون امامان قال لا الا واحدهما صامت لا يتكلم حتى يمضى الاول. (Basa'iru d-Darajat of as-Safar al-Qumi) Abdu l-Lah ibn Abi Ya'fur said that Abu Abdi l-Lah (Jafaru s-Sadiq) said: "Ali ibn Abi Talib was the knowledgeable Imam of this Ummah and the knowledge is inherited. Not one of us passes away until he sees a son who learns his knowledge, and the Earth doesn't last for a day without an Imam from us, with the Ummah seeking refuge towards him." I said: ***"Can there be two Imams?" He said: "No, unless one of them is silent and refuses to speak until the first one passes away."*** But as per Quran there are atleast 2 instances when 2 imams speak about divine guidance at the same time. -Quran 36:14 > When ***We sent to them two but they denied them***, so We strengthened [them] with a third, and they said, "Indeed, we are messengers to you." Another instance is of that Ibrahim and lut. > But when ***he (ibrahim) saw that they did not stretch out their hands*** towards it, he had a mistrust about them and felt a fear of them in his heart. They said, ***"Don't have any fear: for we have been sent to the people of Lot."*** Quran 11:70. The doubt arises because twelver shia also considers prophets and messengers as imam. How do twelver shia reconcile between the instances of Quran and their hadith?

So, with my elementary readings in Shi’ite theology, specifically the Ithnā‘ashariyyah or the Twelver Shi'a branch, I couldn't differentiate between a Prophet and a Shi'ite Imam. - The Prophets are divinely appointed by Allah for a mission, so are the Imams. - The Prophets are divinely guided, so are the Imams . - The Prophets are infallible with respect to the religion, so are the Imams. - The Prophets are leader of the ummah and obedience to them is obligatory, so it is for the Imams. - The Prophets communicate with the angels, so do the Imams. - The Prophets performed miracles with the permission of Allah, so do the Imams. - The Prophets were revealed the things of the future by Allah, so it is for the Imams. - The Prophets have a higher rank/status compared to the average believer, so do the Imams. What are the differences between them then? Please clarify the misconceptions if any.

The society of Muslims needs to be guided by caliph after Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Hence, after the death of holy prophet (PBUH), a caliph was assigned to guide and rule the Muslims. According to my findings in noble Quran, God has assigned the caliph. For example, Moses the prophet (PBUH) didn't ask people to form a shura for choosing a successor when he left for miqat. > Moses said: "O’ Allah) assign me a vizier from my family, (that is) my > brother Aaron (Haroon) ...,”(Allah) said: "We granted your requests, > O’ Moses.”(20:29-36) . Or in another verse, Allah the exalted, directly mentions the word "Caliph": > يَا دَاوُودُ **إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً** فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ فَاحْكُم > بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن > سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ > لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ > > [We said], "O David, indeed **We have made you a successor** upon the > earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your > own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." > Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe > punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account. (38:26) But I didn't find other clues mentioning the authority of the prophet or people. Please let me know if others except God has such an authority. Support your answer using Quran and Hadith.

As it is clear, there are many narrations from Shia Imams. (As well as the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (SAWW). I couldn’t exactly figure out which Imam has the most hadiths? Or in other word, most of Shia hadiths are from who? (Except the apostle of Allah (SAWW) who has the most narrated hadiths) *(**Note:** Although it is said that Imam Ali, Imam Sadiq and Imam Baqer (peace be upon them) have the most ahadith, but I am looking for the answer by authentic reference)*

If Hussain is Imam, and Ali is also imam what is the status of Hussain when Ali is imam? Searching Google isnt helping in anyway. I'm asking this because , one of the members commented that muhsin bin ali died as infant when prophet was alive. Edit: I'm editing this after the first answer, was hussain at alis imamate 1. Ordinary shia only. 2. Son of Imam only. 3. Impending imam. 4. Ordinary sunni. 5. Companion of prophet only.

I know that the rank of "Prophet Mohammad" (s) is higher than Imams and other people, but somebody orally told me that: > the rank of the Imams (I mean 12 Imams of Shiite [Shia]) is spiritually higher than the rank of all the prophets other than Prophet Mohammad(s). So, is there any tradition regarding mentioned issue? *(Note: I am looking for the perspective of Shiite according to the Ahadith)*

While discussing the no. of imams with a friend of a different sect, we had this friendly argument. She says that the no of Imams are not clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. Whereas, I for sure know it is and the number is 12. I'm looking for the sura and ayat no. (And the translation too, if possible) which confirms the existence of the 12 Imams. Which Quranic ayat state the number of Imams is 12?

During a visit to Medinah I interestingly saw the names of the twelve Shi'a Imams (i.e. of the Twelvers, the mainstream Shi'a) —peace be upon them— with their reputations, around two saloons of the mosque of the holy Prophet —peace be upon him— (مسجد النبوی); before that I didn't know that the Sunni brothers also accept such reputations for the twelve Imams of Shi'a. Note the green circles at top of the walls: Those colored in green include 13 out of 14 innocents of the twelver Shi'ism (محمد، علی، حسن، حسین، زین العابدین، محمد الباقر، جعفر الصادق، موسی الکاظم، علی الرضا، محمد التقی، علی النقی، حسن العسکری، م‌ح‌م‌د المهدی علیهم السلام): : (More photos available here ) **Are there any Sunni hadith that contains these names and reputations?** And although not necessary, it would also be helpful if such hadith would also address why the Twelver Imams are represented, but the Imams of other Shi'a sects are not (e.g. why Imam Kazim —peace be upon him— is considered here, but his brother Isma'eel is not).

**Asslamu-un-Alakum**
I was wondering if I can provide a matrimonial service (known as dating sites) to the users? If I wanna launch a site just for Muslim brother and sisters who are seeking a partner. Am I allowed to do it in Islam? Specially I greatly appreciate an answer according to "Shia" Fiqh.

Do Shia believe 12 imams are better than Ibrahim, what's is their proof from Shia sources?

I see there is on the dome of Hussain ibn Ali (as)'s shrine , which is replaced with a black one for the month of Muharram and Safar. Which is not to be seen on the dome of any other religious figure's shrine. What is the purpose of this red flag?

From Al Islam , we have: > The Shi’a believe that the rank of Imamat (the position of a divinely-appointed leader) is higher than that of prophethood and messengership. > > ... Prophet Muhammad (S) is has the highest rank among mankind, and is the most virtuous creature of God and the most honored before Allah. The above belief does not undermine his position since Prophet Muhammad was an Imam during his time as well! With the possibility of being both Prophet and Imam, it seems that in order to meaningfully consider the rank of Imam higher than the rank of Prophet, there would need to be non-Imam Prophets (otherwise all Prophets would be Imams anyway). Hence my question: **Question**: Were there non-Imam Prophets as per Shia Islam? I'm not sure if this is possible, because the Qur'an (2:136 and 3:84 ) instructs us to not distinguish between Prophets. If there were non-Imam Prophets, then Prophet Muhammad would have higher rank, thereby distinguishing between Prophets.

Is this what 'hujjat' is? > in every era there must be one person to guide people and to help them obtain spiritual growth and fulfill their responsibilities towards their society. Who is 'hujjat' now? Is Imam Mahdi Allah's hujjat now? And a similar question, what does "Wali Faqih (ولایة الفقیه)" mean? Is it something same like Hojjat or 'different?' If different, who is 'Wali Faqih (ولایة الفقیه)' now? *(Shia viewpoint only)*