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The term imamate or imamah (Arabic: إمامة, imāmah) refers to leadership, most commonly the office of an imam, or of religious and communal authority. In Sunni Islam, the term is associated with leadership of the Muslim community in a political sense. In Shia Islam, it is a divine designation of leaders to guide the community after Muhammad.
Etymology
editHistorical development
editThe concept of imamate emerged in the early ages of Islam after disputes over Muhammad's succession. The disagreements evolved into the separate branches of Sunni and Shia Islamic views of authority. One debate was the leadership was a selection, consultation, lineage, or a divine designation. Shia developed theological guidelines for an imam. Sunni traditions framed imam leadership in terms of political legitimacy and communal welfare.[3][1][2]
Theology
editSunni Islam
editShia Islam
editImamate in Shia Islam is a central doctrine, especially in Ismaili and Twelver doctrines. In Shia Islam, the imam is a divinely appointed guide critical to preserve and interpret the religion and faith. Ismaili belief emphasizes the imamate is vital for Muslims to under the exoteric and esoteric dimensions of the Quran. In the Twelver doctrine, the belief is that imams are members of the Prophet's family and are necessary guides after Muhammad.[4][5][1]
List
edit- Caucasian Imamate, a state during the early and mid-19th century in the Eastern Caucasus
- Imamate of Oman, a state existed in what is now Oman
- Imamate of Aussa, an early modern state in Ethiopia
- Imamate of Futa Jallon, a state in West Africa from 1725 until 1896
- Imamate of Futa Toro, a state in West Africa from 1776 until 1861
- Hiraab Imamate, a Somali state in the 17th and 18th centuries
- Imams of Yemen, political leadership of the Zaidi branch of Shia from 897 until 1962
- Rustamid Imamate, an Ibadi Persian dynasty in North Africa from 767 until 909
- Imamate of Nafusa, a state in Libya from the 8th century until 911
- Mu'ammarid Imamate, a short-lived state after the fall of the First Saudi State from 1818 until 1820
- Imamate of Nejd, the Second Saudi State, existing from 1824 to 1891
- Nizari Ismaili state, a Shia state in the Middle East from 1090 until 1273
- Imamate of Nasr ad-Din, a short-lived state during the Mauritanian Thirty Years' War from 1673 until 1674
References
edit- 1 2 3 Esposito, John L., ed. (2004). The Oxford dictionary of Islam. Oxford paperback reference (1. issued as paperback ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-512558-0.
- 1 2 3 "Imamate | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- 1 2 "Imamate | Islam | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2026-02-21. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ↑ "The Imamate in Ismailism". www.iis.ac.uk. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ↑ "ISMAʿILISM xvii. THE IMAMATE IN ISMAʿILISM". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
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