Author of, Professor of Arabic and Islmic Studies, University of Edinburgh, 196479. Thus for Sunnis, anyone can study the basic Islamic sciences and become an Imam. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Best Known For: Muhammad is the prophet and founder of Islam. Lay Leaders Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. The titles of Ayatollah and Grand Ayatollah exist only in the Shiite sect of Islam. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Sharia law requires men and women to dress modestly. History The essence of the problem is that Muhammad died without a male heir, and he never clearly stated who he would want to be his successor, says Lesley Hazleton, author of After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Sunni-Shia Split in Islam. (There are dozens of these guys out there and evangelicals, even the minorities in the space, are missing a massive opportunity. Any other use of the hosted content, such as for financial gain, requires express approval from the copyright owners. History Working for his uncle, he gained experience in commercial trade traveling to Syria and eventually from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. He spent his entire life in what is now the country of Saudi Arabia, from his birth about 570 CE in Mecca to his death in 632 in Medina. In Sunni belief, the term is used for the founding scholars of the four Sunni madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh). Muslims follow five basic pillars that are essential to their faith. In his early 20s, Muhammad began working for a wealthy merchant woman named Khadijah, 15 years his senior. Wikipedia Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Some mosques have specific places for the adhan to be made from, such as a minaret or a designated area in the mosque. Spreading the Message of Islam In 610 he experienced a vision of the archangel Gabriel. In the Shi'a context, an imam is not only presented as the man of God par excellence, but as participating fully in the names, attributes, and acts that theology usually reserves for God alone. This journey became known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah), and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. For a time, the influence and status of his wife and his uncle, Abu Talib, the chief of the clan, protected Muhammad from persecution. All things considered, there is no compelling reason to suggest that the basic scaffolding of the traditional Islamic account of Muhammads life is unhistorical. It is commonly used to refer to the official that leads the prayers at the mosques. 151 0 obj <> endobj (There are dozens of these guys out there and evangelicals, even the minorities in the space, are missing a massive opportunity. Within the century after Muhammads death, his followers had built an empire that stretched from Central Asia to Spain. At times, imams have held both secular and religious authority. An important collector of such early traditions was Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, a relative of ishah who was probably born in 643644 and who is plausibly viewed as having had firsthand access to former companions of the Prophet. Muhammad gave amnesty to many of the Meccan leaders who had opposed him and pardoned many others. The titles of Ayatollah and Grand Ayatollah exist only in the Shiite sect of Islam. Islam does not have an ordained clergy with authority over rites and rituals. Muslims also revere some material found in the Judeo-Christian. [37] The Imamate of Futa Jallon (1727-1896) was a Fulani state in West Africa where secular power alternated between two lines of hereditary Imams, or almami. "Almami" is a title of West African Muslim rulers, used especially in the conquest states of the 19th century. WebLeadership. The Arabic term islm, literally surrender, illuminates the fundamental religious idea of Islamthat the believer (called a Muslim, from the active particle of islm) accepts surrender to the will of Allah (in Arabic, Allh: God). Updated: Sep 24, 2020. $N3h`gM|8IXP__vGw!]@r H310pUq1|bT 0 G$ See List of rulers of Oman, the Rustamid dynasty: 776909, Nabhani dynasty: 11541624, the Yaruba dynasty: 16241742, the Al Said: 1744present for further information. Updated: January 10, 2022 | Original: July 31, 2019. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! When he was roughly forty, Muhammad began having visions and hearing voices. Twelver and Ismaili Shi'a believe that these imams are chosen by God to be perfect examples for the faithful and to lead all humanity in all aspects of life. It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word or Khalfah, which means "successor", that is, successor to the Muhammad. Shaykh/Shaykha: spiritual leader (usually male, occasionally female), especially of a Sufi Circle. Islamic religious leaders At least to historians who are reluctant to admit reports of divine intervention, the problem is reinforced by the miraculous elements of some of the material included in Ibn Isqs work. These include: Islams legal system is known as Sharia Law. Islam teaches that Allahs word was revealed to the prophet, Muslims believe several prophets were sent to teach Allahs law. Books on Islam, Muslims, Prophet Muhammad(s), Ahlul Bayt.