Twelver Shiʿism
Twelver Shiʿism (Arabic: الشيعة الاثنا عشرية, al-Shīʿa al-Ithnā ʿAshariyya), also known as Imami Shiʿism or the Jaʿfari school, is the largest branch of Shiʿism within Islam. Twelvers believe in a succession of twelve divinely appointed leaders, known as Imams, beginning with Ali ibn Abi Talib and ending with Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed to be in occultation and expected to return as the Mahdi.[1]
Twelver Shiʿism constitutes the majority form of Islam in Iran and is also prevalent in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon, with significant communities elsewhere in the Muslim world.[2]
Name and Terminology
The designation "Twelver" derives from the belief in twelve Imams who serve as both spiritual and temporal guides of the Muslim community. The term "Imami" emphasizes the central role of the Imamate as a divinely guided institution, while "Jaʿfari" refers to the legal school attributed to the sixth Imam, Jaʿfar al-Sadiq.[3]
Core Beliefs
The Imamate
At the center of Twelver doctrine is the belief that leadership of the Muslim community belongs to the Imams, who are regarded as infallible (maʿṣūm) in matters of religious guidance. Twelvers hold that the Imamate is divinely designated and transmitted through the descendants of Ali and Fatimah.[1]
The Occultation
Twelvers believe that the twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, entered a state of occultation (ghayba) in the ninth century. According to Twelver belief, he remains alive but hidden by divine will and will reappear at the end of time to restore justice.[2]
Theology
Twelver theology emphasizes divine justice (ʿadl), moral responsibility, and human free will. The tradition developed a systematic theology influenced by Islamic philosophy and Muʿtazilite thought while maintaining distinct doctrinal positions.[4]
Religious Law
Twelver Shiʿism follows the Jaʿfari school of jurisprudence, one of the major schools of Islamic law. While sharing many principles with Sunni legal schools, Jaʿfari jurisprudence differs in areas such as legal methodology, inheritance law, and ritual practice.[2]
Legal authority in Twelver Shiʿism is exercised through qualified jurists (Mujtahid), particularly in the period following the Occultation.
Clerical Authority and the Marjaʿiyya
In the absence of the Imam, Twelver Shiʿism developed a system of religious authority centered on senior jurists known as Marjaʿ al-taqlīd ("source of emulation"). Believers may follow a marjaʿ in matters of religious practice, reflecting the decentralized yet structured nature of Twelver clerical authority.[1]
Rituals and Practices
Twelver religious life includes practices shared with other Muslims, such as daily prayer and fasting during Ramadan, as well as distinctive rituals. Commemoration of Ashura, marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala, holds particular importance and emphasizes themes of justice, sacrifice, and moral responsibility.[3]
Historical Development
Twelver Shiʿism emerged gradually between the seventh and ninth centuries amid debates over legitimate leadership after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The doctrine of the twelve Imams was consolidated following the Occultation, leading to the development of Shiʿi legal and theological institutions.[4]
The establishment of Twelver Shiʿism as the state religion of Iran under the Safavid dynasty in the sixteenth century marked a major turning point in its history and global influence.[2]
Contemporary Distribution
Today, Twelver Shiʿism represents the majority tradition in Iran and Azerbaijan and forms large communities in Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon. Twelver Shiʿi minorities exist throughout the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.[2]
Relations with Other Islamic Traditions
Twelver Shiʿism shares core beliefs with Sunni Islam, including belief in the Qurʾan and the Prophet Muhammad, while differing on questions of religious authority and leadership. Throughout history, periods of theological disagreement have coexisted with scholarly exchange and legal recognition, including modern efforts at Sunni–Shiʿi dialogue.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Encyclopaedia Iranica, "Shiʿism"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Twelver"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Momen, M. (1985). An Introduction to Shiʿi Islam. Yale University Press.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Madelung, W. (1997). The Succession to Muhammad. Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Brunner, R. (2004). Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century. Brill.