Discover the meaning of the term Imama (إِمَامَة) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readThe Prophet’s inheritance: one chooses for it who most resembles him in character, constitution, knowledge, recitation, uprightness and lineage. Worthiest of the imamate is the most learned of the prayer’s rulings; though versed in the prayer’s science, if he has a share in other sciences, that one is worthier. If equal in knowledge, the best reciter, that is, most learned of the recitation’s science: stopping at the stop and joining at the join, and the like of strengthening and lightening. If equal, the most devout. If equal, the eldest. If equal in age, the best of character. If equal, the noblest of lineage. If equal, the fairest of face, that is, most of night prayer. If these traits meet in two men, lots are drawn, or the choice to the people. The Prophet said: « who much prays by night has the fair face by day ». As for him whose imamate is disliked or who is unfit, the detail is in the fiqh books.
Lexically: verbal noun of ou’ammou, the meaning’s root being aiming; it comes in the sense of precedence; said: I took them as guides when I went before them. In the faqihs’ terminology: imama applies to two senses: the lesser imamate and the greater. The greater imamate is the right of general disposal over mankind: general leadership in religion and world, caliphate after the Prophet. The lesser imamate, as the prayer’s imamate, is the worshipper’s prayer’s binding to another’s prayer by conditions the Law states. The imam becomes imam only when the follower binds his prayer to his. This binding is the imamate’s reality, the imitation’s end. Ibn ’Arfa defined it: following a leader in part of his prayer, not following another. Some defined it: the imam being followed in all his prayer or part.
It is the general leadership in religion and world. And Allah knows best.
The Muslims’ leadership. The imam’s office.