Imami

Imami refers to a branch and its adherents within Shia Islam that emphasizes the authority of a line of Imams descended from Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law. The term comes from Arabic al-imamiyya, meaning “of the Imam” or “followers of the Imam.” In historical and scholarly usage, Imami describes those within Shia Islam who believe Imams possess divinely appointed, infallible leadership and that legitimate religious and political authority resides in this line.

In practice, Imami doctrine is most closely associated with Twelver Shia Islam (Ithna ‘ashariyya), which holds that there were twelve Imams starting with Ali and ending with Muhammad al-Mahdi. The twelfth Imam is believed to be in occultation and will return as the guided redeemer. This belief in a continuing, divinely guided Imam shapes Imami theology, law, and eschatology, and it underpins unique sources of religious authority beyond the Sunni canon.

The term is often used in contrast to other Shia groups such as Isma’ili and Zaydi, which recognize different lines of Imams. In contemporary usage, “Imami” is frequently equated with “Twelver Shia” or simply “Shia,” though some scholars retain the broader historical sense of the term.

Geographically, Imami/Twelver communities are most prominent in Iran, with significant populations in Iraq, Azerbaijan, and the Persian Gulf region, as well as sizable communities in South Asia, the Middle East, and the global diaspora. Core practices include reverence toward the Imams, reliance on hadith and legal traditions attributed to the Imams, and the belief in the Hidden Imam’s eventual return.