Who Are the 12 Imams in Shia Islam?

Have you ever heard Shi'as speak about 12 Imams?

Who are those people? You might ask.

In Shia Islam, leadership didn’t stop with the Prophet (SAWAS) - it continued through a divinely appointed line known as the 12 Imams.

These aren’t just historical figures - they’re spiritual guides, protectors of the Prophet’s message, and living examples of Qur’anic truth.

Here is very small description of who they are.🌹

Let’s Start👇

1- Imam Ali (AS)

Imam Ali (AS) was the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was the first male to testify to the message of the Holy Prophet and supported him during his prophethood mission every step of the way. Imam Ali has numerous undeniable characteristics that undoubtedly make him the Prophet’s unique companion. Even his enemies could not resist admiring him. In the last year of the Holy Prophet’s life, he recited a sermon to thousands of Muslims at a place called Ghadeer Khumm. In this sermon, the Holy Prophet held and raised Imam Ali’s hand and said, “To whomever I am a master and a leader, this Ali is his master and leader.”

2- Imam Hasan (AS)

Imam Hasan (AS) was the first born of Imam Ali (AS) and Lady Fatimah (SA) and was also the first grandchild of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He had a very short caliphate of just 7 months. He had to give up the caliphate and accept the peace treaty with Muawiyah due to Muawiyah’s conspiracies and the lack of loyal companions.

3- Imam Hussein (AS)

Imam Hussein (AS) was the second child of Imam Ali (AS) and Lady Fatimah (SA), and was also the second grandchild of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He did not pay allegiance to Yazid as Yazid did not abide by any of the Islamic commandments and openly indulged in sinful behavior. The Imam knew that his allegiance would legitimize Yazid's leadership, as well as the Islam propagated by Muawiyah and the Umayyad's monarchy. Therefore, the Imam rose up against Yazid and sacrificed everything he had for the sake of God and the awakening of the Holy Prophet’s nation, who wrongfully viewed the caliphate as a sacred religious leadership and believed in political obedience despite the character of the person in power.

4- Imam Sajjad (AS)

Imam Sajjad (AS) was the son of Imam Hussein (AS) and a witness of the Tragedy of Karbala. His long Imamat of about 34 years coincided with a long period of wars and uprisings. The Imam attracted Muslims to the true Islamic teachings by his prayers, behavior, and supplications such as al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. Imam Sajjad reconstructed the Islamic foundation from the beginning, similar to what the Prophet had done.

5- Imam al-Baqir (AS)

Imam Baqir (AS) was the son of Imam Sajjad (AS). During his Imamat of about 20 years, he split open the doors of Islamic knowledge and sciences from their divine source for the Muslims who were eager to learn. The Imam provided the Muslims with authentic narrations from his forefathers and the Holy Prophet. He familiarized them with the correct interpretation of the Holy Quran, trained many students, and challenged the false beliefs that had spread through Islamic society.

6- Imam al-Sadiq (AS)

Imam Sadiq (AS) was the son of Imam Baqir (AS). He took full control of the Islamic university that his father had established in Medina after him. During his long Imamat of about 33 years, the Imam brought this university to the height of its prosperity by training thousands of students. As a result, the Imam became very well-known among the Muslims, and many referred to him to benefit from his knowledge. The number of narrations recorded from Imam Sadiq is the highest amongst all of the Shia Imams.

7- Imam Kazim (AS)

Imam Kazim (AS) was the son of Imam Sadiq (AS). His long Imamat of about 34 years coincided with one of the most difficult periods in the Islamic history. During this period, the Abbasid government was stable and at its peak of power. With the unprecedented oppressive regime of the Abbasid government dominating the society, the Imam had a critical role to lead the Shia community, guide them in their religious beliefs, and save them from division.

8- Imam Reza (AS)

Imam Reza (AS) was the son of Imam Kazim (AS). Towards the end of his Imamat, Ma’mun, the Muslim’s Caliph, sent military delegates to Medina to bring the Imam to Merv and threatened the Imam to accept his proposal to be his Crown Prince. This nomination was very unusual since the crown prince is supposed to inherit the Caliphate after the Caliph, but the Imam was about 22 years older than Ma’mun. However, the Imam, with his wise decisions and actions, made Ma’mun’s conspiracies ineffective, which led to his martyrdom by Ma'mun after he had been the Crown Prince for only about one-and-a-half years.

9- Imam Jawad (AS)

Imam Javad (AS) was the son of Imam Reza (AS). He was the first Imam to reach Imamat in his childhood at just seven-and-a-half-year-old. Once the Shias verified that he is the one who truly holds the divine knowledge, they believed in his Imamat and regarded it as a clear proof that the Imamat is a position determined by God.

10- Imam Hadi (AS)

Imam Hadi (AS) was the son of Imam Javad (AS). During his long Imamat of about 33 years, he manifested the true meaning of his title, Hadi, which means “the one who guides”. The Imam used every opportunity of his life to guide the Muslims, especially his Shia followers, to the true Islamic teachings.

11- Imam Askari (AS)

Imam Askari (AS) was the son of Imam Hadi (AS). His life was under intense surveillance by the Abbasids at their capital of Samarra. The majority of Imam Askari’s communications with his Shia followers and representatives were through exchanging letters. Imam Askari’s circumstances were also an opportunity for him to train the Shias for the Minor Occultation of his son, Imam Mahdi (AS), when the Shias would not have direct access to their Imam, and would need to communicate with him in writing.

12- Imam Mahdi (ATFS)

Imam Mahdi (AS) is the son of Imam Askari (AS). He is known as “Baqeeyat Allah” or “Whom God has left on earth (as His last proof)”. The Imam will be in the Major Occultation until a time that is only known by God. Upon God’s Will, Imam Mahdi will reappear to fill the earth with justice and bring forth the peak of humanity and prosperity on earth.