imam

imam

noun, often capitalized \i-ˈmäm, ē-ˈ, -ˈmam\

Definition of IMAM

1

: the prayer leader of a mosque

2

: a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad

3

: any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region

Origin of IMAM

Arabic imām

First Known Use: 1613

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra

Rhymes with IMAM

air dam, Annam, ashram, exam, flimflam, goddamn, grandam, grand slam, hard clam, logjam, madame, Mailgram, milldam, nizam, Priam, program, quondam, surf clam, tam-tam, thiram, trigram, webcam, whim-wham, ziram

imam

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Head of the Muslim community. In Sunnite Islam the imam was identical with the caliph, designating the political successor of Muhammad. The Sunnites held the imam to be a man capable of error but deserving obedience provided he maintained the ordinances of Islam. In Shi'ite Islam the imam became a figure of absolute religious authority, possessed of unique insights into the Qur'an and divinely appointed and preserved from sin. With the historical disappearance of the last imam, there arose a belief in the hidden imam, who is identified with the mahdi. The term imam is also given to Muslims who lead prayers in mosques and has been used as an honorary title.