IMAM

  1. The political and religious leader of the Muslim community, also known as caliph. According to Sunnis, the Imam must be a member of Muhammad's tribe, the Quraysh. Shi`ites restrict the imamate even further: the first rightful Imam was Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law Ali b. Abi Talib, followed by his sons, Hasan and Husayn; the various Shi`ite sects differ as to the succeeding Imams. At the other extreme, Kharijites hold that the Imam may be any pious Muslim, regardless of his origins.
  2. The leader of the ritual prayer.

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