Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (عليه السلام)
Imam Ali was the first Muslim and an outstanding companion of the Prophet. Additionally, he was the hero of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and Khaybar and his ahadith of his virtues fill books. The mufasireen have counted dozens of verses in the Holy Quran which were revealed in his honour.
When the Prophet was on the hijrah to Medina, Imam Ali risked his life by sleeping in the Prophet’s bed. It is narrated that he prostrated to Allah in thankfulness for that opportunity.
He was born in the house of Allah in Makkah, and was fatally stuck whilst praying at a house of Allah in Kufa, by the Kharijite Abdul Rahman Ibn Muljim (لعنه الله).
Imam Hassan Ibn Ali (عليه السلام)
He was the grandson of the Prophet and one of the two leaders of the youth of paradise. He was fatally poisoned by his wife, on the orders of Muawiya, in the year 50H.
Imam Hussain Ibn Ali (عليه السلام)
Born to Imam Ali and Fatima Al-Zahra, Hussain was the one about whom the Prophet said, “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain. Allah loves he who loves Hussain.”
The verses “Allah only wishes to keep away impurities from you, people of the house, and purify you a thorough purifying (33:33)” and “I ask you no recompense except love for my kindred (42:23)” were revealed for Hussain, along with Ali, Fatima and Hassan. Love for him is obligatory according to the book of Allah.
On the 10th of Muharram in the year 61H, Imam Hussain and 72 followers were struck down in a memorable battle at Karbala by the army of Umar Ibn Saad (لعنه الله), on the orders of the despotic caliph Yazid Ibn Muawiya (لعنه الله).
Imam Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (عليه السلام)
Known as Sajjad (the one who prostrates) and Zainul Abideen (the best of worshippers) because of his dedication to prayer and worship, Ali Ibn al-Hussain died in 95H.
His contemporary, al-Zuhri, said, “I have never seen a person more knowledgeable than Ali Ibn al-Hussain.” Imam Malik wrote, “There was no one in the Prophet Household similar to Ali ibn Al-Hussain.”
Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (عليه السلام)
Known as al-Baqir (the one who [metaphorically] splits knowledge), Mohammed Ibn Ali was a grand jurist and was in fact the teacher of Abu Hanifa and many Medinite scholars.
Ibn Saad described him as, “an authority who possessed immense learning and knowledge.”
Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (عليه السلام)
Like his father before him, Jafar Ibn Mohammed’s excellence allowed him to be the teacher of many prominent jurists. The list is extensive but includes Sufyan al-Thawri and Imam Malik Ibn Anas.
He lived during both the Ummayad and Abbasid dynasties, and was poisoned by the Abbasid caliph Abu Jafar Mansour in the year 148H.
Imam Abu Hanifa said, “If it were not for the two years (I studied under him) I would have perished.”
Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (عليه السلام)
The son of Jafar al-Sadiq, Musa al-Kadhim shared his father’s piety and wisdom. He died in prison during the reign of Harun al-Rashid.
Al Hafidh al-Razi described him as ‘an authority and truthful.”
Imam Ali Al-Ridha (عليه السلام)
Imam Al-Ridha gained a high reputation for his religious learning, virtues and piety. The biographer, al-Waqidi praised him as an “authority who issued religious rulings at the Prophet's Mosque when he was still in his twenties.”
The caliph, Mamun, chose the well-regarded Al-Ridha to be his successor in order to legitimize his caliphate, which he attained after killing his brother Amin. The historians have reported that Imam Al-Ridha was later poisoned by Mamun in the year 203H.
Yusuf Al-Nabahani said, “He was one of the lamps of the community from the Prophetic household.”
Imam Mohammed Al-Jawad (عليه السلام)
The son of Al-Ridha who followed his father in piety, asceticism and learning in the words of Sibt al-Jawzi. He died at the young age of 24, after being poisoned by his wife.
Imam Ali Al-Hadi (عليه السلام)
Born in 214H, Abu Falah al-Hanbali described him as “a jurist and a devout Imam.” Despite dying at the young age of 41 and living under extremely oppressive rulers, Imam Al-Hadi maintained teaching his followers, and up to 200 narrations can be traced back to him in al-Kafi.
Imam Hassan Al-Askari (عليه السلام)
Imam Al-Askari lived as his fathers had done as a beacon of spirituality, knowledge and manners. He lived in Samarra, an Abbasid garrison city, under their oppression and supervision and was arrested on occasions. He died in 260H due to poisoning.
Imam Al-Mahdi (عليه السلام)
Imam Mahdi was prophesized by the Prophet Mohammed in numerous hadiths as the one who would “fill the world with justice just as it has been filled with injustice.” He was born to Imam al-Askari in 255H.
The 12 Imams
