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An '''imam''' is a person having great authority in [[Islam]]. There are five different specific meanings of the term:
An '''imam''' is a person having great authority in [[Islam]]. There are five different specific meanings of the term:
* in a mosque, a leader in prayer is the imam only while he leads the prayer. More generally, the imam is the most respected person in the assembly. In modern times, the term has expanded to include a leader employed by the congregation, like a priest in Christianity.
* in a [[mosque]], a leader in prayer is the imam only while he leads the [[prayer]]. More generally, the imam is the most respected person in the assembly. In modern times, the term has expanded to include a leader employed by the congregation, like a priest in Christianity.
* in Shi'i Islam, the highest leader is the imam. The first imam was Ali. The imam is presumed to have a special relationship to Allah.
* in [[Shi'i]] Islam, the highest leader is the imam. The first imam was Ali. The imam is presumed to have a special relationship to Allah.
* Under the direction of Ayatollah Khomeini in Shi'i Islam, the imam alone was no longer considered to be the sole leader and authority, and Khomeini and his associates ruled the religious life in [[Iran]].
* Under the direction of [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] in Shi'i Islam, the imam alone was no longer considered to be the sole leader and authority, and Khomeini and his associates ruled the religious life in [[Iran]].
* In the largest branch of Islam, Sunni Islam, [[caliphs]] were called imams. But there are no longer any caliphs, so the term imam means almost nothing today.
* In the largest branch of Islam, [[Sunni]] Islam, [[caliphs]] were called imams. But there are no longer any caliphs, so the term imam means almost nothing today.
* Also in Sunni Islam, "imam" is added to the names of learned men, such as founders of the schools of Sharia and as an honor to the great theologian al-Ghazzali.
* Also in Sunni Islam, "imam" is added to the names of learned men, such as founders of the schools of Sharia and as an honor to the great theologian [[al-Ghazzali]].
== Sources ==
== Sources ==