Changes

* 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 [[Shia]] 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 Shia 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.