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Imams, the Twelve

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the twelve Islam chiefs, according to the Persian Mohammedans, who belong to the Shiites. Ali (q.v.) is reckoned the first Imam, and immediate spiritual successor of the Prophet. Hassan (q.v.) was the second Imam, being the eldest son of Ali. He was a feeble-minded prince, and surrendered his caliphate to Moawiyah, retaining only the spiritual office. Hossein (q.v.) was the third of the line. He was succeeded by his son Ali, the fourth Imam, who, from his constancy in prayer, received the names of "the Imam of the Carpet," and "the glory of pious men." He died in 712, and was succeeded by his son Mohammed, the fifth Imam, who was a diligent student of magic, and received the name of "the possessor of the secret." The sixth Imam was Jaafar, the son of Mohammed, who was thought to be equal in wisdom to Solomon. Jaafar nominated his son Ismail his successor, but the heir-apparent having died prematurely, he named his second son Mfsa his heir. Ismail, however, had left children; hence parties arose, some holding to one as the lawful Imam, others to the other. The two sects were called Ismailiyah (q.v.) and Assassins (q.v.). The claim of Mufsa to be the seventh Imam has been generally admitted. Ali, the son of Mufsa, was the eighth Imam. He is called by the Shiites "the beloved," and his tomb, termed Meshed Ali is a favorite object of pilgrimage. The ninth Imam was Mohammed, the son of Ali, who lived in retirement at Bagdad,- where he died at an early age, leaving behind him so great a reputation for benevolence that he received the name of "the generous." His son Ali, the tenth Imam, was but a child when his father died, and having been seized by the caliph Motawakkel, who was a determined enemy of the Shiites, he was confined for life in the city of Asker, from which circumstance he is called "the Askerite." He was poisoned by order of the caliph in 868. His son and successor, Hassan, also perished by poisoning, leaving the sacred office to his son Mohammed, the twelfth and last Imam, who, at his father's death, was a child only six months old. He was kept in close confinement by the caliph, but at about the age of twelve years he suddenly disappeared; the Sonnites allege that he was drowned in the Tigris, but the Shiites deny the fact of his death, and assert that he is wandering over the earth, and will continue so to wander until the appointed period shall arrive when he shall claim and receive universal empire.