Imam

The imam is a recognized religious leader or teacher in Islam.

According to the Twelve-Imam Shiite dogma, imam refers only to one of twelve early leaders of Islam - Ali, Hasan?, Husayn?, and nine of Husayn's descendents.

The Ismailis trace a different line of Imams branching at one of Husayn's descendents from the 12-Imam line.