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| i·mam [ i mm ] (plural i·mams) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. leader of mosque prayers: in Islam, a man who leads the prayers in a mosque
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2. religious leader descended from Muhammad: in the Shia branch of Islam, an Islamic religious leader regarded as a direct descendant of Muhammad or Ali and appointed by Allah
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3. Islamic community leader: in the Sunni branch of Islam, a leader of an Islamic community
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4. Islamic scholar: a respected Islamic scholar, especially a founder of a school of theology or law
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| [Early 17th century. < Arabic 'imām "leader"] |
