'History of the imâms and seyyids of 'Omân by Salîl-ibn-Razîk, from A.D. 661-1856; translated from the original Arabic, and edited with notes, appendices, and an introduction, continuing the history down to 1870, by George Percy Badger, F.R.G.S., late chaplain in the Presidency of Bombay.' [‎374] (535/612)

374
appendix a.
some of them to be Imams to direct the people according to our
command." 1
It is not clear whether Muhammad himself adopted or received
the title ; but he never omitted performing the ordinary functions
of an Imam until his last illness, when, finding himself unable to
leave his house, which communicated with the mosque, he directed
that Abu-Bekr should be sent for to lead the prayers of the
people. It is certain, however, that the title was assumed by
his immediate Successors, who regarded the duty associated with
it of leading in public worship as their special prerogative, and
as involving their supremacy " in all matters of religion and of
the world." It is recorded of the Khalifah el -Mainuin (a. h. 198-
218= A.d. 813-833), that on entering the mosque at Baghdad
one day, and finding a private individual conducting the prayers,
he regarded the act as one of high treason.
" The Muhammadans," writes D'Herbelot, " are not agreed
among themselves respecting the Imamate, that is, the dignit} of
Imam. Some regard it to be of divine right and restricted to a
single family, like the Aaronic pontificate ; others, whilst ad
mitting it to be of divine right, nevertheless, do not believe it to
be so limited to one family that it may not pass over to another.
Moreover, according to these latter, the Imam must not only be
exempt from great sins, such as infidelity, but also from lessei
sins; he may be deposed, if he fall into such, and his dignity
transferred to another." 2 To these may be added the opinions of
the sects called en-Nujddt, who held it to be " unnecessary that
the people should have an Imam at all ; but it behoves them to
settle all questions equitably amongst themselves, and if they are
unable to do so without the cooperation of an Imam, then they
are at liberty to appoint one.' ,s
The first serious dispute respecting the Imamate originated
with the twelve thousand men who revolted from the Khalifah
'Aly-ibn-Abi-Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, after
1 Sti-rat-el Bdkarah, (ii.) 118. Stirat-el-Anbiyd, (v.) 73. Surat-es-Sdjdah,
(xxiii.) 23, 24. "A model of religion" is Sale's paraphrase for the word
Imam, occurring in the original of these passages.
2 Bibliotheque Orient ale, sub voce Imam.
3 Pocock, Spec. Hist. Arab., pp. 267-8.