بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
The Fourteen Masoomeen
المعصومون الأربعة عشر عليهم السلام
A journey through the lives of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra سلام اللہ علیہا and the Twelve Imams عليهم السلام — the Fourteen Infallibles of the Twelver Shia tradition.
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01 / 14 · The Messenger of God
Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa ﷺ
Seal of the Prophets
His zahoor was in Mecca in the Year of the Elephant; he received the first revelation at forty and conveyed the message of Islam for twenty-three years. He is the final Messenger of God and the first of the Fourteen Ma‘sumin.
- Zahoor
- 17 Rabi al-Awwal, the Year of the Elephant (c. 570 CE), Mecca
- Passing
- 28 Safar 11 AH (c. 632 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Medina — within al-Masjid al-Nabawi
- Prophethood
- c. 610–632 CE (23 years)
- Wives
- Khadija bint Khuwaylid سلام اللہ علیہا, Sawda bint Zam‘a, A’isha bint Abi Bakr, Hafsa bint Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, Umm Salama (Hind bint Abi Umayya), Zaynab bint Jahsh, Juwayriya bint al-Harith, Umm Habiba (Ramla bint Abi Sufyan), Safiyya bint Huyayy, Maymuna bint al-Harith and Mariya the Copt
- Children
- al-Qasim, Abd Allah (al-Tayyib, al-Tahir), Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra سلام اللہ علیہا and Ibrahim
02 / 14 · Daughter of the Prophet
Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra سلام اللہ علیہا
Mistress of the Women of the Worlds
Daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadija, wife of Imam Ali and mother of Imams Hasan and Husayn. Honoured as the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds, she stood by her father in Mecca and defended the truth after his passing.
- Zahoor
- 20 Jumada al-Thani, the 5th year after the Bi‘tha (c. 615 CE), Mecca
- Martyrdom
- 3 Jumada al-Thani 11 AH (c. 632 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Medina — exact location unknown
- Children
- Imam al-Hasan عليه السلام, Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام, Sayyida Zaynab al-Kubra سلام اللہ علیہا, Umm Kulthum (Zaynab al-Sughra) and al-Muhsin
03 / 14 · The first Imam
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام
Commander of the Faithful
Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ and the first male to accept Islam. Designated at Ghadir Khumm, he is the first Imam — remembered for his courage, his justice and the wisdom preserved in Nahj al-Balagha.
- Zahoor
- 13 Rajab, the 30th Year of the Elephant (c. 600 CE), Inside the Ka‘ba, Mecca
- Martyrdom
- 21 Ramadan 40 AH (c. 661 CE), Kufa, Iraq
- Resting place
- Najaf, Iraq
- Imamate
- 11–40 AH
- Wives
- Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra سلام اللہ علیہا, Umama bint Abi al-As, Umm al-Banin (Fatima bint Hizam), Khawla al-Hanafiyya, Layla bint Mas‘ud al-Darimiyya, Asma’ bint Umays, Umm Habib bint Rabi‘a and Umm Sa‘id bint Urwa
- Children
- Imam al-Hasan عليه السلام, Imam al-Husayn عليه السلام, Sayyida Zaynab al-Kubra سلام اللہ علیہا, Umm Kulthum (Zaynab al-Sughra), al-Muhsin, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya, Umar, Ruqayya, Hazrat Abbas عليه السلام, Ja‘far, Uthman, Abd Allah, Muhammad al-Asghar (Abu Bakr), Ubayd Allah, Yahya, Umm al-Hasan, Ramla, Nafisa, Zaynab al-Sughra, Ruqayya al-Sughra, Umm Hani, Umm al-Kiram, Jumana (Umm Ja‘far), Umama, Umm Salama, Maymuna, Khadija and Fatima
04 / 14 · The second Imam
Imam Hasan ibn Ali al-Mujtaba عليه السلام
The Generous One of the Ahl al-Bayt
The Prophet’s elder grandson, he led the community after his father’s martyrdom and concluded a peace treaty with Mu‘awiya to protect the believers. He is remembered for his generosity and principled restraint.
- Zahoor
- 15 Ramadan 3 AH (c. 625 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 28 Safar 50 AH (c. 670 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Jannat al-Baqi, Medina
- Imamate
- 40–50 AH
- Wives
- Umm Bashir bint Abi Mas‘ud, Khawla bint Manzur al-Fazariyya, Umm Ishaq bint Talha and Ja‘da bint al-Ash‘ath
- Children
- Zayd, Umm al-Hasan, Umm al-Husayn, al-Hasan al-Muthanna, Hazrat Qasim عليه السلام, Abd Allah, Amr, Abd al-Rahman, al-Husayn al-Athram, Talha, Fatima, Umm Abd Allah (Fatima), Fatima, Umm Salama and Ruqayya
05 / 14 · The third Imam
Imam Husayn ibn Ali عليه السلام
Leader of the Martyrs
The Prophet’s younger grandson refused allegiance to Yazid and was martyred at Karbala on 10 Muharram 61 AH with his family and companions. His stand for justice is remembered every year at Ashura and Arba‘in.
- Zahoor
- 3 Sha‘ban 4 AH (c. 626 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 10 Muharram 61 AH (c. 680 CE), Karbala, Iraq
- Resting place
- Karbala, Iraq
- Imamate
- 50–61 AH
- Wives
- Shahrbanu (Shahzanan), Layla bint Abi Murra al-Thaqafiyya, al-Rabab bint Imri’ al-Qays, Umm Ishaq bint Talha and a woman of the Quda‘a tribe
06 / 14 · The fourth Imam
Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin عليه السلام
Master of Those Who Prostrate
He survived Karbala, bore witness to it as a captive, and then rebuilt the community through prayer, teaching and quiet charity. His supplications are gathered in al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.
- Zahoor
- 5 Sha‘ban 38 AH (c. 659 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 25 Muharram 95 AH (c. 713 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Jannat al-Baqi, Medina
- Imamate
- 61–95 AH
- Wives
- Fatima (Umm Abd Allah) bint al-Hasan and umm walads (the mothers of his other children)
- Children
- Imam Muhammad al-Baqir عليه السلام, Abd Allah, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Zayd (Zayd al-Shahid), Umar, al-Husayn al-Asghar, Abd al-Rahman, Sulayman, Ali (his youngest son), Khadija, Muhammad al-Asghar, Fatima, Aliyya and Umm Kulthum
07 / 14 · The fifth Imam
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir عليه السلام
He Who Opens Knowledge Wide
A grandson of both Imam Husayn and Imam Hasan, he witnessed Karbala as a child and led a great flowering of learning in Medina. His students laid the foundations of Shia law and hadith.
- Zahoor
- 1 Rajab 57 AH (c. 677 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 7 Dhu al-Hijja 114 AH (c. 733 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Jannat al-Baqi, Medina
- Imamate
- 95–114 AH
- Wives
- Umm Farwa bint al-Qasim and Umm Hakim bint Asid al-Thaqafiyya
- Children
- Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq عليه السلام, Abd Allah, Ibrahim, Ubayd Allah, Ali, Zaynab and Umm Salama
08 / 14 · The sixth Imam
Imam Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq عليه السلام
The Truthful of the Family of Muhammad
Teaching in Medina as Umayyad rule gave way to the Abbasids, he trained so many jurists and transmitters that Twelver law bears his name: Fiqh-e-Jafariya.
- Zahoor
- 17 Rabi al-Awwal 83 AH (c. 702 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 25 Shawwal 148 AH (c. 765 CE), Medina
- Resting place
- Jannat al-Baqi, Medina
- Imamate
- 114–148 AH
- Wives
- Fatima bint al-Husayn al-Athram and Hamida
- Children
- Isma‘il, Abd Allah (al-Aftah), Umm Farwa, Imam Musa al-Kazim عليه السلام, Ishaq, Muhammad (al-Dibaj), Ali (al-Uraydi), al-Abbas, Asma’ and Fatima
09 / 14 · The seventh Imam
Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far al-Kazim عليه السلام
The Gate of Needs
Known for restraining his anger and for patient endurance, he guided the community under hostile Abbasid caliphs and was martyred in a Baghdad prison. His shrine is known as the Gate of Needs.
- Zahoor
- 7 Safar 128 AH (c. 745 CE), al-Abwa, between Mecca and Medina
- Martyrdom
- 25 Rajab 183 AH (c. 799 CE), Baghdad, Iraq
- Resting place
- al-Kazimiyya, Baghdad
- Imamate
- 148–183 AH
- Wives
- Najma (also called Tuktam), Umm Ahmad and umm walads (the mothers of most of his other children)
- Children
- Imam Ali al-Rida عليه السلام, Ahmad (Shah Cheragh) عليه السلام, Muhammad, Ibrahim, Hamza, al-Abbas, al-Qasim, Ishaq, Isma‘il, Ja‘far, Harun, Zayd, Abd Allah, Sayyida Fatima al-Ma‘suma سلام اللہ علیہا, Hakima, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, Zaynab, Khadija, Aliyya, Amina, Umm Salama and others
10 / 14 · The eighth Imam
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida عليه السلام
The Scholar of the Family of Muhammad
Summoned to Khurasan by al-Ma’mun and named heir to the caliphate, he was renowned for debates with scholars of many faiths. He was martyred in Tus; his shrine in Mashhad draws millions of pilgrims.
- Zahoor
- 11 Dhu al-Qa‘da 148 AH (c. 766 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- End of Safar 203 AH (c. 818 CE), Tus, Khurasan
- Resting place
- Mashhad, Iran
- Imamate
- 183–203 AH
- Wives
- Sabika (also called Khayzuran) and Umm Habib, daughter of al-Ma’mun
11 / 14 · The ninth Imam
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad عليه السلام
The Gate of Hopes
He became Imam at about eight years of age, and his learning in public debate showed his followers that the Imam’s authority does not depend on age. He was martyred in Baghdad at about twenty-five.
- Zahoor
- 10 Rajab 195 AH (c. 811 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- End of Dhu al-Qa‘da 220 AH (c. 835 CE), Baghdad, Iraq
- Resting place
- al-Kazimiyya, Baghdad
- Imamate
- 203–220 AH
- Wives
- Samana al-Maghribiyya and Umm al-Fadl, daughter of al-Ma’mun
- Children
- Imam Ali al-Hadi عليه السلام, Musa (al-Mubarqa‘), Fatima, Umama and Sayyida Hakima سلام اللہ علیہا
12 / 14 · The tenth Imam
Imam Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi عليه السلام
The Pure One (al-Naqi)
Summoned to the Abbasid garrison city of Samarra, he lived there under close watch for some twenty years, guiding the community through trusted agents and letters. He taught the Ziyarat al-Jami‘a al-Kabira.
- Zahoor
- 15 Dhu al-Hijja 212 AH (c. 828 CE), Surya, near Medina
- Martyrdom
- 3 Rajab 254 AH (c. 868 CE), Samarra, Iraq
- Resting place
- Samarra, Iraq
- Imamate
- 220–254 AH
- Wives
- Hudayth (also called Susan)
- Children
- Imam al-Hasan al-Askari عليه السلام, al-Husayn, Muhammad (Sayyid Muhammad), Ja‘far and A’isha
13 / 14 · The eleventh Imam
Imam Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari عليه السلام
The Pure One (al-Zaki)
Living almost his whole life under surveillance in Samarra, he guided the community in a six-year Imamate through agents and letters, preparing it for the occultation of his son.
- Zahoor
- 8 Rabi al-Thani 232 AH (c. 846 CE), Medina
- Martyrdom
- 8 Rabi al-Awwal 260 AH (c. 874 CE), Samarra, Iraq
- Resting place
- Samarra, Iraq
- Imamate
- 254–260 AH
- Wives
- Narjis (also called Sawsan, Rayhana and Saqil)
14 / 14 · The twelfth Imam
Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi عجل الله تعالى فرجه الشريف
Master of the Age
His zahoor was in Samarra in 255 AH. In Twelver belief he is the living Imam of the age, in occultation by divine will since 260 AH. The faithful await his reappearance, when he will fill the earth with justice.
- Zahoor
- 15 Sha‘ban 255 AH (c. 869 CE), Samarra, Iraq
- Occultation
- Minor 260–329 AH · Major from 329 AH
- Imamate
- From 260 AH — continuing
- Wives
- Not named in the classical sources
- Children
- Not named in the classical sources
The journey continues
Explore the timeline, the family tree of the Ahl al-Bayt, the story of Karbala, and the teachings and supplications that have come down from them.
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