Imam

i-maam

Explanation

A person who leads the prayer in the Sunni Muslim community. In Shi’a Islam, ‘Imam’ is also the title of Muhammad’s successors, the first being his cousin Ali.

Context

The title ‘imam’ is used differently in Sunni and Shi’a communities; for Sunni Muslims it is generally the imam who leads the community, especially in prayer and worship, but for Shi’a Muslims, the Imams are those individuals who were chosen by God to be perfect examples of how to live a perfect Muslim life.

Join Zainab and Furvah as they explore the key similarities and differences between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam.

Understanding Denominations: Islam

Video length - 09.13

Published date - Feb 2026

Keystage(s) - 3 and 4

Downloadable resources

Azeen welcomes TrueTube to the East London Mosque and we’re given the full tour. Azeen talks about the features of a traditional mosque and shows us how Muslims pray.