The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1082 page)

Images
:

see
ICONOGRAPHY
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

(Lat.). The image of God, in which, says Genesis 1. 26–7, humanity was created, but which is now marred as a consequence of the
Fall
.
In the
Qur’
n
, man is created as the
khal
fa
(caliph, or representative) of God on earth.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Im
m
,

(Arab., in the
Qur’
n
‘sign’, ‘pattern’, ‘leader’). The leader of the Muslim congregational
al
t
, who can be any man of good standing in the community, but is often a theologically educated man who is engaged by the
mosque
. There is no ordination, nor is the im
m like the Christian
priest
: he is only im
m while acting as such.
2. Among Shi‘ites, the Im
m has an incomparably higher status. Initially, it is almost synonymous with ‘rightful caliph’ (
khal
fa
), i.e.
‘Al
and his descendants. The stress on succession led to the elaboration of the Im
m as one who has received secret knowledge (
jafr
), and who still receives (or may receive) direct divine guidance. There is dispute among Shi‘ites whether the line ended with the seventh (
Seveners
) or twelfth (Twelvers or
’Ithna ‘Ashariyya
) successor, complicated further by those who believe there is a Hidden Im
m (see
AL-MAHD
) whom the initiate can recognize, who may still give guidance, and who will become manifest at the End (see also
ISM
‘
LIYA
).
3. Among
S
f
s