[zibTefapparia]

Do sunnis believe in the 12 imaams?
Do sunnis believe there have already been 11 imaams and we are waiting for Imaam Al-Mahdi now?
Can someone like... Draw/show a timeline of the imaams (that sunnis believe in)?

[Abanijo]

Do sunnis believe in the 12 imaams?
Do sunnis believe there have already been 11 imaams and we are waiting for Imaam Al-Mahdi now?
Can someone like... Draw/show a timeline of the imaams (that sunnis believe in)?

The idea of the 12 imams is a shia concept, but we hold each of the 12 imams in high regard (just not to the extent of infalability like the shias do) - all of the 12 Imams were actually sunni.

We do have the beleif in the Mahdi, but we dont think he is hiding in a hole somwhere like the shias do - we beleive he will emerge shortly before the return of Jesus - he is not hidden, if he is alive right now, he doesnt know he is the mahdi.

The shias have embelished much about imam mahdi - so our two concepts of him are a little bit different.

[zibTefapparia]

JazakAllah Khayr

[insoneeri]

hehe..oki doki

[Abanijo]

hehe..oki doki

Tripolysunni is an expert on all things shia (not being sarcastic)

he can probably give you more in detailed answers.

[Vodonaeva]

The idea of the 12 imams is a shia concept, but we hold each of the 12 imams in high regard (just not to the extent of infalability like the shias do) - all of the 12 Imams were actually sunni.

We do have the beleif in the Mahdi, but we dont think he is hiding in a hole somwhere like the shias do - we beleive he will emerge shortly before the return of Jesus - he is not hidden, if he is alive right now, he doesnt know he is the mahdi.

The shias have embelished much about imam mahdi - so our two concepts of him are a little bit different.

thats 11

the so-called 12th imam never existed

[Psymoussy]

Do sunnis believe in the 12 imaams?

believe in the sense? Please clarify what do you mean by the term believe in this statement. (i.e is it that believeing in them is a part of faith or its matter of qadr), we believe in the later.

Do sunnis believe there have already been 11 imaams and we are waiting for Imaam Al-Mahdi now? Nopes we are certain about 6 Imams/caliphs but rergarding the rest till 11th we are not sure that whther they ruled or yet to rule.

Can someone like... Draw/show a timeline of the imaams (that sunnis believe in)? They wont be infallible, They wont be divinely appointed by Allah, The father's name of mahdi will be Abdullah, Their rule will not in a continous manner it will be in stages, unlike what shiatu dajjal say.

[gennickhif]

Do sunnis believe in the 12 imaams?
Do sunnis believe there have already been 11 imaams and we are waiting for Imaam Al-Mahdi now?
Can someone like... Draw/show a timeline of the imaams (that sunnis believe in)?

Tripolysunni is the hands down best resource here I have seen on this topic, stay in touch with him he will tell you wats up with this issue in its details insha'Allah.

[abishiots]

As for the imams to whom they claim to belong, they are innocent of the lies and falsehood which the Shia attribute to them. The Imams were:

1- ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) martyred in 40 AH.

2- Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) (3-50 AH)

3- Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) (4-61 AH)

4- ‘Ali Zayn al-‘Aabideen ibn al-Husayn (38-95 AH), whom they call al-Sajjaad

5- Muhammad ibn ‘Ali Zayn al-‘Aabideen (57-114 AH) whom they call al-Baaqir

6- Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Baaqir (83-148 AH) whom they call al-Saadiq

7- Moosa ibn Ja’far al-Saadiq (128-148 AH) whom they call al-Kaadim

8- ‘Ali ibn Moosa al-Kaadim (148-203 AH) whom they call al-Rida (Reza)

9- Muhammad al-Jawaad ibn ‘Ali al-Rida’ (195-220 AH) whom they call al-Taqiy

10- ‘Ali al-Haadi ibn Muhammad al-Jawaad (212-254 AH) whom they call al-Naqiy

11- al-Hasan al-‘Askari ibn ‘Ali al-Haadi (232-260) whom they call al-Zakiy

12- Muhammad al-Mahdi ibn al-Hasan al-‘Askari, whom they call al-Hujjah al-Qaa’im al-Muntazar. They claim that he entered a tunnel in Samarra’, but most researchers are of the view that he did not exist at all, and that he is a Shi’i myth.

See: al-Mawsoo’ah al-Muyassarah (1/51).

Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah (1/177): As for what they believe about the tunnel of Samarra’, that is a myth which has no basis in reality and no proof or sound reports.

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) divided the Imams of the Ithna ‘Ashari Shi’ah into four categories:

1 – ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, al-Hasan and al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with them). They are noble Sahaabah and no one doubts their virtue and leadership, but many others shared with them the virtue of being companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and among the Sahaabah there are others who were more virtuous than them, based on saheeh (authentic) evidence from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

2 – ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baaqir, Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Saadiq and Moosa ibn Ja’far. They are among the trustworthy and reliable scholars. Manhaaj al-Sunnah (2/243, 244).

3 – ‘Ali ibn Moosa al-Rida, Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Moosa al-Jawaad, ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-‘Askari, and al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-‘Askari. Concerning them, Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah) said: They did not show a great deal of knowledge such that the ummah might benefit from them, nor did they have any authority by means of which they could help the ummah. Minhaaj al-Sunnah (6/387).

4 – Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-‘Askari al-Muntazar (the awaited one). He did not exist at all.

[abishiots]

The Hadith master Ibn Shahin al-Hanbali (d. 385) said: "Two righteous men have been tried because of evil people: Ja'far ibn Muhammad and Ahmad ibn Hanbal." [1]

Similarly Ibn al-Salah (d. 643) said: "Two Imams have been afflicted because of their followers although they are innocent of them: Ahmad ibn Hanbal was tried with the anthropomorphists (al-mujassima), and Ja'far al-Sadiq with the (Shi'a) Rejectionists (al-Rafida)." [2]

Ja'far al-Sadiq intensely detested the Rafida Shia.

In one narration he said: "Whoever claims that I am infallable and that obedience is due to me, I repudiate them; I also repudiate whoever claims that I repudiate Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with the both)."

In another narration he said to a questioner about Abu Bakr and 'Umar (radiallahu anhuma): "You are asking about two men who tasted from the fruits of Paradise."

Among the forgeries which the Shia attribute to Ja'far al-Sadiq is his supposed condoning of temporary marriage (mut'ah). Al-Bayhaqi cites Ja'far as calling mut'ah "pure fornication" ('ayn al-zina). [1]

Notes:
1 - Cited by Ibn Hajar, Fath (9:173) and al-Shawkani, Nayl al-Awtar (6:271)