The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to the
Islamic prophet
Muhammad in the
Twelver or
Athna‘ashariyyah branch of
Shia Islam and in
Alevi Islam. According to the
theology of Twelvers, the Twelve Imams are exemplary human individuals who not only rule over the community with justice, but also are able to keep and interpret
sharia and the
esoteric meaning of the Quran. Muhammad and Imams'
words and deeds are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, known as
Ismah or infallibility and must be chosen by divine decree, or
nass, through the Prophet.