Imams.

[derekpara]

I know how one can become a member of the Christian clergy but how does one become an
Imam ?


D

[Buenchico]

Islam isn't an 'organised religion' in the same way that the Church of England is. (So there's no 'promotion path', as with vicars, bishops and archbishops, where there's a central body deciding who gets appointed and 'promoted').

It's simply down to the (male) members of individual mosques to appoint their chosen imams.

[jourdain2]

The kids used to tell me (and no adults disagreed) that all you had to do was to be able to recite the Koran in Arabic.

[Peter Pedant]

I think you are comparing like with unlike

an imamis not a priest only muslim
and a mosque is not a church only muslim

anyway Imam - and as Jourdain says - ability to read the qoran is important. we know Gabriel and God speak arabic as the prophet went to heaven ( on Buraq) jumping off from the dome of the rock
and spoke to them and only spoke arabic.
and so it is forbidden that the quran is translated by a believer
I hope you are watching The State and have a better understanding of the [irony of the] line ( episode 2) " she cant even read the quran and is telling me what to do"

we christians can translate it - and in Mali I think Christians are employed in this role....somewhere - I cant say I get moved by this stuff


and this does not seem too bad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam

[tamborine]

Winner of talent show, 'who can shout loudest'!

[derekpara]

Thankyou everyone, I am now better informed, but in the present climate I would think a much more structured and properly supervised system would be in order.

[keyplus90]

First of all this word "Imam" is taken for wrong meanings in the Western countries. As a Muslim, when anyone will ask me about Imam then I would say that anyone who knows how to do their 5 times daily prayer can also be Imam. Because Muslims take word "Imam" as someone who can lead the daily prayer. Say for example I know how to do my daily prayer and if we are two or more people then one of us can lead the prayer and for that much of time he is an Imam (leader).

However, if you believe the Imam is the one who knows about Islamic law (Sharia), jurisdiction, and is therefore able to answer your questions on the basis of knowledge then that person is called a "Muftee". These are the people who have studied Islam deeply and are not only there to lead daily prayer. It is like getting a master degree in any subject as there are Universities that provide that degree. However you still have people with different level of knowledge and expertise as there are in any other field.

[FinnyMick]

Love the word " mufty" has a comic ring to it.