When is a man called an imam?
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The questioner : So, who is the imam?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, who is the imam, okay?
The Shaykh : An imam is one who has known followers. For example, the four imams are well known. Sufyan al-Thawri had followers and was called an imam, but his status as an imam ended when his followers diminished, like Ishaq ibn Rahawayh. There are people who have followers and are known as imams. A person praying alone is not an imam. Yes. In any case, say what you want to say.
The questioner : No, the point is reaching the truth.
The Shaykh : Reaching the truth. I do not see that we should ever call those who consider themselves followers of an imam as imams. If we say that an imam is anyone above whom everyone else is an imam, then even an elementary school teacher is an imam.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, who is the imam, okay?
The Shaykh : An imam is one who has known followers. For example, the four imams are well known. Sufyan al-Thawri had followers and was called an imam, but his status as an imam ended when his followers diminished, like Ishaq ibn Rahawayh. There are people who have followers and are known as imams. A person praying alone is not an imam. Yes. In any case, say what you want to say.
The questioner : No, the point is reaching the truth.
The Shaykh : Reaching the truth. I do not see that we should ever call those who consider themselves followers of an imam as imams. If we say that an imam is anyone above whom everyone else is an imam, then even an elementary school teacher is an imam.