of Ja'far al-Sadiq, while Kohlberg states that the Twelver Shi'ism dates back not much before the beginning of the "Major_Occultation". Muhammad is reported to have said that the Islamic leadership is in Koreish (i.e., his tribe) and that 12 “Imams” shall succeed him. Sunni and Shiite sects differ as to whom Muhammad was referring. Muhammad stated (authenticated by Sunnis and Shiites), that “Whoever does not know the Imam of his Lifetime (Hadith of the Current Imam: i.e., recognizes same) has died the death of Ignorance”. The idea of a prophet appointing a successor is found in the Old Testament where Joshua son of Nun is declared Moses’ successor or manager of his affairs after his death. Before conception, the preceding the Imam is sent through a heavenly syrup which he drinks. The Imam is born pure and circumcised. (93:5) The Imam's mother experiences light and noises before the birth of the Imam. Shias believe that just as Moses appointed Aaron as his successor on Bani-Israel, (Hadith of position), in accordance with God's order, Muhammad, the final prophet, appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib to be the leader of the believers. The Shi'a Twelver denomination of Islam consider it to be the highest level of responsibility given by God to a human. List of the Twelve Imams Ali ibn Abi Talib Hasan ibn Ali Husayn ibn Ali Ali ibn Husayn Muhammad al-Baqir Jafar al-Sadiq Musa al-Kadhim Ali al-Rida Muhammad al-Taqi Ali al-Hadi Hasan al-Askari Muhammad al-Mahdi See also Sayyid imam Muhammad al-Askari al-Baaj Saba' al-dujail Hadith of Mubahela Hadith of position Hadith of The Cloak - Hadith Al Kisa Hadith of the pond of Khumm Hadith of the Twelve Successors Islamic leadership Theology of Twelvers Signs of the reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi Reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi Notes Footnotes References External links Shi'ite Doctorine by MOHAMMAD ALI AMIR-MOEZZI an article in Encyclopædia Iranica Imamah in the Qur'an Hujjat by Maria Dakake an article in Encyclopædia Iranica A brief introduction of Twelve Imams A Brief History Of The Lives Of The Twelve Imams a chapter of Shi'a Islam (book) by Allameh Tabatabaei The Twelve Imams Taken From "A Shi'ite Anthology" By Allameh Tabatabaei A Short History of the Lives of The Twelve Imams The Shi'a concept of Imamate Imamat vs. Prophethood (Part II) Twelver theology Islamic terminology