Imams as secular rulers At times, imams have held both secular and religious authority. This was the case in Oman among the Kharijite or Ibadi sects. At times, the imams were elected. At other times the position was inherited, as with the Yaruba dynasty from 1624 and 1742. See List of rulers of Oman, the Rustamid dynasty: 776–909, Nabhani dynasty: 1154–1624, the Yaruba dynasty: 1624–1742, the Al Said: 1744–present for further information. The Imamate of Futa Jallon (1727–1896) was a Fulani state in West Africa where secular power alternated between two lines of hereditary Imams, or almami. In the Zaidi Shiite sect, imams were secular as well as spiritual leaders who held power in Yemen for more than a thousand years. In 897, a Zaidi ruler, al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya, founded a line of such imams, a theocratic form of government which survived until the second half of the 20th century (See details under Zaidiyyah, History of Yemen, Imams of Yemen). Saudi leaders were also referred to as "Imams", until that term was retired by Ibn Saud to be replaced by "king".
Imams as secular rulers At times imams have held both secular and religious authority This was the case in Oman among the Kharijite or Ibadi sects At times the imams were elected At other time?s the position was inherited as with the Yaruba dynasty from 1624 and 1742 See List of rulers of Oman the Rustamid dynasty 776–909 Nabhani dynasty 1154–1624 the Yaruba dynasty 1624–1742 the Al Said 1744–present for further information The Imamate of Futa Jallon (1727–1896) was a Fulani state in West Africa where secular power alternated between two lines of hereditary Imams or almami In the Zaidi Shiite sect imams were secular as well as spiritual leaders who held power in Yemen for more than a thousand years In 897 a Zaidi ruler al-Hadi ila'l-Haqq Yahya founded a line of such imams a theocratic form of government which survived until the second half of the 20th century (See details under Zaidiyyah History of Yemen Imams of Yemen) Saudi leaders were also referred to as "Imams" un?til that term was retired by Ibn Saud to be replaced by "king"