From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Twelvers refers to the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. They constitute the majority of current Shias. They are also konwn as Jafari's and Imamis and also by several other names. Sometimes they are also named Rafidi (meaning rejectors) as a somewhat derogatory term by those among the Sunni that consider them heretics.
But in general, when talking about Shia, it is usually in reference to the Twelvers since they are the "orthodox" variant of Shiism.
The Imams are viewed to be infallible and are similar to prophets. Though it is an important aspect of Shia/Twelver theology that they are not prophets (nabi) nor messengers (rasul), seeing that Twelvers view religions that accept prophets or messengers after Muhammad to be heathen or heretical. The last imam is believed to be hidden and will return, he is called the Mahdi.
For more information see: Shia
