Auxiliary Imam

Auxiliary Imam of Esoteric Shi'ism
Seal of the Auxiliary Imamate
File:Flag of Agha Khan.png Standard of the Auxiliary Imamate
Incumbent Siyyid Hussain al-Hakim Billah since 22 November 1960 (1960-11-22)
Style	His Eminence
Residence	Villa Anwar, Mount Ilias
Seat	Mount Ilias, Hindia Belanda
Appointer	The preceding Auxiliary Imam during his tenure
Inaugural holder	Siyyid Mulla Jafar
Formation	14 September 1204

The Auxiliary Imam (Indonesian: Imam Auxilier; Dutch: Hulpimam; Riysan: Imam al-Mussa'id; Latin: Imam Auxiliarius) is the spiritual leader of Esoteric Shi'ism and head of the Shia Convocation. Esoteric Shias believe that there has been a continuing physical absence of an Infallible Imam since the Twelfth Infallible Imam, known as the Hidden Imam or Imam Absconditus, entered the Major Occultation in 941CE and as such, the highest spiritual authority currently rests with the Auxiliary Imam. The Auxiliary Imam is regarded by Esoteric Shias as the focal point of Esoteric Shia religious life, who is given the responsibility of guiding the community in the place of the Hidden Imam. The current Auxiliary Imam is Siyyid Hussain al-Hakim Billah, who acceded to the office on 22 November 1960 at the appointment of his grandfather and predecessor, Siyyid Husayn al-Karim.

The office of the Auxiliary Imam is officially and legally known as the Auxiliary Imamate. It is a corporation sole to which the Shia Convocation, the supreme governing body of Esoteric Shi'ism, and all its institutions and properties are subordinate.

Esoteric Shias maintain that the Auxiliary Imamate was established on 14 September 1204 by Siyyid Mulla Jafar, one of the most influential Esoteric Shia figures in Astyria. In the 13th century, the Auxiliary Imams were instrumental in disseminating Esoteric Shia teachings derived from the Lisan al-Hikma amongst the Esoteric Shia faithful in Muzdatijer and protecting the community which was then suffering from persecution at the hands of the Zahiri Shias of Muzdatijer. The Auxiliary Imams were based in Jartastı from 1204 until 1295, when the 4th Auxiliary Imam, Siyyid al-Batin bi-Idhn Allah, was invited to settle in the Duchy of Srambi after the conversion to Esoteric Shi'ism of its ruler, Patih Sangadinila. As the religion spread to other islands in the Hindia Belandan archipelago and became the predominant religion, the Seat of the Auxiliary Imamate was moved by the 15th Auxiliary Imam, Siyyid Irfan II, in the year 1600 to Mount Ilias on the island of Java at the invitation of a former vassal of the Anjani Empire, Patih Lakoelangit, who had converted from Hyangism to Esoteric Shi'ism. The Seat of the Auxiliary Imamate has been headquartered on Mount Ilias ever since.

History

Creation

The creation of the Auxiliary Imamate marked

Election or appointment

For most of its history, the Auxiliary Imamate has traditionally been an appointed office, the practice of which is the appointment of a successor during the incumbent Auxiliary Imam's life. This practice was briefly suspended by the 28th Auxiliary Imam, Siyyid al-Hakim bi-Idhn wa Barakat Allah, on 7 September 1789.

Election

Only two Auxiliary Imams have acceded to the Auxilliary Imamate by way of elections, the 29th Auxiliary Imam Siyyid Budrus and the 30th Auxiliary Imam Siyyid Samu'il.

Abolition

According to Esoteric Shia doctrine, the office of Auxiliary Imam will be abolished at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.