Title: What is an "Imam" Question: Is an Imam in the Muslim faith the same or similar to Rabbi in the Jewish faith, Director or Minister of Christian Education in the Christian faith? Answer: The word 'Imam' is generally used in two separate connotations. Firstly, it is used for the 'ruler' or the 'head of the state'. Secondly, the word is used for the person, who leads a congregational prayer. Your question, apparently relates to the second connotation only. The concept of Imam , as should be clear from the clarification above, is not the same as that of Rabbi or Director/Minister in the Jewish or the Christian faith respectively. An Imam (as used in the second connotation) is not always a 'religious authority'. In a Muslim state the appointment of 'Imam' for mosques is actually the responsibility as well as the right of the Muslim state [1] . This, in fact, is a part of the organization of prayer and worship at the collective level, which according to the Qur'an, is one of the religious obligations of a Muslim state. I hope this helps. March 12, 2001 [1] That is, the particular Muslim state, in which the Imam is to be appointed.