What does an imam do?

Leading the prayer

The imam's core job is to lead salah. He stands in front, and everyone follows his movements. The Prophet ﷺ said the imam is appointed to be followed, so don't move ahead of him or differ from him (Sahih al-Bukhari 722). He also told imams to keep the prayer reasonably short, because among those praying are the weak, the sick and the elderly (Sahih al-Bukhari 703). It's a responsibility as well as an honor: the Prophet ﷺ described the imam as a guarantor for the prayer of those behind him (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 207).

The Quran even mentions the wish to be a good example to others:

What else a mosque imam does

• Friday sermon: gives the khutbah before Jumu'ah. See Can the Friday khutbah be in English?
• Teaching: runs Quran classes, study circles and courses for new Muslims.
• Life events: conducts marriage contracts (nikah), leads funeral prayers, and often witnesses a person's shahada.
• Counseling: advises people on family problems, religious questions and personal struggles.
• Community work: represents the mosque to schools, councils, police and interfaith groups.

In Europe and the USA, an imam is often also a hospital or prison chaplain, a youth worker and a fundraiser, all at once. In smaller mosques, the "imam" may be a volunteer with a day job.

An imam is not a priest

Islam has no clergy in the Christian sense. You don't need an imam to pray, repent, read the Quran or take your shahada, and he can't forgive sins. He's respected for his knowledge and character, but he's a fellow worshipper. Many imams have studied at an Islamic seminary or university, though there's no single official ordination. Some mosques in the West now also employ women as scholars, teachers and chaplains, while prayer leadership itself follows its own rules.

The word "Imam" is also used as a title for great scholars, like Imam Abu Hanifah or Imam al-Bukhari. In Shia Islam, "the Imams" refers to specific leaders from the Prophet's ﷺ family.

How to approach your imam

Imams are usually happy to help new Muslims. You can ask about prayer, family issues or finding a study group, and conversations are generally kept private. If your local imam isn't easy to talk to, look for another mosque or a convert support group. See How do I find a convert-friendly mosque?