An imam is a Muslim religious leader. In many towns, the imam is the person who leads the prayers in the mosque and may also teach, give a Friday talk, and help with community questions. The Arabic word means a leader — someone people stand behind.

An imam是 imam is a Muslim religious leader一位穆斯林的宗教領袖。In many towns在許多城鎮裡, the imam這位imam is the person who leads the prayers就是在清真寺帶領禮拜的人 in the mosque and而且 may also teach也可能教學, give a Friday talk做週五的講道, and並 help with community questions協助處理社區的事務。The Arabic word這個阿拉伯字 means指的是 a leader一位領袖 — someone people stand behind人們站在他後面跟隨的人。

Though actually, the job is not the same in every Muslim tradition. In everyday Sunni use, imam is often the local prayer leader, a respected but human role. In Shia Islam, Imam (often written with a capital I) can mean a much larger figure in history and faith, not only the man at the neighbourhood mosque.

Though actually不過其實, the job這個職位 is not the same在每個穆斯林傳統裡都不一樣 in every Muslim tradition。In everyday Sunni use在遜尼派的日常用法裡, imam「imam」 is often通常是 the local prayer leader當地帶領禮拜的人, a respected but human role是受尊敬但仍是凡人的角色。In Shia Islam在什葉派裡, Imam「Imam」 (often written with a capital I)（通常大寫I開頭） can mean可以指 a much larger figure一個更重大的人物 in history and faith在歷史和信仰上, not only只是 the man at the neighbourhood mosque不只是社區清真寺裡的那個人。

English speakers sometimes say “priest” because they want a familiar word; that can mislead, because the training, marriage rules, and church-style ranks are not a simple match. In Taiwan you will mostly meet the word in news about mosques, Ramadan, or world affairs.

English speakers英文使用者 sometimes有時候 say “priest”會說「priest神父」 because因為 they want他們想要 a familiar word一個熟悉的字; that這 can mislead可能會誤導人, because因為 the training, marriage rules, and church-style ranks訓練、婚姻規定，還有教會式的層級 are not a simple match並不是簡單對應的。In Taiwan在台灣, you你 will mostly meet the word大部分會遇到這個字 in news about mosques, Ramadan, or world affairs在關於清真寺、齋戒月，或國際事務的新聞裡。