Imani is the name of the third sacred book of laws of the Turks, containing the directions for a reasonable conduct of life.— Pierer, Unu: Lex. viii, 830.
Imaum or Iman is the title of a person belonging to a class of the jNIohammedan Ulema (q. v.) or priestly body, but not set apart from the rest of the world like the clergy or priesthood, with whom he is usually classed. He is not ordained, nor is any sacred charac- ter conferred upon him. The name is Arabic, and sig- nifies " he who is at the head." In this sense it is ap- plied even to the sultan, "Imaum nl-Muslemin," or simply "Imaum," and is given to the most honored teachers of Mohammedanism, who in the first centuries of the Hegira developed and settled the opinion and law of Islam, as " those whose teachings are followed." The imaum, whose instruction generally extends only to the understanding of the Koran, calls the Moslem to prayer from the top of minarets, performs the rites of circumcision, marriage, burial, etc., and presides over the assembly of the faithful at prayers, except at the solemn noon prayers on Friday, which are under the su- perintendence of the khatib, a higher minister (" who is also called, from that circumstance, the Imaum id-Ju- md, or Friday Iman"). He is elected to his office by the people, and confirmed by the authorities, to whom he remains subject in all civil ana criminal matters ; but he certainly enjoys many privileges ; among others, he cannot be made to suffer death punishment as long as he retains his office as imaum. In spiritual affairs he becomes independent. He can resign his office and re- turn to the laity whenever he chooses. The imaums are greatly revered by the people. For striking an imaum a Turkish layman is punished with the loss of one of his hands, but a Christian with death. In dress he is distingiushed from the laity by a turban somewhat broader, made of different material, by a long beard, and by long sleeves in his coat (tunic). See Taylor, History of Mohammedanism, ch. viii ; Pierer, Univ. Lex. viii, 830, (J. H.W.)
Imitation of Christ. See Example. Im'la (llcb. Yimla', X^^l', replenisher ; Sept. 'Ifju- Xo), the fatlicr of Micaiah, which latter was the prophet who ironically foretold the defeat of the aUied kings of Judah and Israel against Ramoth-Gilead (2 Chron.xviii, 8, 9). In the parallel passage (1 Kings xxii, 8, 9) his name is WTitten Ijilah (Heb. Yimlah', l^'O'}, id. ; Sept. 'In/(/3Xo). B.C. ante 89G.
Im'lah (1 Kings xxii, 8, 9). See Imla. Immaculate Conception OF THE YiRGiN Mary, a doctrine early broached in the Eoman and Greek churches, that the Virgin IMary was conceived without the stain of original sin. Bernard, in the 12tli century, rejected this doctrine in opposition to the canons of Lyons, but it was not much agitated until (1301) the Franciscan Duns Scotus took strong gromids in favor of the doctrine, and hencefonvard it became a subject of ve- hement controversy between the Scotists and Thomists. The Dominicans espoused the cause of the Thomists, who impugned the dogma ; the Franciscans that of the Scotists, who defended it. Sixtus IV, himself a Fran- ciscan, in 1483 declared himself in favor of toleration on the point. The ComicU of Trent (Sess. v) declared that the doctrine of the conception of all men in shi was not intended to include the Virgin. The controversy was revived in the University of Paris towards the close of the 16th centur}\ During the pontificates of Paul V and Gregory XV, such was the dissension it occasioned in Spain, that both Philip and his successor sent special embassies to Rome in the vain hope that this contest might be terminated by a bidl. The dispute ran so high in that kmgdom that, in the military orders of St.
James, of the Sword, of Calatrava, and of Alcantara, the knights, on their admission, vowed to maintain the doc- trine. In 1708, Clement XI appointed a festival to be celebrated throughout the Church in honor of the im- maculate conception. It is firmly believed in the Greek Church, in which the feast is celebrated mider the name of the Conception of St. Anne; but it was not till 1854 that it was made a dogma in the Roman Catholic Church. " Pope Pius IX, during his whole pontificate, has show- ed himself the most devoted of the worshippers of Mary. In his exile at Gaeta in 1849 he addressed his famous ' Encyclical on the Mysterj^ of the Immaculate Concep- tion' (Feb. 2) to the patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops of the whole CathoUc Church, affirming the existence of ' an ardent desire throughout the Cath- olic world that the apostolic see shoidd at length, by some solemn judgment, define that the most holy Moth- er of God, the most loving mother of ns all, the immac- ulate Virgin Mary, had been conceived without original sin.' * These desires,' he adds, ' have been most accept- able and delightful to us, who, from our earUest years, have had nothing dearer, nothing more at heart, than to revere the most blessed Virgin Mary with an especial piety and homage, and the most intimate affections of our heart, and to do everj'thiug which might seem like- ly to procure her greater glory and praise, and to am- plify her worship.' A commission was appointed for the examination of the question, under the presidency of cardinal Fornarini ; cardinal Lambruschini produced his tract, and Perroue the work L)e Immactdato B. V. Maria concejitu ; Passaglio also wrote a large essay, and the results of these investigations were issued by the Propaganda press (2 vols. 4to). The special commis- sion reported, in a full conclave of the Sacred College, May 27, 1854. Answers had come from 602 bishops, all favorable to the dogma, though 52 doubted the oppor- tuneness, and four the possibility of a decision. The 'special congregation' demanded the definition with alacrity and zeal. A consistory of consultation was proclaimed, and held at Rome Nov. 4, 1854; it was not a general council, nor was any authority attributed to it. Fifty-folu- cardinals, 46 archbishops, and about 400 bishops are reported to have been present at these de- liberations ; 576 votes are said to have been cast for the dogma, and only four against it ; among the latter were the archbishop de Sibour, of Paris, on the gromid that the pope had no power .to decide such a question; and also the bishop Olivier, of Evreux, lately deceased, who sent in his vote hv proxy. On the 8th of December, in St. Peter's, in the midst of the celebration of the ' Con- ception,' in the presence of more than 200 ecclesiastical dignitaries, and in answer to a petition presented by the Sacred College of the Cardinals, the supreme pontiff, with a 'tremulous' voice, read m Latin the following decree : ' We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the blessed Virgin INIary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privi- lege and grace of the omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed hy God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by the faithful.' The cannon of the castle of St. Angclo, the joyfid chime of all the bells of Rome, the enthusiastic plaudits of the assembled thousands, the magnificent illumination of St. Peter's church, and the splendor of the most gorgeous festive rites, gave response to the infallible decree. It was a grand pageant, befitting an idolatrous enthusiasm. The pope himself, with ' trembling joy,' crowned the image of the Virgin ; medals of Australian gold were struck, and distributed in her honor. 'Rome,' say the behold- ers, ' was intoxicated with joy.' An infallible voice had spoken ; a new article of faith was annomiccd liy ' di- vine' authority ; the people rejoiced in hope that IMary would be yet more ' propitious,' that her ' prevalent in-' tercession would give peace and plenty, would stay the power of infidelity, put an end to insurrection, and crown