imāmān (Sufism Glossary)

Imāmān (the two imams) are two walī (friends of God), one positioned to the right and the other to the left of the ghawth (the pole, kutb; see Kāshānī, Jāmī). The one on the right faces the ʿālam al-malakūt (the world of dominion), while the one on the left faces the ʿālam al-mulk (the world of sovereignty). The rank of the one on the left is higher than that of the one on the right. For this reason