1. ), whose real name was Nu'man ibn Thabit, was born in the city of Kufa (modern day Iraq) in the year 80 A.H (689 A.D). Born into a family of tradesmen, the Imam's family were of Persian origin as well as descending from Salman al Farsi, a follower of Muhammad.

Mit dem Todesurteil des iranischen Politikers Ayatollah Khomeini gegen den Schriftsteller Salman Rushdie ist das Wort Fatwa im Abendland in Verruf geraten.