Ali's Shrine in Najaf, Iraq. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Najaf ( BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics.

Part of a series on Shi'a Islam
Ahl al-Kisa
Ahl al-Kisa Muhammad Ali · Fatimah Hasan · Husayn
The Four Companions
The Four Companions Salman al-Farsi Miqdad ibn Aswad Abu Dharr al-Ghifari Ammar ibn Yasir
Beliefs & Practices
Succession of Ali Imamate of the Family Mourning of Muharram Light of Aql · Ismah Tawassul
Views
The Qur'an · Sahaba Mu'awiya I Abu Bakr · Umar
History
History of Shia Islam Ghadir Khumm First Fitna · Second Fitna The Battle of Karbala
Holy Days
Eid ul-Fitr · Eid al-Adha Eid al-Ghadeer Ashura · Arba'een Mawlid · Al-Mubahila
Branches
Twelver · Ismaili · Zaidi
v • d • e

Shia Islam (Shī‘a Arabic: شيعة; šīʿa is collective; Shī‘i, šīʿi, is singular), is the second largest denomination of Islam, after Sunni Islam. Ahl al-Kisa ( Arabic: ar اهل الكساء meaning People of the Cloak, refers to the last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics This is a sub-article to Shi'a and Ali (This article is an encyclopedia entry on Ali ibn Abi Talib that is to be compiled with the objective This is a sub-article of Fatima Zahra and Shi'a Islam. According to Shi'a and non-Muslim scholars Fatima Zahra was Muhammad 's only daughter See also Hasan ibn Ali Hassan ibn Ali is Shi’ahs’ second Imam, and is also known as Al-Mujtaba and Sibtil Akbar (the elder and Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina The Four Companions, also called the Four Pillars of the Sahaba is a Shi'a term that refers to the four Sahaba Shi'a believe stayed most loyal to Ali TemplateInfobox Salaf --> Salman the Persian or Salman al Farisi ( سلمان فارسی Salman e Farsi Miqdad ibn al-Aswad al-Kindi (Arabic مقداد بن الأسود الكندي) was a Sahaba of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Jundub ibn Junadah ibn Sakan (Arabic جُندب بن جَنادة better known as Abu Dharr, Abu Dharr al-Ghafari or Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari (Arabic أبو ذر الغفاري ˤAmmār ibn Yāsir (Arabic عمار بن ياسر is one of the most famous Sahaba and was among the Slaves freed by Abu Bakr. For the book by Wilferd Madelung, see The Succession to Muhammad. Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. See also Day of Ashura The Mourning of Muharram is an important period of mourning in the Shi'a branch of Islam, taking place in Muharram See also The Fourteen Infallibles Ismah (also esmat in Arabic: عِصْمَة) is the concept of Infallibility Tawassul (توسل is an Islamic religious practice in which a Muslim seeks nearness to Allah. This is a sub-article to Shī‘a Islam and the Qur'an The Shī‘a view of the Qur'an has some differences from the Sunni view but it must For other views of Sahaba and a short description see Sahaba. The Shi'a vilify Muāwiyya His supposed conversion to Islam before the conquest of Mecca is dismissed as a fable or mere hypocrisy See also Abu Bakr This article is about the Shi'a view of Abu Bakr, the first Sunni Caliph. This article is about the Shi'a view of Umar, the second Sunni Caliph. See also Muslim history Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism is the largest minority denomination based on the Islamic faith This is a sub-article to the Succession to Muhammad The Hadith of the pond of Khumm ( غدير خم) refers to the saying (i The First Islamic Civil War (656–661 also called the First Fitna (a=فتنة مقتل عثمان|t=Fitnah Maqtal Uthmān was the first major Civil The Second Fitna, or Second Islamic Civil War, was a period of general political and military disorder that afflicted the Islamic world during the early Umayyad The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10 61 AH ( October 9 or 10 680 CE in Karbala, in present day Iraq. Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Eid al-Adha ( Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated Eid al-Ghadeer is the anniversary commemorating Muhammad 's last sermon at Ghadir Khumm, which occurred on 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah of 10 AH in the Islamic The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax Arba'een ( اربعين, means "forty" or Chehlum, as it is known by Urdu -speaking Muslims is a Shi'a religious observation Mawlid ( Eid Milad an Nabi ( Turkish:Mevlid ( Qur'anic مَوْلِدُ آلنَبِيِّ mawlidu n-nabiyyi, “Birth of the Prophet” AL Mubahalah or Mubahila Sixty chiefs and `Ulama of Najran headed by Sayyid Aqib and Usquf (religious personalities ofthe region in the 10th year A See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab A moderate Shi'a is a Sunni Term for the Salaf who loved Ali When Sunnis use this term they mean to differentiate between the Salaf who were the partisans A Real Shi'a is a recurring thought in the Shi'a Theology. It implies that it is not enough to be the partisan of Ali to qualify to bear the title "Shi'a" This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam. Shi'a ( "follower" or " partisan) as an Islamic term traces its This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam. Shi'a ( "follower" or " partisan) as an Islamic term traces its This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam. Shi'a ( "follower" or " partisan) as an Islamic term traces its Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Shi'a Muslims, though a minority in the Muslim world, constitute the majority in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Azerbaidjan and Bahrain. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf

Shias adhere to the teachings of Islamic prophet Muhammad, but unlike Sunnis, they follow the religious guidance of his family (the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendants known as Shi'a Imams, whom they consider the keepers and instructors of Qur'an and Sunnah. Muslims regard as Prophets of Islam ( Arabic: نبي) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah as Prophets IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet” ^[1] Unlike Sunnis, Shias believe Ali ibn Abi Talib (Muhammad's cousin and husband of Fatimah) was the true successor to Muhammad who was appointed by God and his prophet and thus reject the legitimacy of the first three caliphs of Islamic history. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Fatimah (فاطمة c 605 –632 was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija. For the book by Wilferd Madelung, see The Succession to Muhammad. A caliphate (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa) is the political leadership of the Muslim community in classical and medieval Islamic history ^[2]

Shia is also more than a school of Islamic thought. There are various Shia theologies, systems of jurisprudence, philosophies and mysticisms. Shia embodies a completely independent system of religious and political authority and religious interpretation. Thus it makes a minority in the Muslim history that has made a considerable contribution to Islamic civilization. Muslim history began in Arabia with the Muhammad 's first recitations of the Qur'an in the 7th century Shia identity emerged in the first Islamic century, Shia theology and Fiqh were formulated in the second century^[3] and the first Shia governments and societies were established by the end of the third century. In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the Principles of the Religion ( Usūl al-Dīn) are the five main theological beliefs that Shi'a Muslims must possess This is a sub-article to Islamic jurisprudence and Twelvers. Jaʿfarī school of thought, Jaʿfarī jurisprudence or There are an estimated 130 to 190 million Shi'ites, 10-15% of the world's Muslims. ^[4]

Shia Islam is divided into theological branches. The largest and best known is the Twelvers (اثنا عشرية iṯnāʿašariyya) which forms a majority of the population in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain, as well as a plurality in Lebanon. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Other branches include the Ismaili and Zaidiyyah. For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab ^[5] Many groups, including the Alawi sect, deify Imam Ali, which is considered heresy among mainstream Shias. For the Alaouite dynasty of Morocco see Alaouite Dynasty, for the former state now in Yemen see Alawi (sheikhdom The Alawites Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief ^[6].

Despite Shi'a Muslims being a minority in the Muslim world, most scholars and polymaths of the Islamic Golden Age were Shi'a Muslims, including Avicenna, Geber, al-Farabi, al-Biruni, Alhacen and Al Tusi. A polymath ( Greek polymathēs, πολυμαθής "having learned much" is a person whose knowledge is not restricted to one subject area TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> ( Persian /ابو علی الحسین ابن عبدالله ابن سینا (born For the 12th century astronomer see Jabir ibn Aflah. For the anonymous 14th century Spanish alchemist see Pseudo-Geber. TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Abū Nasr Muhammad ibn al-Farakh al-Fārābi ( Nastaliq:) or Abū Nasr al-Fārābi TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> ( Arabic: ابو علی، حسن بن حسن بن هيثم Latinized

Etymology

Main article: Shia etymology

"Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase šīʿat ʿAlī (شيعة علي), meaning "the followers of Ali" or "the faction of Ali". This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam. Shi'a ( "follower" or " partisan) as an Islamic term traces its Both Shia and Sunni sources trace the term to the years preceding the death of Muhammad; see Shia etymology. This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam. Shi'a ( "follower" or " partisan) as an Islamic term traces its

Overview

Prophet Muhammad(S. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics A. W) Tomb in Madinah. Medina mɛˈdiːnə (المدينة المنورة ælmæˈdiːnæl muˈnɑwːɑrɑ or المدينة ælmæˈdiːnæ also transliterated into English as Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi

Shia Muslims believe that the descendants from Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah Zahra and his son-in-law Ali (the Imams) were the best source of knowledge about the Qur'an and Islam, the most trusted carriers and protectors of Muhammad's Sunnah (traditions), and the most worthy of emulation. Fatimah (فاطمة c 605 –632 was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet”

In particular, Shia Muslims recognize the succession of Ali (Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, the first man to accept Islam — second only to Muhammad's wife Khadija — the male head of the Ahl al-Bayt or "people of the [Prophet's] house") and the father of Muhammad's only bloodline as opposed to that of the caliphate recognized by Sunni Muslims. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Khadijah bint Khuwaylid or Khadijah al-Kubra The following is a NAMED REFERENCE See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Shia Muslims believe that Ali was appointed successor by Muhammad's direct order on many occasions, and that he is therefore the rightful leader of the Muslim faith.

This difference between following either the Ahl al-Bayt (Muhammad's family and descendants) or the Caliph Abu Bakr has shaped Shia and non-Shia views on some of the Qur'an, the Hadith (narrations from Muhammad) and other areas of Islam. See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Early life Abu Bakr was born at Mecca some time in the year 573 CE, in the Banu Taym branch of the Quraysh tribe Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic For instance, the collection of Hadith venerated by Shia Muslims is centered on narrations by members of the Ahl al-Bayt and their supporters, while some Hadith by narrators not belonging to or supporting the Ahl al-Bayt are not included (those of Abu Huraira, for example). Abu Hurairah ( أبو هريرة) (also known as `Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr Al-Azdi ( عبدالرحمن بن صخر الأذدي) Abu Hurayrah Ali was the third successor to Abu Bakr and, for the Shia, the first divinely sanctioned "imam," or male descendant of Muhammad. The seminal event in Shia history is the martyrdom in 680 CE of Ali's son Hussein, who led an non-allegiance movement against the defiant caliph (71 of Hussein's followers were killed as well). For the Shia, Hussein came to symbolize resistance to tyranny.

Regardless of the dispute about the Caliphate, the Shia recognize the religious authority of the Shia Imams, also called Khalifa Ilahi. Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah.

There are two interpretations about the emergence of Shia. One of them emphasizes on the political struggle about succession of Muhammad which happened after death of Muhammad and especially during the First Fitna. The First Islamic Civil War (656–661 also called the First Fitna (a=فتنة مقتل عثمان|t=Fitnah Maqtal Uthmān was the first major Civil ^[7] The other one emphasizes on different interpretation of Islam which led to different understanding about the role of caliphs and ulamas. Hossein Nasr has quoted:

Shi'ism was not brought into existence only by the question of the political succession to Muhammad as so many Western works claim (although this question was of course of great importance). TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Seyyed Hossein Nasr ( Persian سید حسین نصر) an Iranian For the book by Wilferd Madelung, see The Succession to Muhammad. The problem of political succession may be said to be the element that crystallized the Shi'ites into a distinct group, and political suppression in later periods, especially the martyrdom of Imam Husayn-upon whom be peace-only accentuated this tendency of the Shi'ites to see themselves as a separate community within the Islamic world. Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina The principal cause of the coming into being of Shi'ism, however, lies in the fact that this possibility existed within the Islamic revelation itself and so had to be realized. Inasmuch as there were exoteric[Zaheri] and esoteric[Bateni] interpretations from the very beginning, from which developed the schools (madhhab) of the Sharia and Sufism in the Sunni world, there also had to be an interpretation of Islam which would combine these elements in a single whole. Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic This possibility was realized in Shi'ism, for which the Imam is the person in whom these two aspects of traditional authority are united and in whom the religious life is marked by a sense of tragedy and martyrdom. Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. . . Hence the question which arose was not so much who should be the successor of Muhammad as what the function and qualifications of such a person would be. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics ^[8]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Islam

Map showing distribution of Shi'a and Sunni Muslims in Africa, Asia and Europe. The following table analyzes the Demographics of Islam as of mid-year 2005

By some estimates, approximately 10-15% of the world's Muslims are Shi'a. There are an estimated 130 to 190 million Shi'a Muslims^[4] (including Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaidis) throughout the world, with the largest representation in Iran, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, ^[9]

A large portion of the world's Shi'a live in the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The Shi'a Muslims^[10] are a majority in Azerbaijan (approx. 85%), Iraq (approx. 65%), Bahrain (approx. The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf 80%) and Iran, where 90% of the population are Shi'a Muslims. [1]. In Lebanon, the Shi'a form a plurality, and they remain as significant minorities in Syria (at 17%), India (at 10% of the Muslim population), Pakistan (at 20-35%) by including Ismailis and Sufis, Afghanistan (at 18%), Turkey (20%) and Yemen (45%). Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya The smaller Persian Gulf states of Qatar, Kuwait (at 36%) and the United Arab Emirates (at 16%) also have significant Shi'a minorities, as does the (Eastern Province ~33%) of Saudi Arabia. Qatar ( قطر; ˈqɑtˁɑr local pronunciation giṭar officially the State of Qatar (Arabic دولة قطر transliterated The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed Eastern Province (الشرقية Ash-Sharqīyah) is the largest province of Saudi Arabia, located in the east of the country on the Persian The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi

Significant Shi'a communities exist on the coastal regions of West Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia (see Tabuik). West Sumatra ( Indonesian: Sumatera Barat, abbreviated to Sumbar) is a province of Indonesia. See also Sultanate of Aceh Aceh (ʔaˈtɕɛh generally anglicized as ˈɑːtʃeɪ is a special territory ( daerah istimewa) of Indonesia The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Tabuik is the local manifestation of the Shi'a Muslim Remembrance of Muharram among the Minangkabau people in the coastal regions of West Sumatra The Shi'a presence is negligible elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where Muslims are predominantly Shafi'i Sunnis, though there are almost a million Shi'a Muslims in Indonesia, mainly converts. The Shāfi‘ī Madhab ( ar شافعي) is one of the four schools of Fiqh, or religious law within

A significant syncretic Shia minority is present in Nigeria, centered around the state of Kano (see Shia in Nigeria). Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Kano is the administrative center of the Kano State and the third largest City in Nigeria, in terms Though the majority of the Nigerian muslim population is Sunni, there is a significant Shia minority particularly in the states of Kano and Sokoto East Africa holds several populations of Ismaili Shia, primarily descendants of immigrants from South Asia during the colonial period, such as the Khoja. Ismaili Khojas About six hundred years ago the Persian -born Pir Sadruddin arrived in Sindh.

According to the Shia, one of the lingering problems in estimating the Shia population is that unless the Shia form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire population is often listed as Sunni. The reverse, however, has not held true, which may contribute to imprecise estimates of the size of each sect. For example, the 1926 rise of the House of Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shia ^[11]. The House of Saud ( Arabic: آل سعود romanized Āl Suʿūd is the Royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some Shia claim that they endure much bigotry and other indignities from Wahabi authorities daily and that Shia pilgrims from other countries are often singled out for harassment (see Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia); in Saudi Arabia they are called akkaf (عكف) which means rejecters (رافضه). Wahhabism ( Arabic: Al-Wahhābīyya الوهابية or Wahabism is a conservative reformist call of Sunni Islam attributed to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic Theocratic Monarchy in which Islam is the official religion the law requires that all Saudi citizens be Muslims

Doctrines

Part of a series on the Islamic creed: Aqidah

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahādah - Profession of faith Salah - Prayer Zakâh - Paying of alms (giving to the poor) Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca

Sunni Six articles of belief

Tawhīd - Oneness Nabi and Rusul - Prophets and Messengers Kutub - Divinely Revealed Books. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. A creed is a statement of Belief — usually Religious belief — or Faith often recited as part of a religious service Aqidah (sometimes spelled Aqeeda, Aqidah or Aqida) (عقيدة is an Islamic term meaning Creed. The Five Pillars of Islam (Arabic أركان الإسلام is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed. Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied ll This is a sub-article to Sawm and Ramadan During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are obliged to fast (صوم Sawm Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Aqidah (sometimes spelled Aqeeda, Aqidah or Aqida) (عقيدة is an Islamic term meaning Creed. In Islam, a rasul ( Arabic: رسول, "messenger" plural rusul) is a Prophet sent by God with a The Islamic holy books are the records believed from Muslims that were dictated by God to prophets Malā'ikah - Angels Qiyâmah - Judgment Day Qadr (Predestination)

Shi'a Twelver Principles of the Religion (Usul al-Din)

Tawhīd - Oneness Adalah - Justice Nubuwwah - Prophethood Imamah - Leadership Qiyâmah - Judgment Day

Shi'a Twelver Practices of the Religion (Furu al-Din)

Salah - Prayer Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca Zakâh - Poor-rate Khums - One-fifth tax Jihad - Struggle Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf - Commanding good Nahi-Anil-Munkar - Forbidding evil Tawalla - Loving the Ahl al-Bayt Tabarra - Disassociating Ahl al-Bayt's enemies

Shi'a Ismaili 7 pillars

Walayah - Guardianship Taharah - Purity & cleanliness Salah - Prayers Zakâh - Purifying religious dues Sawm - Fasting during Ramadan Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca Jihad - Struggle

Others

Kharijite Sixth Pillar of Islam. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition In Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah "the Day of Resurrection" (يوم القيامة or Yawm ad-Din "the Day of Faith" (يوم الدين is God's final This is a sub-article of Sunni Islam, Aqidah and Predestination. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the Principles of the Religion ( Usūl al-Dīn) are the five main theological beliefs that Shi'a Muslims must possess Adalah (عدالة means justice and denotes The Justice of God. In Islam, Nubuwwah (نبوة means "Prophethood" and denotes that God has appointed perfect Prophets and Messengers to teach mankind Gods religion This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shi'a doctrine and is specifically about the Shi'a Twelver conception of the term In Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah "the Day of Resurrection" (يوم القيامة or Yawm ad-Din "the Day of Faith" (يوم الدين is God's final See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the ten Practices of the Religion ( Furū al-Dīn) are the ten practices that Shi'a Muslims must perform Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and ll This is a sub-article to Sawm and Ramadan During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are obliged to fast (صوم Sawm Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied Khums ( خمس xʊms is the Arabic word for One Fifth (1/5 According to Shia Islamic legal terminology it means "one-fifth of certain items which a person Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. Commanding the just ( Arabic: Amr bil Ma'rūf امر بالمعروف) is a part of Shia Islam 's Branches of Religion and Forbidding what is evil (النهي عن المنكر "Nahy an al-Munkar") is a part of Islam and means for example to oppose injustice Tawalla (تولّى - Loving the Ahl al-Bayt, is a part of the Twelver Shi'a Branches of Religion and is derived from a Qur'anic See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family Tabarra (تبرأ - is a Shia Muslim doctrine that refers to the obligation of hating those who hate Allah and cursing those who reject the Wilayah of See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون The Shi'a Ismāˤīlī - the Nizari, Druze and Mustaali - have Pillars beyond those of the Sunni. This is about the "pillar of Islam" for the historical view see Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine Guardianship (ولاية Walayah This article is about Hygiene in Islam. For the Jewish Taharah ritual preparation for burial see Bereavement in Judaism preparing the body — Taharah Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied ll This is a sub-article to Sawm and Ramadan During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are obliged to fast (صوم Sawm Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. Kharijites (Arabic Khawārij خوارج literally "Those who Went Out" is a general term embracing various Muslims who while initially supporting the The term Sixth pillar of Islam refers to an addition to the Five Pillars of Islam; the five pillars of Islam explain the basic tenets of Islam Shi'a Islam This box: view • talk • edit

Main doctrines

The Twelver Shia believe in the five pillars of Islam, as do Sunnis, but categorize them differently. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam The Five Pillars of Islam (Arabic أركان الإسلام is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. Shia beliefs include the following:

Theology of Shi'a (Usūl al-Dīn)

Five basic elements of Islam according to Twelver Shi'a beliefs are:

• Tawhīd (Oneness): The Oneness of God
• Adalah (Justice): The Justice of God
• Nubuwwah (Prophethood): God has appointed perfect and infallible prophets and messengers to teach mankind the religion (that is, a perfect system of how to live in "peace" or "submission to God"). In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the Principles of the Religion ( Usūl al-Dīn) are the five main theological beliefs that Shi'a Muslims must possess Adalah (عدالة means justice and denotes The Justice of God. In Islam, Nubuwwah (نبوة means "Prophethood" and denotes that God has appointed perfect Prophets and Messengers to teach mankind Gods religion Prophets are Messengers which are appointed by Allah to bring the message of God to people and spread that message while the Imam (leader) is appointed by Allah to protect that message since ordinary people will fail to do so. Also, as Muhammad was the last messenger of God which means the message he brought was the last and final message to the people from Allah, none is supposed to bring a message from Allah after Muhammed, therefore, if people were left with the message alone, the true message could not survive long and would have undergone changes. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Imams were therefore appointed to take care of the message and prevent people from going astray after the last prophet.
• Imamah (Leadership): God has appointed specific leaders to lead and guide mankind — a prophet appoints a custodian of the religion before his demise. Shia believe in Twelve Imams, eleven of whom were killed, but they believe their twelfth Imam is still alive. Their history says that he disappeared after performing rituals of the eleventh Imam's (his father's) death. He is still under 'ghaybat' or 'occultation' and will appear on the face of the earth to raise the truth and bring an end to tyranny and oppression
• Qiyamah (The Day of Judgment): After the annihilation of this world, God will raise mankind for Judgement. In Islam, Yawm al-Qiyāmah "the Day of Resurrection" (يوم القيامة or Yawm ad-Din "the Day of Faith" (يوم الدين is God's final

Practices of the Religion (Furū al-Dīn)

• Salat (Prayer) – Performing the five daily prayers. In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the ten Practices of the Religion ( Furū al-Dīn) are the ten practices that Shi'a Muslims must perform Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and
• Sawm (Fast) – fasting during the Islamic holy lunar month of Ramadhan (Able to eat while the sun is hidden)
• Hajj (Pilgrimage) – performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime)
• Zakat (Poor-rate) – paying the poor-tax (2. Sawm ( Arabic: صوم is an Arabic word for Fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored This is a sub-article of Islamic economical jurisprudence. Zakaat ( زكاة zækæːh zakaat or zakāh, has the implied 5% of your wealth every year should go to the poor)
• Khums (One-fifth of savings) – paying tax to the Imam (سهم امام)
• Jihad (Struggle) – struggling to please the Almighty. Khums ( خمس xʊms is the Arabic word for One Fifth (1/5 According to Shia Islamic legal terminology it means "one-fifth of certain items which a person Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. The greater, or internal Jihad is the struggle against the evil within one's soul in every aspect of life. The lesser, or external, Jihad is the struggle against the evil of one's environment in every aspect of life. This is not to be mistaken with the common modern misconception that this means "Holy War". Writing the truth (jihad bil qalam) and speaking truth in front of an oppressor are also forms of Jihad.
• Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf – commanding what is good
• Nahi-Anil-Munkar – forbidding what is evil
• Tawalla – loving the Ahlul Bayt and their followers
• Tabarra – dissociating oneself from the enemies of the Ahlul Bayt

Governance

Traditionally Twelver Shia Muslims consider Ali ibn Abi Talib and the other 11 imams not only religious guides but political leaders, based on a crucial hadith where the Prophet Muhammad passes on his power to command Muslims to Ali. Commanding the just ( Arabic: Amr bil Ma'rūf امر بالمعروف) is a part of Shia Islam 's Branches of Religion and Forbidding what is evil (النهي عن المنكر "Nahy an al-Munkar") is a part of Islam and means for example to oppose injustice Tawalla (تولّى - Loving the Ahl al-Bayt, is a part of the Twelver Shi'a Branches of Religion and is derived from a Qur'anic Tabarra (تبرأ - is a Shia Muslim doctrine that refers to the obligation of hating those who hate Allah and cursing those who reject the Wilayah of See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the Since the last Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, went into "occultation" in 939 AD and is not expected back until end times, this left Shia without religiously sanctioned governance. According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the

The first Twelver Shia regime, the Safavid dynasty in Iran, propagated the Twelver faith, made Shia law the law of the land, and patronized Shia scholarship. The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz For this, Shia ulama "crafted a new theory of government" which held that while "not truly legitimate", the Safavid monarchy would be "blessed as the most desirable form of government during the period of waiting" for the 12th Imam. ^[12]

In general, Shia jurists adhere to one of three approaches towards the state: either full participation in government, i. e. attempting to influence policies by becoming active in politics, or passive cooperation with it, i. e. minimal participation, or else most commonly, mere toleration of it, i. e. remaining aloof from it. ^[13]

This changed with Iranian Revolution where the Ayatollah Khomeini and his supporters established a new theory of governance for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian Revolution' (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution, Persian: انقلاب اسلامی Enghelābe Eslāmi was the Revolution that transformed Seyyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini ( Persian:, pronounced muːsæviː-je xomejniː}}( September 24, 1902 – June 3 1989 One of the most dramatic changes in government in Iran's history was seen with the 1979 Iranian Revolution where Shah ( king) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown It's based on Khomeini's theory of guardianship of the Islamic jurist as rule of the Islamic jurist, and jurists as "legatees" of the Prophet Muhammad.

Main article: Hokumat-e Islami : Velayat-e faqih (book by Khomeini)

While not all Shia accept this theory, it is uniquely Shia and the basis of the constitution of Iran, the leading Shia Muslim country, where the Supreme Leader must be an Islamic jurist. Hokumat-e Islami: Velayat-e faqih ( ولاية الفقيه) (also known as Hokumat-e Islami or Islamic Government Hokumat-e Islami: Velayat-e faqih ( ولاية الفقيه) (also known as Hokumat-e Islami or Islamic Government The Constitution of the Islamic Republic The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit A Faqih (plural Fuqaha') (فقيه pl فقهاء is an expert in Fiqh, or Islamic Jurisprudence.

Twelve Imams

See also: Twelve Imams

The Twelve Imams are the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the Twelver or Ithna Ashariya branch of Shia Islam. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ( ar الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (Fifteenth of Ramadhān, 3 AH – Seventh or Twenty-eighth of Safar Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina ‘Alī ibn Ḥusayn (Arabic علي بن حسين) (approximately 6 January 659 - 20 October 712 is a great-grandson of Muhammad as well as the fourth Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Baqir (محمد ابن علي الباقر) (676-743 AD or 1 Rajab 57 AH – 7 Dhu al-Hijjah 114 AH was the Fifth Imām Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Kāżim (الإمام موسى الكاظم‎ ( October 28, 746 AD - September 1, 799 / Ali ibn Musa al-Rida ( علي بن موسى الرضا) (Commonly known as Ali ar-Ridha Ali Reza (Eleventh of Dhu al-Qi'dah, 148 AH – Seventeenth of Muhammad al-Taqi or Muhammad al-Jawad ( Arabic: الإمام محمد الجواد) ( Rajab 10 195 AH - Dhu al-Qi'dah 29 Imam Ali al-Hadi (الإمام علي الهادي also known as Imam Ali al-Naqi ( September 8, 828 &ndash July 1, 868) was Hasan al- Askari (الإمام الحسن بن علي العسكري (Eighth of Rabi' al-thani 232 AH – Eighth of Rabi' al-awwal 260 AH According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the This is a sub-article to Imamah (Shi'a doctrine and is specifically about the Shi'a Twelver conception of the term The Hadith of the Twelve Successors is a famous Hadith in Islam, in which the Islamic prophet Muhammad speaks about Twelve Muslim rulers IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Muslims regard as Prophets of Islam ( Arabic: نبي) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah as Prophets See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. ^[14] According to the theology of Twelvers, the successor of Muhammad is an infallible human individual who not only rules over the community with justice, but also is able to keep and interpret the Divine Law and its esoteric meaning. In Twelver Shi'a Islam, the Principles of the Religion ( Usūl al-Dīn) are the five main theological beliefs that Shi'a Muslims must possess IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics The Fourteen Infallibles (Ma'asumin - معصومين are Twelver Shia Islam religious figures from between the 6th and 9th century AD who Twelver Shia Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the The Prophet and Imams' words and deeds are a guide and model for the community to follow; as a result, they must be free from error and sin, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through the Prophet. Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet” ^[15][16]

It is believed in Shi'asm that Aql, a divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the Prophets and Imams and gave them esoteric knowledge, called Hikmah, and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees. ^[17][18][14] Although the Imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, but has close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the imam in turn guides the people. Wahy (وحي) is the Arabic word for revelation. In Islamic context it refers to the revelations and inspirations of God (Arabic Allah) to Because God would not leave the world without some sort of divine guidance for humanity. ^[19]

According to Twelvers, there is always an Imam of the Age, who is the divinely appointed authority on all matters of faith and law in the Muslim community. Ali was the first Imam of this line, and in the Twelvers' view, the rightful successor to the Prophet of Islam, followed by male descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah Zahra. Fatimah (فاطمة c 605 –632 was a daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from his first wife Khadija. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, with the exception of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the brother of Hasan ibn Ali. Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ( ar الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (Fifteenth of Ramadhān, 3 AH – Seventh or Twenty-eighth of Safar ^[14] The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and in hiding. According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the In Twelver Shia Islam, the Major Occultation refers to the longer duration of the Occultation of the final and twelfth Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi ^[19]

1. Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661), also known as Ali, Amir al-Mo'mineen (commander of the faithful), also known as Shah-e Mardan Ali (King of men)
2. Hasan ibn Ali (625–669), also known as Hasan al Mujtaba
3. Husayn ibn Ali (626–680), also known as Husayn al Shaheed, also known as Sah Hüseyin
4. Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Ali Zainul Abideen
5. Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as Muhammad al Baqir
6. Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as Jafar as Sadiq
7. Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as Musa al Kazim
8. Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as Ali ar Ridha
9. Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as Muhammad al Jawad (Muhammad at Taqi), also known as Taki
10. Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as Ali al-Hadi, also known as Naki
11. Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as Hasan al Askari
12. Muhammad ibn Hasan (868–?), also known as Hojjat ibn al Hasan, also known as Mahdi

There are a few groups of Ismaili Shia, which include Nizari Ismailis, Dawoodi Bohras, Alavi Bohras, and the Seveners. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ( ar الحسن بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (Fifteenth of Ramadhān, 3 AH – Seventh or Twenty-eighth of Safar Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina ‘Alī ibn Ḥusayn (Arabic علي بن حسين) (approximately 6 January 659 - 20 October 712 is a great-grandson of Muhammad as well as the fourth Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Baqir (محمد ابن علي الباقر) (676-743 AD or 1 Rajab 57 AH – 7 Dhu al-Hijjah 114 AH was the Fifth Imām Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Kāżim (الإمام موسى الكاظم‎ ( October 28, 746 AD - September 1, 799 / Ali ibn Musa al-Rida ( علي بن موسى الرضا) (Commonly known as Ali ar-Ridha Ali Reza (Eleventh of Dhu al-Qi'dah, 148 AH – Seventeenth of Muhammad al-Taqi or Muhammad al-Jawad ( Arabic: الإمام محمد الجواد) ( Rajab 10 195 AH - Dhu al-Qi'dah 29 Imam Ali al-Hadi (الإمام علي الهادي also known as Imam Ali al-Naqi ( September 8, 828 &ndash July 1, 868) was Hasan al- Askari (الإمام الحسن بن علي العسكري (Eighth of Rabi' al-thani 232 AH – Eighth of Rabi' al-awwal 260 AH According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون Dawoodi Bohras ( Arabic: داؤدی بوہرہ Hindi: दवूदि बोह्रा are the main branch of the Bohras, a Musta‘lī subsect Alavi Bohra (علوی بوہرہ are a subsect of Ismaili Mustaali. Seveners (Arabic سبعية are a branch of Ismā'īlī Shīˤa. Nizaris are small in numbers, though they are the biggest non-Twelver Shia group. They accept Jafar as Sadiq's eldest son Ismail as the next Imam. Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Ismail is a variant of Ishmael. Etymology and Meaning The literal translation of the name Ismail is along the lines of Heard by Allah Seveners do not recognize any further of the Twelvers' Imams beyond Jafar. The only major non-Twelver and non-Ismaili group are Zaidis. Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a Madhhab

Status of a Shia Imam

Main article: Status of a Shia Imam

The Ahlul Bayt are viewed as the perfect example for mankind, and like the prophets, should be emulated in acts and deeds. Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah. See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary The Shia believe that the Imams of Ahlul Bayt carry the divinely appointed responsibility of protecting Islam and enacting the example of the pure Sunnah of Muhammad. Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet” IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics The Imams of Ahlul Bayt have guided Muslims throughout history, in many cases under the most horrible circumstances and under the most severe forms of discrimination due to the cruel policies of the reigning governments of the time. They are seen as incorruptible and infallible role models for Muslims that have shown the way of goodness and prosperity in this world and the next in the best way until their martyrdom or occultation. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion

Jurisprudence

Main article: Ja'fari jurisprudence

Ja'fari jurisprudence or Ja'fari Fiqh is the name of the jurisprudence of the Shia Twelvers Muslims, derived from the name of Ja'far al-Sadiq, the 6th Shia Imam. This is a sub-article to Islamic jurisprudence and Twelvers. Jaʿfarī school of thought, Jaʿfarī jurisprudence or Fiqh ( Arabic: فقه, fɪqəh is Islamic Jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the Sharia Islamic law—based directly on the See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn Imāmah (إمامة is the Shī‘ah doctrine of religious spiritual and political leadership of the Ummah.

The Ja'ffari Shia consider Sunnah to be the oral traditions of Muhammad and their implementation and interpretation by the Imams who were all scholars and descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband, the first Imam, Ali. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH

Role of religious scholars

Main article: The Shia clergy

Shia Muslims believe that the study of Islamic literature is a continual process, and is necessary for identifying all of God's laws. Twelver Usooli and Akhbari Shia Twelver Muslims believe that the study of Islamic Literature is a continual Sunni Muslims also believe that they can interpret the Qur'an and hadith with the same authority as their predecessors - that the door to ijtihad was never closed. Ijtihad (Arabic اجتهاد is a technical term of Islamic law that describes the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the legal sources However, the opinion of the 1st and 2nd century (7th and 8th century Gregorian calendar) scholars Hanbali, Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafii are given greater weight. Hanbali ( حنبلى) is one of the four schools ( Madhhabs of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam (the other three being The Hanafi ( Arabic حنفي school is the oldest of the four schools of thought ( Madhhabs The Maliki Madhhab ( Arabic مالكي) is one of the four schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam The Shāfi‘ī Madhab ( ar شافعي) is one of the four schools of Fiqh, or religious law within

Differences of Shia and Sunni doctrines and traditions

Further information: Sunni-Shia relations#Differences in beliefs and practices

Because Islamic law and theology is based partly on hadith (traditions or customs of Mohammad) the Shia rejection of some Sunni hadith and Sunni rejection of some Shia hadith means that the versions understandings of Islam emerge. Sunni and Shia (or Shiite are the two major denominations of Islam. Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic

Infallibility

See also: The Fourteen Infallibles

Unlike (most) Sunni, Shia believe that the Prophet Muhammad and the 12 Imams are immaculate from sin. The Fourteen Infallibles (Ma'asumin - معصومين are Twelver Shia Islam religious figures from between the 6th and 9th century AD who Twelver Shia ^[20]

Esoteric interpretation

Main article: Esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an

Unlike many Sunni, Shia believe that faith has an outer meaning, Zahir, accessible to all through study of commentaries tafsir, and an inner or esoteric meaning, batin, accessible only through ta'wil ^[21] Ta'wil can only done by the Prophet and Imams^[22]

Hadith

For example, while both Shia and Sunni pray five times each day, some of the prayer times differ. An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the Tafsir ( Arabic: تفسير, tafsīr, "interpretation" is the Arabic word for Exegesis An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the An esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an is an Interpretation of the Qur’an which includes attribution of Esoteric or mystic meanings to the Shia perform ritual prayers (Salah) back to back, sometimes worshipping two times consecutively, as in (1+2+2) - Asr with Dhuhr, and Isha'a with Maghrib, respectively. Ṣalāt ( Arabic: صلاة‎, pl ṣalawāt, Qur'anic Arabic: صلوة ṣalawah) (also munz in Pashto and See also ASR The Asr (عصر prayer is the afternoon daily prayer recited by practising Muslims. The dhuhr (ظهر prayer ("dh" representing Ẓāʼ, an Emphatic voiced dental fricative" it is often simplified to "z" is The Isha (عشاء prayer is the night-time daily prayer recited by practising Muslims It is the fifth of the five daily prayers ( Salah) Maghrib (مَغْرِب is the fourth daily Salat in Islam, offered at sunset Shia do not perform non-obligatory prayers in congregation, like Tar'raweeh, which Sunnis pray during Ramadaan.

Mut'ah

Another issue of difference between the sects is that of Nikah Mut‘ah or "temporary marriage". Nikāḥu l-Mut‘ah (نكاح المتعة marriage for pleasure) or sigheh, is a time-delimited Marriage contract according to the Usuli While the Sunni claim that Mut`ah is forbidden, Shia accept it because it is found in a number of Shia traditions that the practice is permitted. There are Sahih Shia traditions which maintain that mut'ah is forbidden, but these are dismissed as they contradict other narrations on mut'ah which were deemed more acceptable. Sahih is an Islamic term that means authentic. It is commonly used to describe the authenticity of a Hadith. ^[23] Many Shia discourage the practice of Mut'ah, but maintain that it is permissible.

Mohr

Another difference is that some Shia use soil (turbah) or clay tablets (mohr) during their prayers. A turbah ( Arabic تربة is a small piece of soil or clay used by practitioners of Shi'a Islam during

Religious calendar

Shi'a Muslims in Bahrain strike their chests during the Remembrance of Muharram. The Kingdom of Bahrain (in مملكة البحرين,, literally Kingdom of the Two Seas) is an Island country in the Persian Gulf

Sunni and Twelver Shia, celebrate the following annual holidays:

• Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر), which marks the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan and falls on the first day of Shawwal. Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Ramadan or Ramazan ( Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān) is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic Shawwal (ar شوّال is the tenth month of the lunar Islamic calendar.
• Eid ul-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah, starts on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja. Eid al-Adha ( Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Dhu al-Hijja (ar ذو الحجة is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic Calendar.

The following holidays are observed by Twelver Shia only, unless otherwise noted:

• The Remembrance of Muharram and Ashurah (عاشوراء) for Shia commemorates Imam Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom. See also Day of Ashura The Mourning of Muharram is an important period of mourning in the Shi'a branch of Islam, taking place in Muharram The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar حسين بن علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ (third of Shaban 4 AH / 8th January 626 AD at Medina The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Imam Husayn was grandson of Muhammad, who was killed by Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the Sunnis' 6th Khalif. Mustaali Ismaili also mourn this day. See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī Ashurah is a day of deep mourning which occurs on the 10th of Muharram. Muharram ( Arabic: ar محرم is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Sunnis also celebrate Ashurah, but give it a different meaning (see Ashurah). The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax On January 19, 2008, 2 million Iraqi Shia pilgrims marched through Karbala city, Iraq to celebrate Ashura. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. A pilgrim is one who undertakes a Pilgrimage, literally 'far afield' Karbala ( BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax 20,000 Iraqi troops and police guarded the event amid tensions due to clashes between between Iraqi troops and the cult which left 263 people dead (in Basra and Nasiriya). Basra ( BGN: AlBasrah also called Basorah Abillah and Uruk or IRAQ The name that British colony has adopted for Basra Nasiriyah ( BGN: an-Nāṣiriyyah; also spelled Nassiriya or Nasiriya) is a city in Iraq ^[24]
• Arba'een commemorates the suffering of the women and children of Imam Husayn's household. Arba'een ( اربعين, means "forty" or Chehlum, as it is known by Urdu -speaking Muslims is a Shi'a religious observation After Husayn was killed, they were marched over the desert, from Karbala (central Iraq) to Shaam (Damascus, Syria). Karbala ( BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. Many children (some of whom were direct descendants of Muhammad) died of thirst and exposure along the route. Arba'een occurs on the 20th of Safar, 40 days after Ashurah. Safar (ar صفر is the second month in the Islamic calendar. The Day of Ashura ( ar عاشوراء, Ashura Ashoura and other spellings is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax
• Milad al-Nabi, Muhammad's birth date, is celebrated by both Sunni and Shia on the 17th of Rabi al-Awwal, which coincides with the birth date of the sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. Mawlid ( Eid Milad an Nabi ( Turkish:Mevlid ( Qur'anic مَوْلِدُ آلنَبِيِّ mawlidu n-nabiyyi, “Birth of the Prophet” IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Rabi' al-awwal (ar ربيع الأول is the third month in the Islamic calendar. Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (702-765 in accurate transliteration Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn
• Mid-Sha'ban is the birth date of the 12th and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. Mid-Sha'ban is the 15th day of the Muslim month of Sha'ban. Laylatul Bara'ah is the night preceding the 15th day of Shaban According to Twelver Shi'as Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( ar المهدى) (or Hujjat ibn Hasan ibn Ali is the twelfth Imam and the It is celebrated by Twelvers on the 15th of Shaban. Shaban may refer to Sha'aban, a month of the Islamic calendar Shaban Afghanistan Many Shia fast on this day to show gratitude.
• Eid al-Ghadeer celebrates Ghadir Khum, the occasion when Muhammad announced Ali's imamate before a multitude of Muslims. Eid al-Ghadeer is the anniversary commemorating Muhammad 's last sermon at Ghadir Khumm, which occurred on 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah of 10 AH in the Islamic Wadi Rabigh is a Wadi situated inland of the town of Rabigh, extending along the border of the Al Madinah and Makkah provinces of Saudi Eid al-Ghadeer is held on the 18th of Dhil-Hijjah. Dhu al-Hijja (ar ذو الحجة is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic Calendar.
• Al-Mubahila celebrates a meeting between the household of Muhammad and a Christian deputation from Najran. AL Mubahalah or Mubahila Sixty chiefs and `Ulama of Najran headed by Sayyid Aqib and Usquf (religious personalities ofthe region in the 10th year A See also Muhammad's wives Ahl al-Bayt ( Arabic:ar أهل البيت is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family Najran (formerly Aba as Sa'ud) (نجران is a city in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the frontier with Yemen. Al-Mubahila is held on the 24th of Dhil-Hijjah.

Important Shia shrines and holy sites

Both Shia and Sunni Muslims share a certain veneration and religious obligations towards certain shrines and holy sites, such as Mecca (Masjid al-Haram), Medina (Al-Masjid al-Nabawi), and Jerusalem (Al-Aqsa Mosque). Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām ( ar المسجد الحرام ʔælmæsʤɪd ælħaram "The Sacred Mosque" is the largest Mosque in the world The Mosque of the Prophet (or Prophet's Mosque) ( Arabic: المسجد النبوي) /mæsʤıd ænːæbæwı in Medina, is the second holiest Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Al-Aqsa Mosque ( Arabic:المسجد الاقصى /æl'mæsdʒɪd æl'ɑqsˁɑ/ {{Audio|ArAqsaMosque For a list of some of the holiest uniquely Shia shrines see Shia holy sites. There are many Holy sites in various Islāmic traditions For all muslims the Ka'bah is considered the Holiest shrine followed by Masjidun Nabawi ( The Prophet's Mosque

Sunni persecutions of Shi'a

Main article: Persecution of Shia Muslims

At various times many Shi'a groups have faced persecution. The dispute over the right successor to Muhammad resulted in the formation of two main sects the Sunni, and the Shia. ^{[25][26][27][28][29][30]}

While the dominant strand in modern Sunni dogma regards Shiism as a valid madhhab, following Al Azhar, some Sunnis both now and in the past have regarded it as beyond the pale, and have attacked its adherents. In modern times, notable examples include the bombing campaigns by the Sunni Sipah-e-Sahaba, a small extremist group, against Shia mosques in Pakistan, the persecution of Hazara under the Taliban, and the bloody attacks linked with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his followers against Shia in Iraq. Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP formerly Anjuman-e-Sipah-e-Sahaba is a Sunni sectarian outfit allegedly involved in terrorist violence primarily targeting minority The Hazāra ( are a Persian-speaking people residing in the central region of Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. The Taliban ( طالبان, also anglicised as Taleban; translation "students" is a Sunni Islamist, predominately Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (أبومصعب الزرقاوي, Abu Musab from Zarqa)) (October 30 1966 – June 7 2006 born Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal

History of Shia-Sunni relations

Main article: Historical Shia-Sunni relations

The Shia believe that the split between the Shia and Sunni began with Muhammad's death, when Abu Bakr was accepted as the successor to Muhammed by the majority of Muslims, then Umar and Uthman. Sunni and Shia (or Shiite are the two major denominations of Islam. They believe that the successorship was given to Ali at Ghadir Khum (a hadith accepted by Shi’a scholars), and that the testimony that can be traced back to reliable sources is to be trusted, while traditions that cannot be fully verified are suspect.

Shia and Sunni historians record that many Shia have been persecuted, intimidated, and killed, through what Shia consider a coup d'état against Ali's caliphate. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Many prominent Salafi Sunni scholars are known to have openly considered the Shia as "kufar" (disbelievers). Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic This article is on the Islamic religious term For the pejorative racial slur see Kaffir (ethnic slur. Imam Ash-Shafi'i, one of the most prominent early scholars of his time said in regards to the Shia "I have not seen among the heretics a people more famous for falsehood than the Raafidite Shi’ites. "^[31] Such statements stem mainly from differences in beliefs regarding Ali, Umar, and other companions, and in the Shia's use of various concepts, such as Muta. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH Umar (a=عمر بن الخطاب|t=`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c 581-83 CE &ndash 7 November, 644) also known as Umar the Great or Omar the Great For other views of Sahaba and a short description see Sahaba. Nikāḥu l-Mut‘ah (نكاح المتعة marriage for pleasure) or sigheh, is a time-delimited Marriage contract according to the Usuli

The renowned al-Azhar university of theology in Egypt, originally founded by the Shia during the reign of the Fatimid caliphate in 988^[32], considers Shia philosophy to be an indivisible part of the body of Islamic jurisprudence. Al-Azhar University (pronounced "az-HAR" الأزهر الشريف, "the Noble Azhar" in Egypt, founded in 975 is the chief centre of This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Today, both Sunni and Shia students graduate from the Al-Azhar university which also teaches regarding both doctrines and uses certain Shia material in its courses. (See List of Shia books). Theology of Shi'a These books include discussions about Theology ( Tawhīd, Nubuwwah, Imamah, etc) of Shi'a On July 6, 1959, Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot -the head of the al-Azhar Theological school- announced the al-Azhar Shia Fatwa

1. Islam does not require a Muslim to follow a particular Madh'hab (school of thought). Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Cheikh, Shaikh, and other variants ( Arabic:, shaykh The Al-Azhar Shia Fatwa ( فتوة الأزهر) is an Islamic Fatwa issued by the renowned Sunni scholar Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot Rather, we say: every Muslim has the right to follow one of the schools of thought which has been correctly narrated and its verdicts have been compiled in its books. And, everyone who is following such Madhahib [schools of thought] can transfer to another school, and there shall be no crime on him for doing so.
2. The Ja'fari school of thought, which is also known as "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" (i. e. , The Twelver Imami Shi'ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought.

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has made differing statements on the matter, and seems to have changed his stance on Shi'aism as he acquired more knowledge on the topic:

"Let it be known to all that the Shi`ah are Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Cheikh, Shaikh, and other variants ( Arabic:, shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi ( Arabic: يوسف القرضاوي Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwiy) (born September 9, 1926) is an Egyptian Muslim Yes, there is no doubt that the Shi`ah have their beliefs and dogmas which we condemn as heresy but this doesn’t make them non-Muslims. " (August 17, 2006)^[33]

"He pointed out that he travelled to Iran around 8 years ago and met with former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and was received enthusiastically. And he told the Shia scholars there that if there is to be a true discussion and unity amongst us it is necessary for a number of things to be fully stopped, such as your saying that the Quran in our hands is altered and that the Mushaf Faatemah is an addition to this Quran, and the constant insults upon the Sahaabah, May Allah be pleased with them . And it is beyond imagination that I would say Abu Bakr, Radhia Allahu Anhu, and you say, La'anahu Allah, this is totally unacceptable. Also to stop consistently talking about Ali's higher right to Khilaphah, for all of them have died and the matter is finished, and that Umar bin Abdul Aziz was asked on the past conflict between Ali and Muawiyah and the blood in this conflict, he said that Allah has cleansed our hands from this blood so why should we soil our tongues with it. " (September 3, 2006)^[34]

Similar fatwas (promoting the acceptance of Shi'as into mainstream Islam) have not been issued by some Sunni scholars or universities. A fatwā (فتوى plural fatāwā فتاوى in the Islamic faith is a religious opinion on Islamic law issued by an A number of contemporary Sunni scholars such as Shaykh Dr Khaalid ibn ‘Ali al-Mushayqih (who released a fatwa regarding praying with the Shia) maintain that Shia are not considered as Muslims, unless they deny certain beliefs found in a number of Shia hadith books like al-kafi that are accepted by the majority of twelver Shia:

The Shia and Sunnis differ in their view of Aisha (one of the wives of the Muhammad). The Kitab al-Kafi is a Twelver Shia Hadith collection compiled by Mohammad Ya'qub Kulainy. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam Aisha bint Abu Bakr (died 678 (Arabic ar عائشة Transliteration ʿāʾisha, ʕaːʔɪʃæh "she who lives" also transcribed as A'ishah, Ayesha IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics The Shia have a dim view of her character whereas the Sunnis consider her an exemplary woman. The differences stem primarily from the Shia claim of dishonourable behaviour with Muhammad and her taking a position opposed to the position of the fourth Caliph Ali regarding how to handle the prosecution of the assassinators of the third Caliph Uthman. ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (a=علي بن أﺑﻲ طالب|t=ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib 13th Rajab, 24 BH – 21st Ramaḍān, 40 AH For more details, please refer to Sunni and Shia views of Aisha. Aisha bint Abu Bakr (died 678 (Arabic ar عائشة Transliteration ʿāʾisha, ʕaːʔɪʃæh "she who lives" also transcribed as A'ishah, Ayesha

Notable Shia Muslims

Scholars

See also: List of Shia Islamic scholars

• Muhammad Ya'qub Kulainy
• Shaikh Saduq
• Sheikh al-Mufid
• Abu Ja'far al-Tusi
• Nasir al-Din Tusi

Contemporary scholars

Iraq

• Ali al-Sistani
• Bashir Hussain Najafi
• Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim (late)
• Abul-Qassim Khoei (late)
• Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (late)

Iran

• Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Shirazi (late)
• Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi
• Waheed Khorasani
• Ali Khamenei
• Taqi Bahjat
• Naser Makarem Shirazi
• Hossein Noori Hamedani
• Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani
• Ruhollah Khomeini (late)
• Sheikh Mirza Jawad Tabrizi (late)

Lebanon

• Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah

Pakistan

• Bashir Hussain Najafi

India

• Maulana Syed Mazharar-ul-Abbas Rizvi Najafi, Bangalore India, Vakil of Ayathullah Seestani
• Maulana Kalbe Abid(late)
• Maulana Kalbe Sadiq
• Maulana Kalbe Jawaad
• Maulana Athar
• Shaikh Ahmad Mohammadi,, president Islamia school of KARGIL j&k

See also

• Persecution of Shia Muslims
• Islam
• Demographics of Islam
• Shia Crescent
• List of Shia books
• List of Marjas
• List of Ayatollahs
• Shia clergy
• Alevis
• Ismaili
• Succession to Muhammad
• Shia-Sunni relations
• Usuli

Notes

References

• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. The Encyclopædia Britannica is a general English-language encyclopaedia published by Encyclopædia Britannica Inc Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. .  
• Encyclopædia Iranica. Encyclopædia Iranica is a project whose goal is to create a comprehensive and authoritative English language Encyclopedia about the history culture and Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University. ISBN 1568590504.  
• Martin, Richard C. Encyclopaedia of Islam and the Muslim world; vol. 1. MacMillan. ISBN 0028656040.  
• Corbin, Henry (1993 (original French 1964)). Henry Corbin ( 14 April 1903 - October 7, 1978 was a Philosopher, Theologian and professor of Islamic Studies at History of Islamic Philosophy, Translated by Liadain Sherrard, Philip Sherrard. London; Kegan Paul International in association with Islamic Publications for The Institute of Ismaili Studies. ISBN 0710304161.  
• Dakake, Maria Massi (2008). The Charismatic Community: Shi'ite Identity in Early Islam. SUNY Press. ISBN 0791470334.  
• Holt, P. M. ; Bernard Lewis (1977a). Bernard Lewis (born May 31, 1916 in London, England) is a British - American Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521291364.  
• Lapidus, Ira (2002). A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521779333.  
• Momen, Moojan (1985). TAn Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelve. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300035314.  
• Sachedina, Abdulaziz Abdulhussein (1988). Abdulaziz Sachedina is the Frances Myers Ball (Chair Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, teaching mainly subjects associated with Islam The Just Ruler (al-sultān Al-ʻādil) in Shīʻite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0195119150.  
• Tabatabae, Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn; Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) (1979). TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Seyyed Hossein Nasr ( Persian سید حسین نصر) an Iranian Shi'ite Islam. Suny press. ISBN 0-87395-272-3.  

Further reading

• Corbin, Henry (1993). Henry Corbin ( 14 April 1903 - October 7, 1978 was a Philosopher, Theologian and professor of Islamic Studies at History of Islamic Philosophy, translated by Liadain Sherrard and Philip Sherrard. Kegan Paul International in association with Islamic Publications for The Institute of Ismaili Studies. ISBN 0710304161.  
• Halm, Heinz (2004). Shi'ism. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0748618880.  
• Halm, Heinz (2007). The Shi'ites: A Short History. Markus Wiener Pub. ISBN 1558764372.  
• Lalani, Arzina R. (2000). Early Shi'i Thought: The Teachings of Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 1860644341.  
• Momen, Moojan (1985). An Introduction to Shi'i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi'ism. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300034997.  
• Moosa, Matti (1988). Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0815624115.  
• Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Hamid Dabashi (1989). TemplateInfobox Muslim scholars --> Seyyed Hossein Nasr ( Persian سید حسین نصر) an Iranian Biography Born and raised in southern city of Ahvaz in Iran, Dabashi was educated in Iran and then in the United States where he received a dual Ph Expectation of the Millennium: Shiʻism in History. SUNY Press. ISBN 088706843X.  
• Rogerson, Barnaby (2007). The Heirs of Muhammad: Islam's First Century and the Origins of the Sunni Shia split. Overlook Press. ISBN 1585678961.  
• Wollaston, Arthur N. (2005). The Sunnis and Shias. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1425479162.  

External links

• Shi'ite an article in Encyclopedia Britannica online
• Shi'ite Doctorine by MOHAMMAD ALI AMIR-MOEZZI an article in Encyclopedia Iranica
• Ask Shia
• ALShiatalk Discussion Forums
• Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project
• Aalulbayt Global Information Center
• Imam Al-Khoei Foundation
• Shia Search Website
• Rafed Network For Cultural Development
• SHIACODE.COM -Shia Islamic Guide
• Online Community Portal For Sunni -Shia
• Shia YouTube
• List of Shia websites
• IslamTutor
• Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Tehran
• Imam Ali commemorative website
• Who are the Shia? by Paul Sullivan, History News Network
• Sunni-Shia agreements and similarities
• Imamia Mission: Bury
• Islamic Insights -- News, lifestyle, and spirituality online
• Jageer-e-AliAkbar Networks