Portal:Shia Islam
Shia Islam
Shia Islam (/ˈʃiːə/) or Shi'a Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib (656–661 CE) as his successor (Arabic: خليفة, romanized: khalifa) and the Imam (Arabic: امام, lit. 'spiritual and political leader') after him, most notably at the event of Ghadir Khumm, but was prevented from succeeding Muhammad as the leader of the Muslims as a result of the choice made by some of Muhammad's other companions (Arabic: صحابہ, romanized: sahaba) at Saqifah. This view primarily contrasts with that of Sunni Islam, whose adherents believe that Muhammad did not appoint a successor before his death and consider Abu Bakr, who was appointed caliph by a group of Muhammad's other companions at Saqifah, to be the first rightful (rashidun) caliph after Muhammad (632–634 CE). Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shia Muslims.
Shia Muslims' belief that 'Ali was the designated successor to Muhammad as Islam's spiritual and political leader later developed into the concept of Imamah, the idea that certain descendants of Muhammad, the Ahl al-Bayt (Arabic: أَهْل ٱلْبَيْت, lit. 'People of the House'), are rightful rulers or Imams through the bloodline of 'Ali and his two sons Hasan and Husayn, whom Shia Muslims believe possess special spiritual and political authority over the Muslim community. Later events such as Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala (680 CE) further influenced the development of Shia Islam, contributing to the formation of a distinct religious sect with its own rituals and shared collective memory.
Shia Islam is followed by 10–15% of all Muslims. Although there are many Shia subsects in the Muslim world, Twelver Shi'ism is by far the largest and most influential, comprising about 85% of all Shia Muslims. Others include the Isma'ili, Zaydi, and Alevi. Shia Muslims form a majority of the population in four countries across the Muslim world: Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain. Significant Shiite communities are also found in Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, Yemen, and the Indian subcontinent. Iran stands as the world's only country where Shia Islam forms the foundation of both its laws and governance system. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
- ...that Du'a Arafah is a Du'a that was narrated by Husayn ibn Ali, the third Imam of the Shia?
- ...that many Iranian women chose not leave their houses, and a few even committed suicide, to avoid removing their hijabs due to Reza Shah's Kashf-e hijab decree?
- ...that Narjis converted to Islam at the request of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, whom she saw in her dreams?
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In the news
- 21 August 2024 –
- Twenty-eight people are killed and 23 others are injured when a bus carrying Shia Pakistani pilgrims to the Arba'in pilgrimage crashes and overturns in Yazd province, Iran. (Reuters)
- 15 July 2024 – 2024 Muscat mosque shooting
- Six people are killed and 30+ others are injured in a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in Muscat, Oman. The three attackers are killed by security forces in the ensuing shootout. (Al Arabiya)
- 21 February 2024 – Iraqi conflict
- Reports emerge that clashes between rival Shia militias, primarily Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Saraya al-Salam, have killed at least 200 fighters across Iraq in the past two months. (The Medialine)
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