

Search β):

* Shia *



Shia faith or Shiite Muslims are the second major sect of Islam. (Wikipedia) - Shia Islam   (Redirected from Shia) "Shia" and "Shias" redirect here. For other uses, see Shia (disambiguation).
  Part of a series onShīa Islam Beliefs and practices Holy days History Current Branches of Shi''ism Ahl al-Kisa Holy Women
  • Monotheism
  • Holy Books
  • Prophethood
  • Succession to Muhammad
  • Imamate of the Family
  • Angels
  • Judgement Day
  • Mourning of Muharram
  • Intercession
  • Clergy
  • The Four Companions
  • The verse of purification
  • Two things
  • Mubahala
  • Khumm
  • Fatimah''s house
  • First Fitna
  • Second Fitna
  • The Battle of Karbala
  • Emāmī
    • Ethnā‘asharī
      • Jā''farīs
      • Bātinī-Alevism
    • Ghulāt
      • Hurūfī-Baktāshīs
      • Khaṣībī-Nusāyrīs
  • Ismāʿīlī
    • Nīzārī-Ismāʿīlīs
    • Mustā‘lī-Tāyyībīs
  • Zaīdī
  • List of extinct Shia sects
  • Muhammad
  • Ali
  • Fatimah
  • Hasan
  • Hussein
  • Fatimah
  • Khadija bint Khuwaylid
  • Umm Salama
  • Zaynab bint Ali
  • Umm ul-Banin
  • Fatimah bint Hasan
  • Sukayna bint Husayn
  • Rubab
  • Shahrbanu
  • Fātimah bint Mūsā
  • Hakimah Khātūn
  • Narjis
  • Fatimah bint Asad
  • Farwah bint al-Qasim
  • v
  • t
  • e

The Shia (Arabic: شيعة‎ Shīʿah) represent the second largest denomination of Islam. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias or the Shi''a as a collective or Shi''i individually. Shi''a is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي) meaning "followers", "faction" or "party" of Muhammad''s son-in-law and cousin Ali, whom the Shia believe to be Muhammad''s successor in the Caliphate. Twelver Shia (Ithnā''ashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shia Islam and the term Shia Muslim is often taken to refer to Twelvers by default. Shia Muslims constitute 10–20% of the world''s Muslim population and 38% of the Middle East''s entire population.


Shi''i Islam is based on the Quran and the message of the Islamic prophet Muhammad attested in hadith recorded by the Shia, and certain books deemed sacred to the Shia (Nahj al-Balagha). Shia consider Ali to have been divinely appointed as the successor to Muhammad, and as the first Imam. In the centuries after the death of Muhammad, the Shia extended this "Imami" doctrine to Muhammad''s family, the Ahl al-Bayt ("the People of the House"), and certain individuals among his descendants, known as Imams, who they believe possess special spiritual and political authority over the community, infallibility, and other quasi-divine traits.

Although there are myriad Shi''i subsects, modern Shi''i Islam has been divided into three main groupings: Twelvers, Ismailis and Zaidis.

Etymology Main article: Shia etymology Islam
  • Oneness of God
  • Prophets
  • Revealed books
  • Angels
  • Predestination
  • Day of Resurrection
  • Profession of faith
  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Alms
  • Pilgrimage
  • Texts
  • Laws
  • Quran
  • Sunnah
  • Hadith
  • Sharia (law)
  • Fiqh (jurisprudence)
  • Kalam (dialectic)
  • History
  • Leaders
  • Timeline
  • Muhammad
  • Ahl al-Bayt
  • Sahabah
  • Caliphate
  • Spread of Islam
  • Quranism
  • Mahdavia
  • Nondenominational
  • Culture
  • Society
  • Academics
  • Animals
  • Art
  • Calendar
  • Children
  • Demographics
Related topics
  • Criticism of Islam
  • Islam and other religions
  • Islamism
  • Islamophobia
  • Glossary
Islam portal
  • v
  • t
  • e

The word Shia (Arabic: شيعة‎ shīʻah /ˈʃiːʕa/) means follower and is the short form of the historic phrase shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي /ˈʃiːʕatu ˈʕaliː/), meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali". Shi''a and Shiism are forms used in English, while Shi''ite or Shiite, as well as Shia, refer to its adherents.

The archaic and phonetically incorrect spelling Shaih was notably used by Winston Churchill in a discussion of the religious mixture of modern-day Iraq.

Beliefs Main article: Shia Islamic beliefs and practices Imamate Succession of Ali Main article: Shia view of Ali

Shia Muslims believe that just as a prophet is appointed by God alone, only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. They believe God chose Ali to be Muhammad''s successor, infallible, the first caliph (khalifa, head of state) of Islam. Muhammad, before his death, designated Ali as his successor.

Ali was Muhammad''s first cousin and closest living male relative as well as his son-in-law, having married Muhammad''s daughter Fatimah. Ali would eventually become the fourth Muslim (sunni) caliph.

After the last pilgrimage, Muhammad ordered the gathering of Muslims at the pond of Khumm and it was there that Shi''a Muslims believe Muhammad nominated Ali to be his successor. The hadith of the pond of Khumm was narrated on 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah of 10 AH in the Islamic calendar (10_March_632 AD) at a place called Ghadir Khumm, located near the city of al-Juhfah, Saudi Arabia. Muhammad there stated:

Oh people! Reflect on the Quran and comprehend its verses. Look into its clear verses and do not follow its ambiguous parts, for by Allah, none shall be able to explain to you its warnings and its mysteries, nor shall anyone clarify its interpretation, other than the one that I have grasped his hand, brought up beside myself, the one about whom I inform you that whomever I am his master (Mawla)), then Ali is his master (Mawla); and he is Ali Ibn Abi Talib, my brother, the executor of my will (Wasiyyi), whose appointment as your guardian and leader has been sent down to me from Allah, the mighty and the majestic.

— Muhammad, from The Farewell Sermon

  • ^ The word mawla has many meanings as discussed in the book "Patronate And Patronage in Early And Classical Islam" By Monique Bernards, John Nawas on page 25: "awla may refer to a client, a patron, an agnate (brother, son, father''s brother, father'' brothers son), an affined kinsman, (brother-in-law, son-in-law), a friend, a supporter, a follower, a drinking companion, a partner, a newly-converted Muslim attached to a Muslim and last but not least an ally. Most of these categories have legal implications. In Islamic times, the term malawa mostly referred to Muslim freedmen and freed non-Arabs who attached themselves to Arabs upon their conversion to Islam. In these senses, Mawla is commonly translated as "a client". The association of malwa with non-arabs and a low status imparted an increasingly pejorative connotation to it.
  • Shia Muslims believe this to be Muhammad''s appointment of Ali as his successor.

    Ali''s caliphateThe Investiture of Ali at Ghadir Khumm (MS Arab 161, fol. 162r, AD 1309/8 Ilkhanid manuscript illustration)

    When Muhammad died in 632 CE, Ali and Muhammad''s closest relatives made the funeral arrangements. While they were preparing his body, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Abu Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah met with the leaders of Medina and elected Abu Bakr as caliph. Ali and his family accepted the appointment for the sake of unity in the early Muslim community. It was not until the murder of the third caliph, Uthman, in 657 CE that the Muslims in Medina in desperation invited Ali to become the fourth caliph as the last source, and he established his capital in Kufah in present-day Iraq.

    Ali''s rule over the early Muslim community was often contested, and wars were waged against him. As a result, he had to struggle to maintain his power against the groups who betrayed him after giving allegiance to his succession, or those who wished to take his position. This dispute eventually led to the First Fitna, which was the first major civil war within the Islamic Caliphate. The Fitna began as a series of revolts fought against the first imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib, caused by the assassination of his political predecessor, Uthman ibn Affan. While the rebels who accused Uthman of nepotism affirmed Ali''s khilafa (caliph-hood), they later turned against him and fought him. Ali ruled from 656 CE to 661 CE, when he was assassinated while prostrating in prayer (sujud). Ali''s main rival Muawiyah then claimed the caliphate.

    Hasan Main article: Hasan ibn Ali


  • The enforced public cursing of Ali, e.g. during prayers, should be abandoned
  • Muawiyah should not use tax money for his own private needs
  • There should be peace, and followers of Hasan should be given security and their rights
  • Muawiyah will never adopt the title of Amir ul momineen
  • Muawiyah will not nominate any successor
  • Hasan then retired to Medina, where in 50 AH he was poisoned by his wife Ja''da bint al-Ash''ath ibn Qays, after being secretly contacted by Muawiyah who wished to pass the caliphate to his own son Yazid and saw Hasan as an obstacle.

    Hussain Main article: Hussain ibn AliThe Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala, Iraq is a holy site for Shia Muslims.

    Hussain, Ali''s younger son and brother to Hasan, initially resisted calls to lead the Muslims against Muawiyah and reclaim the caliphate. In 680 CE, Muawiyah died and passed the caliphate to his son Yazid. Yazid asked Hussain to swear allegiance (bay''ah) to him. Ali''s faction, having expected the caliphate to return to Ali''s line upon Muawiyah''s death, saw this as a betrayal of the peace treaty and so Hussain rejected this request for allegiance. There was a groundswell of support in Kufa for Hussain to return there and take his position as caliph and imam, so Hussain collected his family and followers in Medina and set off for Kufa. En route to Kufa, he was blocked by an army of Yazid''s men near Karbala (modern Iraq), and Hussain and approximately 72 of his family and followers were killed in the Battle of Karbala.

    The Shias regard Hussain as martyr (shahid), and count him as an Imam from the Ahl al-Bayt. They view Hussain as the defender of Islam from annihilation at the hands of Yazid I. Hussain is the last imam following Ali whom all Shiah sub-branches mutually recognise. The Battle of Karbala is often cited as the definitive break between the Shiah and Sunni sects of Islam, and is commemorated each year by Shiah Muslims on the Day of Ashura.

    Imamate of the Ahl al-Bayt Main article: Imamah (Shia doctrine)Zulfiqar with and without the shield. The Fatimid depiction of Ali''s sword as carved on the Gates of Old Cairo, namely Bab al-Nasr. Two swords were captured from the temple of the pagan polytheist god Manāt during the Raid of Sa''d ibn Zaid al-Ashhali. Muhammad gave them to Ali, saying that one of them was Zulfiqar, which became the famous sword of Ali and a later symbol of Shi''ism.

    Most of the early Shia differed only marginally from mainstream Sunnis in their views on political leadership, but it is possible in this sect to see a refinement of Shia doctrine. Early Sunnis traditionally held that the political leader must come from the tribe of Muhammad—namely, the Quraysh tribe. The Zaydis narrowed the political claims of the Ali''s supporters, claiming that not just any descendant of Ali would be eligible to lead the Muslim community (ummah) but only those males directly descended from Muhammad through the union of Ali and Fatimah. But during the Abbasid revolts, other Shia, who came to be known as Imamiyyah (followers of the imams), followed the theological school of Ja''far al-Sadiq, himself the great great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad''s son in law Ali . They asserted a more exalted religious role for imams and insisted that, at any given time, whether in power or not, a single male descendant of Ali and Fatimah was the divinely appointed imam and the sole authority, in his time, on all matters of faith and law. To those Shia, love of the imams and of their persecuted cause became as important as belief in God''s oneness and the mission of Muhammad.



    This difference between following either the Ahl al-Bayt (Muhammad''s family and descendants) or Caliph Abu Bakr has shaped Shia and non-Shia views on some of the Quranic verses, the hadith (narrations from Muhammad) and other areas of Islam. 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 Hurairah, for example, Ibn Asakir in his Ta''rikh Kabir and Muttaqi in his Kanzu''l-Umma report that Caliph Umar lashed him, rebuked him, and forbade him to narrate hadith from Muhammad. Umar said: "Because you narrate hadith in large numbers from the Holy Prophet, you are fit only for attributing lies to him. (That is, one expects a wicked man like you to utter only lies about the Holy Prophet.) So you must stop narrating hadith from the Prophet; otherwise, I will send you to the land of Dus." (A clan in Yemen, to which Abu Huraira belonged.) According to Sunnis, Ali was the fourth successor to Abu Bakr, while the Shia maintain that Ali was the first divinely sanctioned "Imam", or successor of Muhammad. The seminal event in Shia history is the martyrdom in 680 CE at the Battle of Karbala of Ali''s son Hussein ibn Ali, who led a non-allegiance movement against the defiant caliph (71 of Hussein''s followers were killed as well). Hussein came to symbolize resistance to tyranny.

    It is believed in Twelver and Ismaili Shia Islam that ''aql, divine wisdom, was the source of the souls of the prophets and imams and gave them esoteric knowledge called ḥikmah and that their sufferings were a means of divine grace to their devotees. Although the imam was not the recipient of a divine revelation, he had a close relationship with God, through which God guides him, and the imam in turn guides the people. Imamate, or belief in the divine guide, is a fundamental belief in the Twelver and Ismaili Shia branches and is based on the concept that God would not leave humanity without access to divine guidance.

    Imam of the time, last imam of the Shia


    The Jamkaran, mahdi''s mosque, Partially Shaaban celebration.Theology

    The Shia Islamic faith is vast and inclusive of many different groups. Shia theological beliefs and religious practises, such as prayers, slightly differ from the Sunnis''. While all Muslims pray five times daily, Shias have the option of always combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha'', as there are three distinct times mentioned in the Quran. The Sunnis tend to combine only under certain circumstances. Shia Islam embodies a completely independent system of religious interpretation and political authority in the Muslim world. The original Shia identity referred to the followers of Imam Ali. and Shia theology was formulated in the 2nd century AH, or after Hijra (8th century CE). The first Shia governments and societies were established by the end of the 3rd century AH/9th century CE. The 4th century AH /10th century CE has been referred to by Louis Massignon as "the Shiite Ismaili century in the history of Islam".



    Profession of faithKalema at Qibla of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt with phrase "Ali-un-Waliullah"

    The Shia version of the Shahada, the Islamic profession of faith, differs from that of the Sunni. The Sunni Shahada states There is no god except God, Muhammad is the messenger of the God, but to this the Shia append Ali is the Wali (friend or intimate associate) of God, علي ولي الله. This phrase embodies the Shia emphasis on the inheritance of authority through Muhammad''s lineage. The three clauses of the Shia Shahada thus address tawhid (the unity of God), nubuwwah (the prophethood of Muhammad), and imamah (imamate, the leadership of the faith).

    InfallibilityAli is credited as the first male to convert to Islam.Main article: Ismah

    Ismah is the concept of infallibility or "divinely bestowed freedom from error and sin" in Islam. Muslims believe that Muhammad and other prophets in Islam possessed ismah. Twelver and Ismaili Shia Muslims also attribute the quality to Imams as well as to Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, in contrast to the Zaidi, who do not attribute ''ismah to the Imams. Though initially beginning as a political movement, infallibility and sinlessness of the imams later evolved as a distinct belief of (non-Zaidi) Shi''ism.

    According to Shia theologians, infallibility is considered a rational necessary precondition for spiritual and religious guidance. They argue that since God has commanded absolute obedience from these figures they must only order that which is right. The state of infallibility is based on the Shia interpretation of the verse of purification. Thus, they are the most pure ones, the only immaculate ones preserved from, and immune to, all uncleanness. It does not mean that supernatural powers prevent them from committing a sin, but due to the fact that they have absolute belief in God, they refrain from doing anything that is a sin.

    They also have a complete knowledge of God''s will. They are in possession of all knowledge brought by the angels to the prophets (nabi) and the messengers (rasul). Their knowledge encompasses the totality of all times. They thus act without fault in religious matters. Shias regard Ali as the successor of Muhammad not only ruling over the community in justice, but also interpreting Islamic practices and its esoteric meaning. Hence he was regarded as being free from error and sin (infallible), and appointed by God by divine decree (nass) to be the first Imam. Ali is known as "perfect man" (al-insan al-kamil) similar to Muhammad, according to Shia viewpoint.

    Occultation Main article: The Occultation

    The Occultation is a belief in some forms of Shia Islam that a messianic figure, a hidden imam known as the Mahdi, will one day return alongside Jesus and fill the world with justice. According to the Twelver Shia, the main goal of the Mahdi will be to establish an Islamic state and to apply Islamic laws that were revealed to Muhammad.


    Twelver Shia Muslims believe that the Mahdi (the twelfth imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi) is already on Earth, is in occultation and will return at the end of time. Fatimid/ Bohra/ Dawoodi Bohra believe the same but for their 21st Tayyib. Whereas Sunnis believe the future Mahdi has not yet arrived on Earth.

    History Main article: History of Shi''a Islam

    Historians dispute the origin of Shia Islam, with many Western scholars positing that Shiism began as a political faction rather than a truly religious movement. However, other scholars disagree, considering this concept of religious-political separation to be an anachronistic application of a Western concept.

    Following the Battle of Karbala, as various Shi''a-affiliated groups diffused in the emerging Islamic world, several nations arose based around a Shi''a leadership or population.

    Fatimid caliphate Safavids Main articles: Safavid dynasty, Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism and Ideology of SafavidsShah Ismail I of Safavid dynasty destroyed the tombs of Abū Ḥanīfa and the Sufi Abdul Qadir Gilani in 1508. In 1533, Ottomans restored order, reconquered Iraq and rebuilt Sunni shrines.


    With the fall of the Safavids, the state in Persia –including the state system of courts with government-appointed judges (qadis)– became much weaker. This gave the Sharia courts of mujtahids an opportunity to fill in the slack and enabled the ulama to assert their judicial authority. The Usuli School also increased in strength at this time.

    Community Demographics Main article: List of countries by Muslim populationIslam by country              Sunni              Shias      IbadiDistribution of Sunni and Shia branches of Islam

    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. Shiites are estimated to be 21–35 percent of the Muslim population in South Asia, although the total number is difficult to estimate due to that reason. It is variously estimated that 10–20% of the world''s Muslims are Shia. They may number up to 200 million as of 2009. The Shia majority countries are Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and, according to some estimates, Yemen where they are the largest religious group. They also constitute 36.3% of entire local population and 38.6% of the local Muslim population of the Middle East.

    Shia Muslims constitute 45% of the population in Lebanon, and as per some estimates 35% over 45% of the population in Yemen, 30%-40% of the citizen population in Kuwait (no figures exist for the non-citizen population), over 20% in Turkey, 10–20% of the population in Pakistan, and 10-19% of Afghanistan''s population.


    Significant Shia communities exist in the coastal regions of West Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia (see Tabuik). The Shia presence is negligible elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where Muslims are predominantly Shafi''i Sunnis.

    A significant Shia minority is present in Nigeria, made up of modern-era converts to a Shia movement centered around Kano and Sokoto states. Several African countries like Kenya, South Africa, Somalia, etc. hold small minority populations of various Shia denominations, primarily descendants of immigrants from South Asia during the colonial period, such as the Khoja.


    List of nations whose Shia population may be estimated


    Nations with over 100,000 Shia Country Shia population Percent of Muslim population that is Shia Percent of global Shia population Minimum estimate/claim Maximum estimate/claim
    Iran 700466000000000000066,000,000 – 70,000,000 700190000000000000090–95 700137000000000000037–40
    Iraq 700419000000000000019,000,000 – 22,000,000 700165000000000000065–70 700111000000000000011–12
    Pakistan 700417000000000000017,000,000 – 26,000,000 700111000000000000010–15 700111000000000000010–15 43,250,000 – 57,666,666
    India 700416000000000000016,000,000 – 24,000,000 700111000000000000010–15 70009000000000000009–14 40,000,000 – 50,000,000.
    Yemen 70038000000000000008,000,000 – 10,000,000 700135000000000000035–40 70005000000000000005
    Turkey 70037000000000000007,000,000 – 11,000,000 700111000000000000010–15 70004000000000000004–6
    Azerbaijan 70035000000000000005,000,000 – 7,000,000 700165000000000000065–75 70003000000000000003–4 85% of total population
    Afghanistan 70033000000000000003,000,000 – 4,000,000 700111000000000000010–15 7000100000000000000<2 15–19% of total population
    Syria 70033000000000000003,000,000 – 4,000,000 700115000000000000015–20 7000100000000000000<2
    Nigeria 7003399900000000000<4,000,000 7000400000000000000<5 7000100000000000000<2 5-10 million
    Saudi Arabia 70032000000000000003,000,000 – 4,000,000 700115000000000000015–22 7000100000000000000<1
    Lebanon 70031000000000000001,000,000 – 1,600,000 700130000000000000030-35 5000000000000000000<1 Estimated, no official census.
    Tanzania 7003199900000000000<2,000,000 7000900000000000000<10 5000000000000000000<1
    Kuwait 7002500000000000000360,000 - 480,000 700130000000000000030-40 5000000000000000000<1 30%-40% of 1.2m Muslims (citizen only)
    Germany 7002400000000000000400,000 – 600,000 700111000000000000010–15 5000000000000000000<1
    Bahrain 7002400000000000000375,000 – 400,000 700166000000000000066–70 5000000000000000000<1 375,000 (66% of citizen population) 400,000 (70% of citizen population)
    Tajikistan 7002400000000000000400,000 70007000000000000007 5000000000000000000<1
    United Arab Emirates 7002300000000000000300,000 – 400,000 700110000000000000010 5000000000000000000<1
    United States 7002200000000000000200,000 – 400,000 700111000000000000010–15 5000000000000000000<1
    Oman 7002100000000000000100,000 – 300,000 70005000000000000005–10 5000000000000000000<1 948,750
    United Kingdom 7002100000000000000100,000 – 300,000 700111000000000000010–15 5000000000000000000<1
    Qatar 7002100000000000000100,000 700110000000000000010 5000000000000000000<1
    Bosnia and Herzegovina 700130000000000000030,000 70003000000000000003 5000000000000000000<1

    Amount of Shia Muslim adherents per continents displayed on a pie diagram:
           America 0.56 %
           Europe 4.42 %
           Africa 0.78 %
           Asia 94.23 %
    Persecution Main articles: Persecution of Shia Muslims and Shi''a–Sunni relations



    In 1514 the Ottoman sultan, Selim I, ordered the massacre of 40,000 Anatolian Shia. According to Jalal Al-e-Ahmad, "Sultan Selim I carried things so far that he announced that the killing of one Shiite had as much otherworldly reward as killing 70 Christians."


    Reportedly under Saddam Hussein''s regime, 1973 to 2003, in Iraq, Shia Muslims were heavily persecuted.


    Holidays Main article: Shia days of remembranceA procession of Shia Muslims in Bhopal in the Mughal Empire.

    Shia, celebrate the following annual holidays:


    Holy sites Main article: Holiest sites in Islam (Shia)


    Other venerated sites include Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery in Najaf, Al-Baqi'' cemetery in Medina, Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Kadhimiya Mosque in Kadhimiya, Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Sahla Mosque and Great Mosque of Kufa in Kufa and several other sites in the cities of Qom, Susa and Damascus.

    Most of the Shi''a holy places in Saudi Arabia have been destroyed by the warriors of the Ikhwan, the most notable being the tombs of the Imams in the Al-Baqi'' cemetery in 1925. In 2006 a bomb destroyed the shrine of Al-Askari Mosque.



    Twelver Main article: Twelver

    Twelver Shia or the Ithnā''ashariyyah'' is the largest branch of Shia Islam, and the term Shia Muslim often refers to the Twelvers by default. The term Twelver is derived from the doctrine of believing in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as The Twelve Imams. Twelver Shia are also known as Imami or Ja''fari, originated from the name of the 6th Imam, Ja''far al-Sadiq, who elaborated the twelver jurisprudence.

    Twelvers constitute the majority of the population in Iran (90%), Azerbaijan (85%), Bahrain (70%), Iraq (65%), Lebanon (65% of Muslims).

    List of Imams Number Name (Full/Kunya) Title (Arabic/Turkish) Birth–Death (CE/AH) Importance Birthplace (present day country) Place of death and burial
    1 Ali ibn Abu Talib علي بن أبي طالبAbu al-Hassan أبو الحسن Amir al-Mu''minin (Commander of the Faithful)Birinci Ali 600–66123–40 The first Imam and successor of Muhammad in Shia Islam; however, the Sunnis acknowledge him as the fourth Caliph as well. He holds a high position in almost all Sufi Muslim orders (Turuq); the members of these orders trace their lineage to Muhammad through him. Mecca Assassinated by Abd-al-Rahman ibn Muljam, a Kharijite in Kufa, who slashed him with a poisoned sword while in the morning prayer. Buried at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf.
    2 Hasan ibn Ali الحسن بن عليAbu Muhammad أبو محمد al-Mujtabaİkinci Ali 624–6803–50 He was the eldest surviving grandson of Muhammad through Muhammad''s daughter, Fatimah. Hasan succeeded his father as the caliph in Kufa, and on the basis of peace treaty with Muawiyah I, he relinquished control of Iraq following a reign of seven months. Medina According to Shia sources, He was poisoned by his wife in Medina on the orders of the Caliph Muawiyah. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
    3 Husayn ibn Ali الحسین بن عليAbu Abdillah أبو عبدالله Sayed al-ShuhadaÜçüncü Ali 626–6804–61 He was a grandson of Muhammad. Husayn opposed the validity of Caliph Yazid I. As a result, he and his family were later martyred in the Battle of Karbala by Yazid''s forces. After this incident, the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a central ritual in Shia identity. Medina Martyred and then beheaded at the Battle of Karbala. Buried at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala.
    4 Ali ibn al-Hussein (Zayn al-Abidin) علي بن الحسینAbu Muhammad أبو محمد al-Sajjad, Zain al-AbedinDördüncü Ali 658-9 – 71238–95 Author of prayers in Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, which is known as "The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet" and Risalah al-Huquq which is a charter of rights. Medina According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph al-Walid I in Medina. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
    5 Muhammad ibn Ali (Muhammad al-Baqir) محمد بن عليAbu Ja''far أبو جعفر al-Baqir al-Ulum

    (splitting open knowledge)

    Beşinci Ali
    677–73257–114 Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent legal scholars, teaching many students during his tenure. Medina According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn ''Abdallah in Medina on the order of Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
    6 Ja''far ibn Muhammad (Ja''far al-Sadiq) جعفر بن محمدAbu Abdillah أبو عبدالله al-Sadiq

    (the Trustworthy)

    Altıncı Ali
    702–76583–148 Established the Ja''fari jurisprudence and developed the Theology of Shia. He instructed many scholars in different fields, including Abū Ḥanīfa and Malik ibn Anas in fiqh, Wasil ibn Ata and Hisham ibn Hakam in Islamic theology, and Geber in science and alchemy. Medina According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Medina on the order of Caliph Al-Mansur. Buried in Jannat al-Baqi.
    7 Musa ibn Ja''far (Musa al-Kadhim) موسی بن جعفرAbu al-Hassan I أبو الحسن الاول al-KazimYedinci Ali 744–799128–183 Leader of the Shia community during the schism of Ismaili and other branches after the death of the former Imam, Ja''far al-Sadiq. He established the network of agents who collected khums in the Shia community of the Middle East and the Greater Khorasan. Medina Imprisoned and poisoned in Baghdad on the order of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Buried in the Al-Kadhimiya mosque in Kadhimiya, Baghdad.
    8 Ali ibn Musa (Ali ar-Ridha) علي بن موسیAbu al-Hassan II أبو الحسن الثانی al-Rida, RezaSekizinci Ali 765–817148–203 Made crown-prince by Caliph Al-Ma''mun, and famous for his discussions with both Muslim and non-Muslim religious scholars. Medina According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Mashhad, Iran on the order of Caliph Al-Ma''mun. Buried in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad.
    9 Muhammad ibn Ali (Muhammad al-Taqi) محمد بن عليAbu Ja''far أبو جعفر al-Taqi, al-JawadDokuzuncu Ali 810–835195–220 Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the Abbasid caliphate. Medina Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma''mun''s daughter, in Baghdad on the order of Caliph Al-Mu''tasim. Buried in the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Kadhimiya, Baghdad.
    10 Ali ibn Muhammad (Ali Naqi) علي بن محمدAbu al-Hassan III أبو الحسن الثالث al-Hadi, al-NaqiOnuncu Ali 827–868212–254 Strengthened the network of deputies in the Shia community. He sent them instructions, and received in turn financial contributions of the faithful from the khums and religious vows. Surayya, a village near Medina According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in Samarra on the order of Caliph Al-Mu''tazz. Buried in the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra.
    11 Hassan ibn Ali (Hasan al-Askari) الحسن بن عليAbu Muhammad أبو محمد al-AskariOnbirinci Ali 846–874232–260 For most of his life, the Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mu''tamid, placed restrictions on him after the death of his father. Repression of the Shiite population was particularly high at the time due to their large size and growing power. Medina According to Shia, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph Al-Mu''tamid in Samarra. Buried in Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra.
    12 Muhammad ibn al-Hassan (Muhammad al-Mahdi) محمد بن الحسنAbu al-Qasim أبو القاسم al-Mahdi, al-Qa''im, Hidden Imam, al-HujjahOnikinci Ali 868–unknown255–unknown According to Twelver doctrine, he is the current Imam and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Christ. He will reestablish the rightful governance of Islam and replete the earth with justice and peace. Samarra According to Shia doctrine, he has been living in The Occultation since 872, and will continue as long as God wills it.
    Names of all 12 Imameen (decedents of Imam Ali) written in the form of Arabic name على ''Ali''Doctrine

    Twelver doctrine is based on five principles. These five principles known as Usul ad-Din are as follow:

  • Monotheism, God is one and unique.
  • Last Judgment, God''s final assessment of humanity.



    The Twelve Imams See also: The Twelve Imams and Sunni reports about there being 12 successors to the Prophet


    Jurisprudence Main article: Ja''fari jurisprudence See also: Shi''a clergy

    The Twelver jurisprudence is called Ja''fari jurisprudence. In this jurisprudence Sunnah is considered to be the oral traditions of Muhammad and their implementation and interpretation by the twelve Imams. There are three schools of Ja''fari jurisprudence: Usuli, Akhbari, and Shaykhi. The Usuli school is by far the largest of the three. Twelver groups that do not follow Ja''fari jurisprudence include Alevi, Bektashi, and Qizilbash.

    In Ja''fari jurisprudence, there are ten ancillary pillars, known as Furu'' ad-Din, which are as follows:

  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Pilgrimage
  • Alms giving
  • Struggle
  • Directing others towards good
  • Directing others away from evil
  • Love those who are in God''s path
  • Disassociation with those who oppose God

    Tree of the Shia Islam.Zaidi ("Fiver") Main article: Zaidiyyah



    The Zaydis, Twelvers and Ismailis recognize the same first four Imams; however, the Zaidis recognise Zayd ibn Ali as the fifth. After the time of Zayd ibn Ali, the Zaidis recognized that any descendant of Hasan ibn Ali or Hussein ibn Ali could be imam after fulfilling certain conditions. Other well-known Zaidi Imams in history were Yahya ibn Zayd, Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya and Ibrahim ibn Abdullah. In matters of Islamic jurisprudence, the Zaydis follow Zayd ibn Ali''s teachings which are documented in his book Majmu''l Fiqh (in Arabic: مجموع الفِقه). Al-Hadi ila''l-Haqq Yahya, founder of the Zaydi state in Yemen, instituted elements of the jurisprudential tradition of the Sunni Muslim jurist Abū Ḥanīfa, and as a result, Zaydi jurisprudence today continues somewhat parallel to that of the Hanafis.



    The Idrisids (Arabic: الأدارسة‎) were Arab Zaydi Shia dynasty in the western Maghreb ruling from 788 to 985 C.E., named after its first sultan, Idris I.


    The Buyids were initially Zaidi as well as the Banu Ukhaidhir rulers of al-Yamama in the 9th and 10th centuries. The leader of the Zaydi community took the title of Caliph. As such, the ruler of Yemen was known as the Caliph, al-Hadi Yahya bin al-Hussain bin al-Qasim ar-Rassi Rassids (a descendant of Hasan ibn Ali the son of Ali) who, at Sa''dah, in 893-7 CE, founded the Zaydi Imamate, and this system continued until the middle of the 20th century, when the revolution of 1962 CE deposed the Zaydi Imam. The founding Zaidism of Yemen was of the Jarudiyya group; however, with increasing interaction with Hanafi and Shafi''i rites of Sunni Islam, there was a shift from the Jarudiyya group to the Sulaimaniyya, Tabiriyya, Butriyya or Salihiyya groups. Zaidis form the second dominant religious group in Yemen. Currently, they constitute about 40–45% of the population in Yemen. Ja''faris and Isma''ilis are 2–5%. In Saudi Arabia, it is estimated that there are over 1 million Zaydis (primarily in the western provinces).

    Currently the most prominent Zaydi movement is Houthis movement, known by the name of Shabab Al Mu''mineen (Believing Youth). They have been the subject of an ongoing campaign against them by the Yemeni Government in which the army has lost 743 men, and thousands of innocent civilians have been killed or displaced by government forces causing a grave humanitarian crisis in north Yemen.

    Ismaili ("Sevener") Main article: Ismailism

    Ismailis gain their name from their acceptance of Isma''il ibn Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor (Imam) to Ja''far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kadhim, younger brother of Isma''il, as the true Imam.


    Though there are several sub-groupings within the Ismailis, the term in today''s vernacular generally refers to The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim (Nizari community), generally known as the Ismailis, who are followers of the Aga Khan and the largest group among the Ismailiyyah. Another community which falls under the Isma''il''s are the Dawoodi Bohras, lead by a Da''i al-Mutlaq as representative of a hidden imam. While there are many other branches with extremely differing exterior practices, much of the spiritual theology has remained the same since the days of the faith''s early Imams. In recent centuries Ismailis have largely been an Indo-Iranian community, but they are found in India, Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, China, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, East Africa and South Africa, and have in recent years emigrated to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

    Ismaili Imams Main article: List of Ismaili imams



    The second split occurred following the death of Ma''ad al-Mustansir Billah in 487 AH (1094). His rule was the longest of any caliph in any Islamic empire. Upon his passing away, his sons, Nizar the older, and Al-Musta''li, the younger, fought for political and spiritual control of the dynasty. Nizar was defeated and jailed, but according to Nizari tradition, his son escaped to Alamut, where the Iranian Ismaili had accepted his claim. From here on, the Nizari Ismaili community has continued with a present, living Imam.



    Ismailis have categorized their practices which are known as seven pillars:

    • Walayah (Guardianship)
    • Taharah (Purity)
    • Salat (Prayer)
    • Zakāt (Charity)
    • Sawm (Fasting)
    • Hajj (Pilgrimage)


    Contemporary leadership



    Tags:Abbasid, Afghanistan, Africa, African, Al-Askari Mosque, Alamut, Alavi, Allah, Anatolian, Arab, Arabia, Arabic, Armenia, Ashura, Asia, Australia, Ayatollah, Azerbaijan, Bab, Baghdad, Bahrain, Battle of Karbala, Bosnia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Buddhism, Cairo, Caliphate, China, Christ, Christian, Christianity, Churchill, Classical, Community, Damascus, Day of Ashura, Demographics, Deylaman, Earth, Egypt, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Ghadeer, Emirates, Europe, Genghis Khan, Georgia, Germany, Ghadir, Ghazan, Gilan, Greater Khorasan, Hajj, Hakim, Harun al-Rashid, Herzegovina, Hulagu, Ibn, Ideology, Ilkhanate, Imam, Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, Imam Reza, Imam Reza shrine, Imamate, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iranian, Iraq, Islam, Islamic, Ismaili, Ismailism, Jamkaran, Jerusalem, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jihad, Jordan, Karbala, Kenya, Khan, Khorasan, Kufa, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mahdi, Malaysian, Marja, Mashhad, Masih, Mecca, Medina, Messiah, Middle East, Mongol, Morocco, Mughal, Mughal Empire, Muhammad al-Mahdi, Muharram, Musa, Muslim, Najaf, Nations, New Zealand, Nigeria, North America, Oman, Ottoman, Ottoman Empire, Ottomans, Pakistan, Palestine, Persia, Politics, Prophet Muhammad, Qatar, Qizilbash, Qom, Quran, Quranic, Ramadan, Rashidun, Saddam, Saddam Hussein, Safavid, Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism, Safavids, Samarra, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Sayyid, Science, Shah, Shah Ismail, Sharia, Shia, Shia Islam, Shiism, Shiite, Somalia, South Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sufism, Sultan, Sunni, Susa, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timeline, Turkey, Turkish, Turkmenistan, Umayyad, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Walid, Wikipedia, Winston Churchill, Yazid, Yemen

    See Also:Shiite

    See also items containing :Shia

    Related History Articles:

    Add definition or comments on Shia

    Your Name / Alias:
    Definition / Comments
    neutral points of view
    Source / SEO Backlink:
    Anti-Spam Check
    Enter text above
    Upon approval, your definition will be listed under: Shia

    Happy-Persian-Feast Azargan

    Copyright @ 2004-2016 All Rights Iranian