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Shiite for Brains!
Shi?a Islam, also Shi?ite Islam or Shi?ism,
is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias
adhere to the teachings of Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family
(who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendents known as Shi'a
Imams. Muhammad's bloodline continues only through his beloved daughter Fatima
Zahra and cousin Ali which alongside the prophet's grandsons are the Ahl al-Bayt.
Thus, Shi'as consider Muhammad's descendents as the true source of guidance
while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and
not something attached to faith. The singular/adjective form is and
refers to a follower of the faction of Imam Ali according to the Shia ideology.
Shia Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches;
however, only three of these currently have a significant number of followers.
The best known and the one with most adherents is the Twelvers which have a large percentage in Iran 90% and Iraq; the others
are Ismaili, Sevener, and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves
Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias. The Sufi
orders among the Shias are the Alevi, Bektashi, Kubrawiya, Noorbakhshi, Oveyssi,
Qizilbashi, Hamadani and Fatimid orders and denominations. Twenty percent of
Turkey's population is Alevi while Lebanon and Syria have a large presence of
Druze and Alawites.
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Imam Ali's Shrine |
"Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase, meaning
"the followers of Ali" or "the faction of Ali". Both Shia and Sunni sources
trace the term to the years preceding the death of Muhammad; see Shia etymology.
The word "Shia" means "followers; members of party". It can be interpreted in a
wider sense than simply "followers of Ali": it signifies that they claim that
the Shia Muslims are the followers and believers of (Allah) the Almighty Creator
of existence, His Prophets (Guides to Heaven), His Messages and the Ahlul Bayt
(The Family of the House of Prophet Mohammad) and the prophet's descendents
which are the shi'a Imams Fathered by Ali. The Messenger of Allah (Prophet
Mohammad) said to Imam Ali: "Good News to you, O Ali! Verily you and your
companions and your Shia (followers) will be in Paradise.".
An
Iranian post stamp relating the Hadith of Qadeer, one of the instances which
Muhammad appointed Ali. This time, prominently done shortly before his demise
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The
Nahj al-Balagha (Arabic:"Peak of Eloquence") is the most famous
collection of speeches (sermons) and letters attributed to Ali ibn Abi
Talib, accepted as the final Rightly Guided Caliph by Sunni Muslims and
the first of the Imams by Shia Muslims. It was collected by ash-Sharif
ar-Radi or known in Persian as Seyyed Razi in the 10th century. |
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