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Shi‘a Islam, also known as Shi‘ite Islam or Shia, is the second largest branch of Islam 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 descendants known as Shia Imams .
The Twelvers are also known by other names: Shi'a refers to a group of Muslims who believe that the succession to Muhammad must remain in his family for specific members who are designated by a divine appointment. Tabatabai states that the word referred to the partisans of Ali at the time of Muhammad himself.
Article History. Arabic: Ithnā ʿAshariyyah. Also called: Imāmīs, Imāmiyyah, Jaʿfarīs, or Jaʿfariyyah. Areas Of Involvement: Islam. Shiʿi. Twelver Shiʿah, the largest of the three Shiʿi groups extant today.
- Andrew J. Newman
May 23, 2018 · Shia one of the two main branches of Islam, followed especially in Iran, that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad 's first true successor. Adherents are known as Shiites. The name comes from Arabic šī῾a ‘party of Ali’.
Shia Islam originated as a response to questions of Islamic religious leadership which became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The issues involved not only whom to appoint as the successor to Muhammad, but also what attributes a true successor should have.
Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shia Muslims . Shia Islam is based on a hadith report concerning Muhammad's pronouncement at Ghadir Khumm. Shia Muslims believe that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the designated successor to Muhammad as Islam's spiritual and political leader.
Shi‘a Islam, also known as Shi‘ite Islam or Shia, is the second largest branch of Islam after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family or his descendants known as Shia Imams.
