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'Shī‘a Islam', also 'Shi‘ite Islam' or 'Shi‘ism' (Arabic شيعة ''), is the second largest denomination based on 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 descendants known as Shi'a Imams. Muhammad's bloodline continues only through his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra and cousin Ali which alongside the Muhammad's grandsons are the Ahl al-Bayt. Thus, Shi'as consider Muhammad's descendants 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 '' (شيعي.) 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 ('اثنا عشرية' '') which have a large percentage in Iran 90% and Iraq 65%; the others are the Ismaili or Sevener, and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias^[1]. The Sufi orders among the Shias are the Alevi, Bektashi, Kubrawiya, Noorbakhshi, Oveyssi, Qizilbashi, Hamadani and Fatimid orders and denominations. Ten percent of Turkey's population is Alevi while Lebanon and Syria have 20% to 30% of Shias.

Contents

Etymology

Overview

Demographics

Doctrines

Main doctrines

Additional doctrines

Misconceptions

Denominations

Status of a Shia Imam

Jurisprudence

Role of religious scholars

Differences of Shia and Sunni traditions

Religious calendar

History of Shia-Sunni relations

Major centers of Shia scholarship

Notable Shia Muslims

Scholars

Contemporary Scholars

Iraq

Iran

Lebanon

See also

References

External links

Etymology

Main articles: Shia etymology

Although it has been misconceived that "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase '' (شيعة علي), meaning "the followers of Ali" or "the faction of Ali", the name has been adopted according to an order from the prophet(Muhammad) at the last return from Hajj. In the order, which is well-known as "Qadir motto", Muhammad enjoined his followers to continue thier allegiance by following twelve people "called Ahl Al-Bayt" beginning with Ali. Shia is the sect that accepts the following order. They believe in "the prophet, himself, should have assigned the leadership of the society after himself, as he did". Both Shia and Sunni sources trace the term to the years preceding the death of Muhammad; see Shia etymology.

Overview

'Shia' Muslims believe that the descendants from Muhammad through his beloved daughter Fatima 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.
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. 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 the 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 Huraira, for example). Ali was the third successor to Abu Bakr and, for the Shia, the
first divinely sanctioned "imam," or male descendant of the Muhammad
Muhammad. The seminal event in Shia history is the martyrdom in 680 CE of Ali's son
Hussein, who led an uprising against the "illegitimate" caliph (72 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.''

Demographics

Main articles: Shia population, Demographics of Islam


By some estimates, approximately 10-15% of the world's Muslims are Shia. There are an estimated 130 to 190 million Shia Muslims^[2] (including Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaidis) throughout the world, about three quarters of whom reside in Iran (which has the highest Shia population), Pakistan, India, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan.^[3][4]
A large portion of the world's Shia live in the Middle East. The Shia Population of the Middle East^[5] constitutes a majority in Yemen, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Bahrain and especially Iran, where 90% of the population is Shia, giving it the highest percentage of Shia Muslims of any country in the world[1]. In Lebanon Shia form a plurality, and they remain as significant minorities in Afghanistan, Syria, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Yemen. Among the smaller Persian Gulf states, Qatar, Kuwait (~30%) and the United Arab Emirates (~16%) also have significant Shia minorities, as does the (Eastern Province ~33%) of Saudi Arabia.
About 20% of India's Muslim population is Shia, and significant Shia communities exist on the coastal regions of West Sumatra and Aceh in Indonesia (see Tabuik). Shia presence is negligible elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where Muslims are predominantly Shafi'i Sunnis.
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 ^[6]. The Shia-majority areas of Al-Ahsa, Qatif and Hofuf on the Persian Gulf, and western Arabia provinces of Jazan, Asir and Hijaz, that had large Shia minorities, have officially been completely stripped of their religious identities. 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).

Doctrines

Main doctrines

The Shia believe in the five pillars of Islam, as do Sunnis, but categorize them differently. Shia beliefs include the following:
'Theology of Shia' (''Usūl al-Dīn'')

★ 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" ("submission to God"))

★ Imamah (Leadership): God has appointed specific leaders to lead and guide mankind — a prophet appoints a custodian of the religion before his demise

★ Qiyamah (The Day of Judgment): God will raise mankind for Judgment
'Aspects of Religion' (''Furū al-Dīn'')

★ Salat — called "Namaaz" in Persian — (Prayer) – Performing the five daily prayers (Prayers can be made up for at night)

★ Sawm — called "Roozeh" in Persian — (Fast) – fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan (Able to eat after the sun goes down)

★ Hajj (Pilgrimage) – performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime)

★ Zakat (Poor-rate) – paying the poor-tax (2.5% 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. 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

Additional doctrines

Shia have many other doctrines that are shared with other Muslims, such as wearing of the ''Hijab.'' However, some are seen as more predominantly used by Shias, such as Dissimulation (Arabic: ''Taqiyya''), which is the dissimulation of one’s religious beliefs when one fears for one's life and the lives of one's family members.

Misconceptions

There are seemingly widespread misconceptions about Shia doctrines, regarding how and why the Shia uphold them.
It is often said that the Shia worship or deify Imam Ali, because they see him as being infallible. After the Muhammad's death, a portion of the population supported Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin. Shias hold that only God can appoint a successor to the Muhammad whom he has appointed. Therefore, the Shia do not recognize Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman as the first three caliphs. (Ali was recognized as the fourth caliph in 656 C.E.)
Shia Islam was seen by some as a political-religious sect that recognizes the leadership of Ali and his descendants. Theologically, Sunni Islam and Shia Islam differ over the concept of pre-ordination, with Shia refusing to accept that God(Allah) has preordained what will happen.
However, the Alawites a sect of Shia, hold Ali as an incarnation of God.^[7] The majority of Shias denounce such beliefs as blasphemous and against the grain of Islam (absolute, total and inarguable belief in the existence of only one God). Shia do not view Ali as a prophet as many accuse them of doing. He is seen only as the proper protector of the Islamic nation after the death of Muhammad.
While Shia and Sunni Muslims accept the same sacred text, the ''Qur'an,'' it is claimed by Salafi's that the Shia dispute the current version. Nonetheless, Shias say that the accusation is false, as they believe that the ''Qur'an'' has never been maliciously altered.^[8]

Denominations

★ Most Shia are Twelvers (Isna Asharai) and they recognize twelve Imams.
# Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661), also known as ''Ali, Amir al-Mo'mineen'' (commander of the faithful), also know as ''Shah-e Mardan Ali'' (King of men)
# Hasan ibn Ali (625–669), also known as ''Hasan al Mujtaba''
# Husayn ibn Ali (626–680), also known as ''Husayn al Shaheed'', also known as ''Sah Hüseyin''
# Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as ''Ali Zainul Abideen''
# Muhammad ibn Ali (676–743), also known as ''Muhammad al Baqir''
# Jafar ibn Muhammad (703–765), also known as ''Jafar as Sadiq''
# Musa ibn Jafar (745–799), also known as ''Musa al Kazim''
# Ali ibn Musa (765–818), also known as ''Ali ar Ridha''
# Muhammad ibn Ali (810–835), also known as ''Muhammad al Jawad'' (Muhammad at Taqi), also known as ''Taki''
# Ali ibn Muhamad (827–868), also known as ''Ali al-Hadi'', also known as ''Naki''
# Hasan ibn Ali (846–874), also known as ''Hasan al Askari''
# 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. 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. Seveners do not recognize any further of the Twelvers' Imams beyond Jafar. The only major non-Twelver and non-Ismaili group are Zaidis.

Status of a Shia Imam

The Ahlul Bayt are the perfect example for mankind, and like the prophets, they should be emulated in acts and deeds. 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. 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.

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.
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.

Role of religious scholars

Shia Muslims believe that the study of Islamic literature is a continual process, and is necessary for identifying all of God's laws. 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. 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.

Differences of Shia and Sunni traditions

Because Islamic law is based partly on the ''hadith,'' Shia rejection of some Sunni hadith and Sunni rejection of some Shia hadith means that the versions of the law differ somewhat. For example, while both Shia and Sunni pray five times each day, some of the prayer times differ. Shia do not believe that there is a set time for As'r and Ish'a prayers, and therefore, they are prayed together with the Thu'hur and Mugrib prayers, respectively. Likewise, Shia do not perform non-obligatory prayers in congregation, like Tar'raweeh, which Sunnis pray during Ramadaan.
Also, another issue of difference between the sects is that Nikah Mut‘ah or "temporary marriage" which is not forbidden for the Shia 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.^[9] Many Shia discourage the practice of Mut'ah, but maintain that it is permissible.

Religious calendar

All Muslims, Sunni or 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-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah, starts on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja.
The following holidays are observed by Shia only, unless otherwise noted:

★ The Remembrance of Muharram and Ashurah (عاشوراء) for Shia commemorates Imam Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom. Imam Husayn was grandson of Muhammad, who was killed by Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the Sunnis' 6th Khalif. Ashurah is a day of deep mourning which occurs on the 10th of Muharram. Sunnis also celebrate Ashurah, but give it a different meaning (see Ashurah).

★ Arba'een commemorates the suffering of the women and children of Imam Husayn's household. After Husayn was killed, they were marched over the desert, from Karbala (central Iraq) to Shaam (Damascus, 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.

★ Milad al-Nabi, Muhammad's birth date, is celebrated by the Shia on the 17th of Rabbi al-Awwal, which coincides with the birth date of the sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq.

★ Mid of Shaban is the birth date of the 12th and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. It is celebrated by Twelvers on the 15th of Shaban. 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 held on the 18th of Dhil-Hijjah.

★ Al-Mubahila celebrates a meeting between the household of Muhammad and a Christian deputation from Najran. Al-Mubahila is held on the 24th of Dhil-Hijjah.

History of 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. 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. Many prominent Salafi Sunni scholars are known to have openly considered the Shia as "kufar" (disbelievers). 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."''^[10] 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.
The renowned al-Azhar university of theology in Egypt, originally founded by the Shia during the reign of the Fatimid caliphate in 988^[11], considers Shia philosophy to be an indivisible part of the body of Islamic jurisprudence. 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). 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). 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).
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)^[12]

"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)^[13]

Similar ''fatwas'' (promoting the acceptance of Shi'as into mainstream Islam) have not been issued by some Sunni scholars or universities. 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 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. For more details, please refer to Sunni and Shia views of Aisha.

Major centers of Shia scholarship

The three primary centers of Shia scholarship are Karbala, Najaf and Qom. Other notable centers are:

★ India: Lucknow, Hyderabad

★ Iran: Isfahan, Mashad, Qom, Ray, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran

★ Iraq: Al-Mada'in, Hillah, Karbala, Kufa, Najaf, Samarra

★ Lebanon: Jabal Amel Hawzah, Saida, Sur

★ Saudi Arabia: Qatif, Al-Hasa, Najran

★ Syria: Damascus, Halab

Notable Shia Muslims

Scholars

★ Muhammad Ya'qub Kulainy

★ Shaikh Saduq

★ Sheikh al-Mufid

★ Sayyed Murtada

★ Abu Ja'far al-Tusi

★ Nasir al-Din Tusi

★ Baqir Majlisi

★ Qazi Noor Ullah Shoostri

Contemporary Scholars

Iraq

★ Ali al-Sistani

★ Bashir Hussain Najafi

★ Muhammed Saeed Al-Hakeem

★ Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad

★ Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim (late)

★ Abul-Qassim Khoei (late)

★ Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (late)

Iran

★ Waheed Khorasani

★ Ali Khamenei

★ Taqi Bahjat

★ Naser Makarem Shirazi

★ Hossein Noori Hamedani

★ Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani

★ Ruhollah Khomeini (late)

★ Sheikh Mirza Jawad Tabrizi (late)

Lebanon

★ Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah

See also

★ Islam

★ Misconceptions about the Shia

★ Shia population

★ Shia Crescent

★ List of Shia books

★ List of Marjas

★ List of Ayatollahs

★ Shia clergy

★ Alevis

★ Ismaili

★ Succession to Muhammad

★ Historical Shia-Sunni relations

★ Akhbari

★ Usuli

References

1. Syria’s Alawis and Shi‘ism
2. http://pewforum.org/events/index.php?EventID=R120
3. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/40241_islamsects.shtml Independent News source mentioning Sunni-Shia demographic statistics]
4. Sunni-Shia demographic statistics
5. The Gulf 2000 Project SIPA Columbia University
6. Discrimination towards Shia in Saudi Arabia
7. "The ages of the world are seven in number, each of these having its own manifestation of deity. But the manifestation of the 7th age is not a Mahdi who is yet to come, but the historical person `Ali ibn abu Talib. This is stated in the crudest form in Sura 1 i of the Majmu`: "I testify that there is no God but `Ali ibn abu Talib." `Ali is also called the Ma`na ("Idea"; cf. the Logos of the New Testament), hence the Nosairis are also called the Ma`nawiyya." Nosairis - From the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
8. [2]
9. hadith number 511 The Shia sheikh Tusi gives the explanation that although this hadith is Sahih, it was narrated by Ali under taqiyah and therefore the contradiction between this hadith and those Shia narrations permitting mut'ah can be overlooked.
10. Ibn Taymeeyah, Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah, 1/39
11. History of the Middle East Database
12. [3]
13. Qaradawi: Shias have penetrated Egypt and Hassan Nasrallah is an extremist (i.e. ghalli) Shia

External links

★ 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

★ Shia Islam

★ Imamia Mission: Bury