Shi'a
Ali's rightful followers
Shi'a refers to the branch of Islam that regards Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, as his rightful successor.
Shi'a Muslims constitute about 10-15% of the global Muslim population, concentrated in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
The term comes from an Arabic phrase meaning "party of Ali." Also spelled Shia.
As an adjective: Shi'a Islam, Shi'a clergy. (See also Sunni, the larger branch.)
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
State ruled by imam
- AliArabic name, "sublime"
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- successionFollowing in order
Senior Shia clerical title
- clericOrdained religious leader
- seminaryClergy training college
- fatwaIslamic legal pronouncement
- religious authorityGoverning force in faith
Suffering for conviction
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
- succession crisisContested leadership transfer
Sacred devotional place
- mosqueIslamic house of worship
- mausoleumMonumental building for interment
- tombUnderground chamber for remains
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
Ashura
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
Imamate
State ruled by imam
- AliArabic name, "sublime"
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
Wilayat al-Faqih · succession · tawhid · righteousness · guidance
Ayatollah
Senior Shia clerical title
martyrdom
Suffering for conviction
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
Ghadir Khumm · succession crisis · Hezbollah · Iranian Revolution
shrine
Sacred devotional place
Druze
Levantine esoteric religion
- fiverSlang five-dollar note
Shi'aSunni
Islam's largest branch adherent
Sunni Islam · Sunnism · Wahhabi · Sufi
- Shia LaBeouf
- Twelver ShiaShiites recognizing twelve imams
- Shia IslamMuslim denomination following Ali
- Shi'a MuslimIslamic sect following Ali
- Shiite IslamMuslim sect following Ali
- Shi'a IslamMuslim denomination following Ali