Shi'ism
Ali-following Islamic branch
Shi'ism is the branch of Islam holding that leadership of the Muslim community should have passed through the Prophet Muhammad's family, specifically through his cousin and son-in-law Ali.
This split with Sunni Islam occurred in the 7th century over succession disputes.
Shi'ites constitute the majority in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain, and form significant minorities elsewhere.
The tradition emphasizes the authority of imams descended from Ali and commemorates the martyrdom of Ali's son Husayn at Karbala.
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
- processionFormal moving line
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
suffering · martyrdom · redemption · commemoration · passion
Arabic name, "sublime"
- HasanArabic masculine name
- FatimahMuhammad's youngest daughter
- ImamateState ruled by imam
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
Sharif · genealogy · succession · designation · infallibility
Senior Shia clerical title
- seminaryClergy training college
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
Senior Shia clerical title
Experiential sacred understanding
- tariqaSufi spiritual brotherhood
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
shrine · pilgrimage · blessing · spirituality
Levantine esoteric religion
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- sectBreakaway religious faction
- denominationNamed religious group
- diversityState of varied elements
Ashura
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
- processionFormal moving line
tragedy · suffering · martyrdom · redemption · commemoration · passion
Ali
Arabic name, "sublime"
Mahdi · Sharif · genealogy · succession · designation · infallibility
Ayatollah
Senior Shia clerical title
- seminaryClergy training college
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
Khomeini · scholarship · fatwa · emulation · hierarchy
Ayatollah
Senior Shia clerical title
- HadithProphetic tradition collection
- QuranIslam's central scripture
- IjtihadIndependent Islamic legal interpretation
Fiqh · Eschatology · occultation · intercession · infallibility
gnosis
Experiential sacred understanding
- tariqaSufi spiritual brotherhood
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- venerationProfound admiring respect
intercession · shrine · pilgrimage · blessing · spirituality
Druze
Levantine esoteric religion
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- sectBreakaway religious faction
- denominationNamed religious group