Shia Islam
Ali's followers' faith
Shia Islam is one of the two major branches of Islam, alongside Sunni Islam.
Shia Muslims believe that leadership of the Muslim community should have passed directly from the Prophet Muhammad to his cousin and son-in-law Ali, and then through Ali's descendants.
This succession dispute, originating in the 7th century, remains the fundamental division.
Shia Islam predominates in Iran, Iraq, and parts of Lebanon and the Gulf states.
Shia Islam observes Ashura as a day of mourning.
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
- passion playEnacted crucifixion narrative
procession · martyrdom · sacrifice · tragedy · redemption
Arabic name, "sublime"
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- successionFollowing in order
- caliphateIslamic successor-led government
Celestial body blocking another
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
Quran · Hadith · intercession
Sacred devotional place
- haramForbidden by Islamic law
- mosqueIslamic house of worship
- mausoleumMonumental building for interment
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- HouthiYemeni rebel faction
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
- IranIslamic republic in Asia
Islamic obligatory prayer
Ashura
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
passion play · procession · martyrdom · sacrifice · tragedy · redemption
Ali
Arabic name, "sublime"
Ghadir Khumm
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- successionFollowing in order
occultation
Celestial body blocking another
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
jurisprudence · Quran · Hadith · intercession
shrine
Sacred devotional place
Hezbollah
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- HouthiYemeni rebel faction
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
salat
Islamic obligatory prayer
Druze
Levantine esoteric religion
- Near Eastern ReligionsJudaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, Druze
- FaithsChristians, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews
- religionsChristianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- Abrahamic faithsJudaism, Christianity, Abraham, God, Catholicism
- IraqBaghdad, Basra, Mosul, Fallujah, Kurdistan
Shia IslamChristianity
Faith based on Jesus
Judaism · Catholicism · Eastern Orthodoxy · Protestantism · Orthodox Judaism