Shiism
Ali's followers' faith
Shiism is the branch of Islam that holds Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, as his rightful successor.
Shia Muslims believe leadership of the faith should follow Muhammad's bloodline, distinguishing them from Sunni Muslims who accepted the elected caliphs.
Shiism predominates in Iran, Iraq, and parts of Lebanon, and emphasizes the martyrdom of Ali's son Hussein at Karbala.
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- mourningPeriod following loss
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
State ruled by imam
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- AliArabic name, "sublime"
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- IlkhanateMongol successor state in Persia
- conversionAct of changing states
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- Iranian Revolution1979 regime change establishing theocracy
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
Wilayat al-Faqih · Houthis · activism · mobilization · governance · sectarianism
Ashura
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- mourningPeriod following loss
Imamate
State ruled by imam
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- AliArabic name, "sublime"
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
Wilayat al-Faqih · infallibility · intercession · succession · tawhid
Ghadir Khumm
- AbbasidsMedieval Islamic ruling dynasty
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- IlkhanateMongol successor state in Persia
conversion · persecution · schism · martyrdom
Hezbollah
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- Iranian Revolution1979 regime change establishing theocracy
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- militiaNon-professional armed force
Wilayat al-Faqih · resistance · Houthis · activism · mobilization · governance · sectarianism
Ayatollah
Senior Shia clerical title
Isfahan
Former Persian capital
ShiismSunnism
Predominant Islamic tradition
Sunni Islam · Sunni · Wahhabism · Salafism · Sufism
Shiismatheism
Rejection of deities
secularism · Christianity · Judaism · Hinduism · Buddhism
- Shiite IslamMuslim sect following Ali