Shiites
Imams over caliphs
Shiites are Muslims who believe leadership of the Islamic community should have passed through the Prophet Muhammad's family line, specifically through his son-in-law Ali.
They constitute about 10-15% of Muslims worldwide, with majorities in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain.
The Sunni-Shiite split, originating in a seventh-century succession dispute, remains the major division within Islam.
Also spelled Shia.
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- self-flagellationDeliberately striking one's own body
- passion playEnacted crucifixion narrative
Senior Shia clerical title
- mullahIslamic religious leader
- KhameneiIran's highest authority
- turbansCloth wound around head
- religious authorityGoverning force in faith
State ruled by imam
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
- AliArabic name, "sublime"
intercession · sinlessness · succession · Ghadir Khumm · return · justice
Unjust differential treatment
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- sectarian violenceConflict between religious factions
- minority statusBeing part of smaller group
Sacred devotional sites
- mosquesMuslim houses of worship
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- holy citiesReligiously significant urban centers
- seminariesInstitutions training clergy
tomb · dome · Iran · Iraq · Bahrain · Lebanon · Azerbaijan · Lucknow
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- Iranian Revolution1979 regime change establishing theocracy
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- HouthisYemeni Zaidi rebel movement
- sectarianismPrejudiced loyalty to subgroups
Ashura
Islamic day of fasting
- MuharramOpening Islamic calendar month
- mourningPeriod following loss
- self-flagellationDeliberately striking one's own body
Ayatollah
Senior Shia clerical title
Khomeini · religious authority · clerical hierarchy · seminarian
Imamate
State ruled by imam
- MahdiIslam's foretold deliverer
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- infallibilityIncapacity for mistakes
Ali · intercession · sinlessness · succession · Ghadir Khumm · return · justice
discrimination
Unjust differential treatment
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- sectarian violenceConflict between religious factions
shrines
Sacred devotional sites
- mosquesMuslim houses of worship
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- holy citiesReligiously significant urban centers
seminaries · tomb · dome · Iran · Iraq · Bahrain · Lebanon · Azerbaijan · Lucknow
Hezbollah
Lebanese Shiite militant organization
- Iranian Revolution1979 regime change establishing theocracy
- theocracyRule by religious authority
- HouthisYemeni Zaidi rebel movement
Druze
Levantine esoteric religion
- splinter groupsBreakaway subsets of movements