sect - (SHE-ya) The Shi'a (adjective: Shi'i, or Shi'ite) are the followers of Ali, who believed that Ali should have been succeeded by his son Hussein as Caliph, rather than Muawiyah, who was actually chosen. The Shi'a believed that the Caliphate should remain in the control of the family of the Prophet Muhammad. The Shi'a split off from the Sunnis after Hussein was killed in the battle of Kerbala in 681
the group of Muslims who regard 'Ali and his heirs as the only legitimate successors to the Prophet Muhammad, divided into sects according to allegiance to different lines of 'Alid descent.
those Muslims who held to the rights of 'Ali and his descendants to leadership in the community.
(a.k.a. Shi'ite): The second largest tradition within Islam.
is a follower of the twelve Imams (A.S.).
approximately 10% of Muslims across the world would call themselves Shi'ite Muslims; that is, they follow the Shi'a tradition. The Muslim community split in a dispute occurring after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, when there was disagreement about Muhammad's successor. There is a slight difference in the way the two groups – Shi'a and Sunni – conduct their lives, and they have some festivals and events exclusive to each group, but otherwise they both follow the Qur'an.
A branch of Islam practiced by Muslims who believe in the successorship of 'Ali.
literally, "partisan," the smaller of the two primary sects of Islam,. It comprises about twenty percent of all Muslims. Shi'ite Muslims trace their ruling lineage back to the family of Muhammed. Called imams, these descendents are traced through the twelfth imam of the ninth century, CE. Since then, the knowledge of the imam is said to be accessible through "agents" or "doctors" of the law. In Iran, for example, the most senior of these doctors are called ayatollahs. Located primarily in Iran, Iraq and the Indian subcontinent. See also Sunni.
