Shi'a Islam

Part of a series of articles on Islam     History of Islam

Beliefs and practices

Oneness of God Profession of Faith Prayer • Fasting Pilgrimage • Charity

Important people

Muhammad Abu Bakr • Umar Uthman ibn Affan • Ali Household of Muhammad Companions of Muhammad Prophets of Islam

Texts & Laws

Qur'an • Sunnah • Hadith Jurisprudence • Theology Biographies of Muhammad Sharia

Types of Islam

Sunni • Shi'a • Ibadi Ahmadiyya • Quraniyoon • Nation of Islam

Muslim culture

Academics • History Philosophy • Science Art • Architecture • Cities Calendar • Holidays Women • … in the Qu'ran Leaders • Politics Islamism • Liberalism • Sufism

See also

Vocabulary of Islam • Islamophobia

Ali's Tomb is one of the most important places for Shi'a Muslims

Shi'a Islam, also Shi'ism (Arabic:شيعة, Persian:شیعه). Shia believes that Hazrat Ali (A.S) is the first Caliph or Imam or Successor. Who had been chosen by last prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) by the order of God. Muhammad (PBUH) declared Ali as a first caliph or Imam in his last sermon of last Haj at Ghadeer. Shi'a Muslims believe in the teachings of Quran and the prophet Muhammad's family, whom they call the Ahl al-Bayt. The Shi'as think that the first three ruling Sunni caliphs had no importance to the development of the faith. The singular/adjective form is Shī'ī (شيعي.) and means a follower of the Household of Muhammad and of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Imam Ali).

Shi'a Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches, however only three of these have a significant number of followers nowadays. The best known and the one with most adherents is Twelvers (Ithnāˤashariyya), the others are Ismaili and Zaidiyyah and Druzes call themselves Shi'as, but mainstream Shi'as do not agree on this.

Other websites

• SHIACODE -The Shia Islamic Guide
• List of Shi'a websites
• Alshiatalk Worldwide Discussion Forum
• IslamTutor
• Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission
• Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project
• Al-Shia Website (al-shia.com)
• Shia Search Website
• AlMujtaba Islamic Network
• Bay Area Shiite-Muslims Association
• Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, Tehran
• Imam Ali commemorative website
• Contemporary issues, philosophical issues, and tafsir from a shia perspective
• Marafi Hussainiah - Online Library - Kuwait
• Who are the Shia? by Paul Sullivan, History News Network
• Momin-A Message for Shitte!, Karachi
• Sunni-Shia difference