Part of the series on Islam   Islam? (Arabic: الإسلام al-islām) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second largest religion. ... History of Islam

Beliefs and practices

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

Major figures

Muhammad · Ali · Abu Bakr Companions of Muhammad Ahl Al-Bayt · Fatimah Prophets of Islam · Mahdi Image File history File links I made this. ... The History of Islam involves the history of the Islamic faith as a religion and as a social institution. ... TawhÄ«d (also Tawhid or Tauhid or Tawheed; Arabic توحيد) is the Islamic concept of monotheism. ... The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. It is ultimately derived (according to most etymologists) from Proto-Semitic ʾil-, as is Hebrew El. ... See Shahada (India) for the Indian town called Shahada (in Maharashtra state). ... Salah (other terms and spellings exist) (Arabic: صلاه , Old (Quran) Arabic: صلوة ) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic year. ... The Hajj or Haj (Arabic حَجّ Ḥaǧǧ) is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni Islam and is one of the eleven Branches of Religion in Shia Islam. ... Zakât (or Zakaat or Zakah) (Arabic: زكاة, Old (Quran) Arabic: زكوة) is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ... For other uses of the name Ali, se Ali (disambiguation). ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... In the Islamic religion, the Sahaba (or Asahaaba,الصحابه; both forms are plural--the singular is Sahaabi, which is Arabic for friend, or companion) are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. ... This is an Arabic phrase literally translated as People of the House, or family. ... Fatima Zahra also called Fatemeh Al Zahraa or Az-Zahra (Arabic: ) was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his first wife Khadija. ... The Quran identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam. ... The Mahdi (Arabic: مهدي, also transliterated as: Mehdi or Mihdi; translated as: guided one), in Islamic eschatology, is a prophecy about the redeemer of Islam, who will change the world into a perfect society before Yaum al-Qiyamah, literally meaning the Day of Resurrection (the end times). ...

Texts & law

Qur'an · Hadith · Sira Fiqh · Sharia

Major divisions

Sunni · Shi'a · Sufism Divisions of Islam

Sociopolitical aspects

Cities · Architecture Art · Calendar Islamic religious leaders Women in Islam Political Islam · Jihad

See also

Vocabulary of Islam Criticism of Islam Index of articles on Islam

Shi'a Islam (Arabic: شيعى or follower. English has traditionally used Shiite or Shi'ite) is the second largest Islamic denomination. The Quran (Arabic: al-qurān literally the recitation; also called Al Qurān Al KarÄ«m or The Noble Quran; or transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Hadith (Arabic: , Arabic pl. ... This article is not about the group of British engineering companies called Sira; see Sira (group of British companies). ... - Islamic jurisprudence, Fiqh (in Arabic and Persian: فقه) is made up of the rulings of Islamic jurists to direct the lives of the Muslim faithful. ... Sharia (Arabic: ; also SharÄ«ah, Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is the Arabic word for Islamic law, also known as the Law of Allah. ... // Historical Background of Sunni-Shia Split The principal issue upon which Islams first major sectarian split occurred centers on the question of leadership. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف tasÌ£awwuf) is a school of esoteric philosophy in Islam, which is based on the pursuit of spiritual truth as a definite goal to attain. ... The religion of Islam has many divisions, sects, schools, traditions, and related faiths. ... This is a list of cities that various groups regard as holy. ... Islamic architecture is the entire range of architecture that has evolved from Islam as a social, cultural, political and religious phenomenon. ... Mediums of Islamic art Islamic art throughout history has been mainly abstract and decorative, portraying geometric, floral, Arabesque, and calligraphic designs. ... The Islamic calendar or Muslim calendar (also called Hijri calendar) is the calendar used to date events in predominantly Muslim countries, and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Muslim holy days. ... Islamic religious leaders are persons who, as part of the clerisy, mosque, or government, perform a prominent role within their community or nation. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Islam as a political movement has a diverse character that has at different times incorporated elements of many other political movements, while simultaneously adapting the religious views of Islamic fundamentalism, particularly the view of Islam as a political religion. ... Jihad (jihād جهاد) is an Islamic term, from the Arabic root jhd (to exert utmost effort, to strive, struggle), which connotes a wide range of meanings: anything from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith to a political or military struggle to further the Islamic cause. ... The following list consists of concepts that are derived from both Islam and Arab tradition, which are expressed as words in the Arabic language. ... As with any religion, various critics have found fault with Islam for theological, ethical, and political reasons. ... Arabic (العربية al-arabiyyah, or less formally arabi) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ...

Shi'a is short for Shi'áte Ali (Arabic: شیعة علي), a follower of Ali ibn Abu Talib who was the Islamic prophet Muhammad's cousin, his son-in-law, and the father of Muhammad's only descendants. He was the male head of the Ahlul Bayt, Muhammad's household, after Muhammad died. Shi'a Muslims believe that Ali should have followed Muhammad as the direct successor and leader of the Muslims. Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr, the first caliph to hold power after Muhammad, held his office legitimately. This difference of opinion regarding an event in 632 CE may seem like a minor matter to some, but this schism shaped two Muslim traditions which differ sharply in many of their beliefs and practices. Arabic (العربية al-arabiyyah, or less formally arabi) is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... Ali ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أبي طالب) (c. ... In numerous religions, including Abrahamic religions, Jah religions, Sikhism, and many forms of Paganism, a prophet is an intermediary with a deity, particularly someone who claims to speak for the deity or interprets the deitys will or mind. ... Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ... This is an Arabic phrase literally translated as People of the House, or family. ... // Historical Background of Sunni-Shia Split The principal issue upon which Islams first major sectarian split occurred centers on the question of leadership. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... The word schism, from the Greek σχισμα, schisma (from σχιζω, schizo, to split), means a division or a split, usually in an organization. ...

Demographics of Shi'a Islam

See Demographics of Islam. Present calculations indicate that some 90% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 9% are Shi'a, but the Shi'a are certainly undercounted (due primarily to political and religious discrimination). Further work is needed before these statistics can be regarded as defensible. The following table analyzes the demographics of Islam as of September 2005. ...

As can be seen from the table in that article, the majority of the world's Shi'a live in Iran and Iraq. Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and other Persian Gulf states also have significant Shi'a minorities. Map of the Persian Gulf. ...

Shi'a beliefs: Roots of Religion (Usūl al-Dīn)

• Tawhīd (Oneness): The Oneness of God
• Adalah (Justice): The Justice of God
• Nubuwwah (Prophethood): God has appointed perfect and infallible prophets and messengers to teach mankind the religion (i.e. a perfect system on how to live in "peace".)
• Imāmah (Leadership): God has appointed specific leaders to lead and guide mankind — a prophet appoints a custodian of the religion before his demise. Refer to Sahih Al-Bukari, Sahih Muslim (Books of Hadiths (or sayings of the prophet of Islam) of the Sunnis) etc. The prophet is reported to have said that the Islamic leadership is in Koreish (i.e. his tribe) and that 12 "Imams" or "Princes" shall succeed him. There is a difference of opinion within Sunni and Shiite sects as to whom Muhammad was referring. It is also important to mention that the Islamic prophet has stated, and this statement has been authenticated by Sunnis and Shiites alike, that "Whoever does not know the Imam of his Lifetime (i.e. recognizes the Leader of his time) has died the death of Ignorance". Again, this statement has different interpretations and consequences with different Sunni and Shiite sects (or Schools of thought). The idea of a prophet appointing a successor is also found in the Old Testament where Joshua son of Nun is declared Moses' successor or manager of his affairs after his death.
• Qayāmat (The Day of Judgment): God will raise mankind for Judgment

Tawhīd (also Tawhid or Tauhid or Tawheed; Arabic توحيد) is the Islamic concept of monotheism. ... Adalah means Justice and denotes The Justice of God The Shias consider Justice of God as part of Usool-e-Deen (Roots of Religion). ... Nubuwwah means Prophethood and denotes that God has appointed perfect Prophets and Messengers to teach mankind Gods religion. ... ... Hadith (Arabic: , Arabic pl. ... Quraish is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... Joshua or Yehoshúa (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ The LORD of/is help/court, Standard Hebrew Yəhošúaʿ, Tiberian Hebrew Yəhôšuªʿ) is a Biblical character, much of whose life is described in the Book of Joshua. ... In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ... Moses or Móshe (מֹשֶׁה, Standard Hebrew Móše, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh, Arabic موسى Musa), son of Amram and his wife, Jochebed, a Levite. ... Qayāmat means The Day of Judgment and denotes that God will raise mankind for Judgment. ...

Shi'a practices: Branches of Religion (Furū al-Dīn)

• Salat- called "Namaaz" in Persian (Prayer) - performing the five daily prayers
• Sawm (Fast) - fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan
• Hajj (Pilgrimage) - performing the pilgrimage to Mecca
• Zakāt (Poor-rate) - paying money to the poor
• Khums (One-fifth) - paying the tax of 20%, levied on untaxed, annual profit
• Jihād (Struggle) - struggling to please God. The greater, or internal Jihad is the struggle against the evil within one's own soul in every aspect of life. The lesser, or external, Jihad is the struggle against the evil of one's environment in every aspect of life.
• Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf (Enjoin what is good)
• Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is evil)
• Tawalla (To love the Ahl al-Bayt and their followers)
• Tabarra (To hate the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt)

Salah (other terms and spellings exist) (Arabic: صلاه , Old (Quran) Arabic: صلوة ) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... The Hajj or Haj (Arabic حَجّ Ḥaǧǧ) is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni Islam and is one of the eleven Branches of Religion in Shia Islam. ...

Other practices

Taqiyya

The doctrine of taqiyya, or dissimulation, states that it is permissible to hide one's true religious convictions if under the threat of death or injury. Shi'a say that this is condoned by the Qur'an in verse 16:106 and 3:28. Al-Taqiya Arabic verb , It means avoid the threat. In political Islam it is the concept of dissimulation and it means to simulate whatever status is needed in order to defeat the enemy through covert means. ...

Nikah Mut'ah

Shi'as believe that Nikah Mut'ah, or temporary marriage, was forbidden only by the caliph Umar and not by Muhammad. Arguing that the arbitration of Muhammad is final, decisive, and unquestionable, the Shi'a say that Umar, or any other, had no authority to make such a ban; they continue the practice of temporary marriage. This article is about the marriage form, for other uses, see Mutah. ... For other uses of the name, see Umar (disambiguation). ... Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ...

The Shi'a sects

The Shi'a of the present day are divided into sects based on their beliefs regarding the sequence of the imams.

• Most Shi'a are Twelvers; they recognize twelve imams, of whom the twelfth, the Mahdi, has been occluded, or removed from human view, and will return at some time in the future.

1. Ali ibn Abu Talib (600–661)
2. Hasan ibn Ali (625–669)
3. Husayn ibn Ali (626–680)
4. Ali ibn Husayn (658–713), also known as Zainul Abideen
5. Muhammad al Baqir (676–743)
6. Jafar as Sadiq (703–765)
7. Musa al Kazim (745–799)
8. Ali ar Ridha (765–818)
9. Muhammad at Taqi (810–835)
10. Ali al Hadi (827–868)
11. Hasan al Askari (846–874)
12. Muhammad al Mahdi (868—)

• There are several groups of Sevener Shi'as. The largest is a subgroup of the Ismailis.

• Fiver Shi'as are also called Zaidis. They are found mostly in Yemen. They accept as imams:

1. Ali ibn Abi Talib
2. Hasan ibn Ali
3. Husayn ibn Ali
4. Ali ibn Husayn
5. Zayd ibn Ali rather than Muhammad al Baqir

Zaidis also reject the notion of divinely appointed Imams. Ali ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أبي طالب) (c. ... For other uses, see number 600. ... Events Caliph Ali Ben Abu Talib is assassinated. ... Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... Events Pope Boniface V succeeded by Pope Honorius I Births Adamnan, abbot of Iona Empress Wu Zetian of China Deaths Pope Boniface V Categories: 625 ... Events Theodore appointed Archibishop of Canterbury Births Justinian II, Byzantine emperor Deaths Hasan ibn Ali, grandson of Muhammad and second Shia Imam Categories: 669 ... Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... Events July 2 - In the early morning, Li Shimin, the future Emperor Tang Taizong of China, eliminated two of his brothers, Li Yuanji and the crown prince Li Jiancheng in a coup détat at the Xuanwu Gate in Changan. ... Events October 10 - Battle of Kerbela November 12 - The Sixth Ecumenical Council opens in Constantinople The Bulgars subjugate the country of current-day Bulgaria Pippin of Herstal becomes Mayor of the Palace Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I succeeded by Yazid I ibn Muawiyah Erwig deposes Wamba to become king of the... Ali ibn Husayn, Zainul Abideen, (658 - 713) (alternative spellings include bin, ben for the middle word and Hussain, Husain, Hussein, etc. ... Events The union of Slavic tribes falls apart after Samos death Births Deaths King Samo of the Slavs Categories: 658 ... Events Byzantine Emperor Philippicus deposed. ... Imam Muhammad al Baqir (676 - January 31, 743) was the fifth Shia Imam. ... Events November 2 - Donus becomes Pope. ... Events Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (724-743) succeeded by al-Walid II ibn Abd al-Malik (743-744). ... Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (April 20, 702 – December 4, 765), in full Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Zayn ibn Husayn, was the sixth Shia imam, and a theologian and jurist. ... Events Births Deaths Empress Jito of Japan In Other Fields 703 is the area code for telephone numbers in the Northern Virginia region of the United States. ... Events Papal privileges are restored in Beneventino and Tuscany and partly in Spoleto. ... Imam Musa al Kazim (November 10, 745 - September 4, 799) was the seventh Shia Imam (he is not accepted by the Ismailis as the seventh Imam). ... Events Births November 10 - Musa al-Kazim, Shia Imam (d. ... Events 29 November - Pope Leo III, aided by Charles the Great, returns to Rome. ... Imam Ali ar Rida (January 1, 766 - May 26, 818) was the Eighth Shia Imam. ... Events Papal privileges are restored in Beneventino and Tuscany and partly in Spoleto. ... Events Bishop Theodulf of Orléans is deposed and imprisoned after getting involved in a conspiracy of Bernard, king of Italy, against Louis the Pious Births Deaths May 26 - Ali ar-Rida, Shia Imam Categories: 818 ... Imam Muhammad at-Taqi (April 12, 811 - November 27, 835) was the ninth Shia Imam. ... Events October 1 - A man with a sword makes an attempt on emperor Nicephorus Is life. ... Events Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power (approximate date) The celebration of All Saints is made an obligation throughout the Frankish Empire and fixed on November 1. ... Imam Ali al-Hadi (September 8, 828 _ July 1, 868) was the tenth Shia Imam. ... Events Succession of Pope Valentine, then Pope Gregory IV. Arabs invade Sicily. ... Events 11 May: Printing of The Diamond Sutra, the oldest dated printed book. ... Imam Hasan al-Askari (December 6, 846 - January 4, 874), was the eleventh Shia Imam. ... Events The Moors temporarily recapture León. ... Events March 13 - The bones of Saint Nicephorus are interred in the Church of the Apostles, Constantinople. ... Muhammad al-Mahdi (868 - ?) is the twelfth and final Imam of the Shia. ... Events 11 May: Printing of The Diamond Sutra, the oldest dated printed book. ... Seveners are a branch of Ismaili Shiism. ... The Ismaili (Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmâiliyân) branch of Islam is the second largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Fiver is most commonly a slang term used to refer to a denomination of currency, most notably: A five-dollar bill A five-pound note Fiver is a term for Zaydi Shiite Muslims, who disagree with the majority of Shiites on the identity of the Fifth Imam. ... Zaiddiyah (also: Zaidi, Zaydi, Zaydiyah, or in the West Fivers)(Zaidis are Zaids descendants and Zaydiyah is a sect/followes of zaid as a imam aganist Shia Ithna Asharia) refers to a sect within Shia Islam. ... Ali ibn Abu Talib (Arabic: ) (c. ... Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... Ali ibn Husayn, Zainul Abideen, (658 - 713) (alternative spellings include bin, ben for the middle word and Hussain, Husain, Hussein, etc. ... Zayd ibn Ali (d. ... Imam Muhammad al Baqir (676 - January 31, 743) was the fifth Shia Imam. ...

Twelver Shi'a believe that the last imam has been occulted (in Ghaibah), or "hidden away" by God. He is still alive, and will return. Beliefs vary as to what will happen when the last imam, called the Mahdi ("the guided one"), returns. It is generally believed that he will be accompanied by Jesus and will affirm Muhammad's message to mankind from God. Muhammad al-Mahdi (Arabic: محمد المهدى ) (868 - ?) is the twelfth and final Imam of the Shia. ...

Shi'a and Sunni traditions

While the Shi'a and the Sunni accept the same sacred text, the Qur'an, they differ somewhat in their approach to recorded oral tradition, or hadith. Shi'a believe that the split between the Shi'a and Sunni extends back to the time of Muhammad's death, when a small number of the faithful clung to Ali and the rest of the Muslims followed Abu Bakr, then Umar and Uthman. Shia believe that testimony that can be traced back to the faithful is to be trusted, and traditions passed through the other Muslims are suspect. While the Sunni generally accept the hadith collections of Bukhari and Muslim as sahih, or trustworthy, the Shi'a privilege different narrators and different hadith. The Quran (Arabic: al-qurān literally the recitation; also called Al Qurān Al Karīm or The Noble Quran; or transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Hadith (Arabic: , Arabic pl. ... Muhammad Ibn Ismail Ibn Ibrahim Ibn al-Mughirah Ibn Bardizbah al-Bukhari محمد بن اسماعيل بن ابراهيم بن المغيرة بن بردزبه البخاري (born (AD 810) - died (AD 870)), author of the most generally accepted collection of traditions (Hadith) from Muhammad, was born at Bokhara (Bukharä), of an Iranian family, in AH 194 (AD 810). ... Sahih Muslim is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (also known as the sunnah). ...

Because Islamic law is based upon the hadith, rejection of some Sunni hadith means that the Shi'a version of the law differs somewhat from the Sunni version. For example, Shiites permit temporary marriages, or mut’a, which can be contracted for months or even days, and follow different inheritance laws.

The role of religious scholars

Most Sunni scholars, preachers, and judges (collectively known as the ulema) traditionally believe that the door of ijtihad, or private judgment, closed some four hundred years after the death of Muhammad. Muslim scholars had been studying Qur'an and hadith for centuries; four schools of law (madhhab) had been developed; there was nothing more to be added to the four schools. Ijtihad is a technical term of the Islamic law that describes the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the sources of the law, the Quran and the Sunnah. ... Madhhab(مذهب) (Madhahib, pl) is an Islamic term that refers to a school of thought or religious jurisprudence (fiqh). ...

Shi'a scholars believe that the door to ijtihad has never closed. They believe that they can interpret the Qur'an and the Shi'a traditions with the same authority as their predecessors. Generally, the Shi'a clergy have exerted much more authority in the Shi'a community than have the Sunni ulema.

Religious calendar

All Muslims, Sunni or Shi'a, celebrate the following annual holidays:

• Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر), which falls on the first day of Shawwal, marks the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan.

• Eid ul-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca, starts on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja.

The following days are celebrated by Shi'a only, unless otherwise noted: The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan. ... Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic year. ... Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) is second in the series of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. ... The Hajj or Haj (Arabic حَجّ Ḥaǧǧ) is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni Islam and is one of the eleven Branches of Religion in Shia Islam. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ...

• Ashurah (عاشوراء). For Shiites, this commemorates Imam Husayn bin Ali's martyrdom. It is a day of deep mourning. Sunnis do not ascribe religious significance to Hussayn's martyrdom, however it is a day of voluntary fasting with a day either preceding it or following it, in remembrance of Moses and his followers' salvation from the Pharoah and his army. Ashurah occurs on the 10th of Muharram.

• Arba'een, which commemorates the suffering of the women and children of Imam Husayn's household. After Husayn was killed, they were marched over the desert, from Karbala (central Iraq) to Shaam (Damascus, Syria). Many children died of thirst and exposure along the route. Arba'een occurs on the 20th of Safar, 40 days after Ashurah.

• Milad al-Nabi, Muhammad's birth date, is celebrated by Shi'a on the 17th of Rabbi al-Awwal, which also coincides with the birth date of the sixth imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. Sunni Muslims consider Muhammad's birth date to be on the 12th of Rabbi al-Awwal, however many Sunnis do not consider this day religiously significant.

• Mid of Shaban, the birth date of the twelfth and final imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. This is celebrated by Twelvers on the 15th of Shaban. Many Shi'a take it upon themselves to fast on this day to show gratitude on the auspicious occasion of the twelfth Imam's birth.

• Eid al-Ghadeer, which celebrates Ghadir Khum, the occasion upon which Shi'a believe Muhammad announced Ali's imamate before a multitude of Muslims. Eid al-Ghadeer is held on the 18th of Dhil-Hijjah.

• Al-Mubahila celebrates a meeting between the household of the prophet Muhammad and a Christian deputation from Najran. Al-Mubahila is held on the 24th of Dhil-Hijjah.

The Day of Aashurah, sometimes spelled ‘Ashurah or Aashoorah, falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. ... Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (c. ... Arbaeen (اربعين, Arabic forty) is a Shia religious holiday that occurs forty days after Aashura, the commemoration of the martyrdom by beheading of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. ... Mawlid, Mawlid an-Nabi or Milad al-Nabi (Arabic: ) is the celebration of the birthday of Muhammad, the final prophet of Islam; also known as the seal of the prophets. Sunni Muslims celebrate this day on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic calendar; whereas Shia Muslims... Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ... Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (April 20, 702 – December 4, 765), in full Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn, was the sixth Shia imam, and a theologian and jurist. ... Muhammad al-Mahdi (Arabic: محمد المهدى ) (868 - ?) is the twelfth and final Imam of the Shia. ... Ghadir(-e) Khum (Persian/Arabic: غدیر خم) or Qadir(-e) Khum is a location in Saudi Arabia between Mecca and Medina and an event wich for Shia Muslims from authentic Hadiths confirm one of the refrences to the direct successorship of Imam Ali after the Prophet Muhammad as Leader and Caliph of... This is an Arabic phrase literally translated as People of the House, or family. ...

History of the Shi'a

Depicted: An approximate map estimation of Shi'a Muslims in the Middle East and West Asia from 1989-91. Shia's live in many parts of the world, however have a significant high concentration in this particular region.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x840, 499 KB) Image obtained from http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x840, 499 KB) Image obtained from http://www. ...

Modern Shi'a-Sunni relations

The two communities have generally remained separate, mingling only during the Hajj. Modern Shi'a have commonly been tolerant towards the Sunni, tolerating them even when the state religion is Shi'a, as in Iran. However, when attacked (as in Pakistan) they have retaliated violently.

Modern mainstream Sunni have also become less confrontational. The renowned al-Azhar Theological school in Egypt, one of the main centers of Sunni scholarship in the world, announced the following on July 6, 1959: Al-Azhar Islamic university in Cairo Egypt Al-Azhar University is connected to the mosque in Cairo named to honor Fatima Az-Zahraa, the daughter of Muhammad, from whom the Fatimid Dynasty claimed descent. ...

"The Shi'a is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought."

Al-Azhar later distanced itself from this position. Many Islamic groups also currently maintain this distance, regarding the Shia doctrine at best as fisq (transgression or severely deviated). (see query from Sunni Imam)

Some extremist Sunni groups, such as the Taliban or Al Qaeda, have continued to persecute Shi'a as heretics. Such groups have been responsible for violent attacks and suicide bombings at Shi'a gatherings at mosques and shrines, notably in war-torn countries such as Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban (Pashtun and Persian: طالبان; students), also transliterated as Taleban, is an Islamist and Pashtun nationalist movement which effectively ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, despite having diplomatic recognition from only three countries: the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. ... Osama bin Laden Ayman al-Zawahiri Al-Qaeda (Arabic: , al-Qā‘idah; the foundation or the base) is the name given to an international Islamic fundamentalist campaign comprised of independent and collaborative cells that all profess the same cause of reducing outside influence upon Islamic affairs. ...

Major centers of Shi'a scholarship

• Qom, Iran
• Najaf, Iraq
• Mashad, Iran
• Ray, Iran
• Tabriz, Iran
• Isfahan, Iran
• Tehran, Iran
• Sur Hawzah, Lebanon
• Saida Hawzah, Lebanon
• Jabal Amil Hawzah, Lebanon
• Halab Hawzah, Syria
• Damascus Hawzah, Syria
• al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
• Kufa, Iraq
• Samara, Iraq
• Karbala, Iraq
• al-Mada'in, Iraq
• Hillah, Iraq
• Lucknow, India

Qom is famous for the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, first built in the late 8th century. ... Najaf (Arabic: ) is a city in Iraq, about 160 km south of Baghdad, located at 31. ... Imam Reza Shrine Tomb of Nader Shah Afshar, a popular tourist attraction in Mashad. ... Ray, is one of the oldest cities of Iran. ... Tabriz City Hall, built in 1895, by Arfaol molk, with the aid of German engineers. ... Part of Shah Abbas large urban project in his new capital, the Chahār Bāgh Four Gardens, is a four-kilometer avenue in the city of Isfahan. ... Tehran is a metropolis of 14 million situated at the foot of the towering Alborz range. ... Damascus by night, pictured from Jabal Qasioun; the green spots are minarets Damascus (Arabic officially دمشق Dimashq, colloquially ash-Sham الشام) is the capital city of Syria and is the oldest inhabited city in the world. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Kufa (الكوفة al-Kufa in Arabic) is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. ... Karbalā (Arabic: ; also transliterated as Kerbala or Kerbela) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32. ... Lucknow is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

See also

• List of Ayatollahs
• Dawoodi Bohras
• Fatimids
• Imam
• Alevis
• Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Iraqi opposition
• Ismailis
• Jafari
• Mulla Sadra
• Seyyed Hossein Nasr
• Shia Imams
• Succession to Muhammad
• Sunni Islam
• Zaidi
• List of Marjas
• Academic Bias against The Shia

This is a list of Ayatollahs: Ayatollah Amini Ayatollah Azari-Ghomi Mohammad Beheshti Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi Sadiq Ehsanbakhsh Mohammad Taqi Bahjat Ayatollah Mohammadi Guilani Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Fazel Lankarani Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Ahmad Jannati Abol-Ghasem Kashani Sadegh Khalkhali Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Grand Ayatollah Abul... Dawoodi Bohras are the main branch of the Bohras (a Mustali subsect of Ismaili Shia Muslims) based primarily in India and Pakistan. ... The Fatimid Empire or Fatimid Caliphate ruled North Africa from A.D. 909 to 1171. ... Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... Alevis are adherents of a branch of Islam, related to Shia Islam and practised mainly in (majority Sunni) Turkey, among both Turks, Zazas, and Kurds. ... Ali ibn Abu Talib (Arabic: ) (c. ... The Iraqi opposition can refer to two things: Pre-2003 : Iraqi anti-Saddam groups were composed of a number of groups in Iraq opposed to the Saddam regime. ... The Ismaili ( اسماعيلي, Persian Esmaaili) branch of Islam is the second-largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... ملاصدرا or Mulla Sadra (aka Molla Sadra or Mollasadra) also called Sadr Ad-Din Ash- Shirazi (c. ... Seyyed Hossein Nasr, (Persian: سيدمحمدحسين نصر) Iranian philosopher and renowned scholar of comparative religion, is a prominent authority in the fields of Islamic esoterism, sufism, philosophy of science, and metaphysics. ... Sects Within Shiism there are various sects that differ over the number of Imams, or path of succession. ... In 632 CE, the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the Arabian city of Medina, after a brief illness. ... // Historical Background of Sunni-Shia Split The principal issue upon which Islams first major sectarian split occurred centers on the question of leadership. ... Zaiddiyah (also: Zaidi, Zaydi, or in the West Fivers) refers to a sect within Shia Islam. ... This page is an partial list of Marja-e-Taqleedhs followed by Shia Muslims around the world. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Books

Shi'a texts:

• Qur'an
• Nahj al Balagha; the sermons and letters of Ali, compiled by Seyyed Razi
• Mafatih al-janan; a collection of prayers.
• Usul i Kafi; a collection of hadiths.

Academic sources: The Quran (Arabic: al-qurān literally the recitation; also called Al Qurān Al Karīm or The Noble Quran; or transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... The Nahj al Balagha (Peak of Eloquence) is the most famous collection of speeches (sermons) and letters by Ali ibn Abi Talib, accepted as the fourth of the Caliphs by Sunni Muslims and the first of the Imams by Shia Muslims. ... Seyyed Razi was born in 970 AD in Baghdad. ...

• Shi'Ite Islam by Muhammed H. Al-Tabataba'i
• Expectation of the Millennium: Shi'Ism in History by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
• Shi'ism Doctrines, Thought, and Spirituality by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

Allameh Tabatabaei, one of contemporarys greatest Islamic Philosophers, chatting with Ayatollah al-Shirazi. ... Seyyed Hossein Nasr, (Persian: سيدمحمدحسين نصر) Iranian philosopher and renowned scholar of comparative religion, is a prominent authority in the fields of Islamic esoterism, sufism, philosophy of science, and metaphysics. ... Seyyed Hossein Nasr, (Persian: سيدمحمدحسين نصر) Iranian philosopher and renowned scholar of comparative religion, is a prominent authority in the fields of Islamic esoterism, sufism, philosophy of science, and metaphysics. ...

External links

General Shi'a resource websites

• Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project (al-Islam.org)
• AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (aimislam.com)
• Al-Shia Website (al-shia.com)
• Al-Khoei Foundation (al-khoei.org)
• AlulBayt Foundation (alulbayt.com)
• Amiralmomenin School (makaremshirazi.org)
• Ansaar Al-Mahdi (themahdi.org)
• Answering-Ansar (answering-ansar.org)
• Dar-ul Hadith Institute (hadith.net)
• Imam Ali Foundation - London (najaf.org)
• Imam Reza Network (imamreza.net)
• Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center, Jamaica, New York (al-khoei.org)
• Islamic Propagation Office of the Islamic Seminary of Qom (balagh.net)
• Islamic Unity Society (ius.org.uk)
• Jafria Association of North America (jana.org)
• Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Community of London (Hujjat Imambara) (hujjat.org)
• Noor Fiqh Library (noornet.net)
• Qom's Main Seminary (hawzeh.net)
• Shia Images (ShiaIMAGES.net)
• Shia News (shianews.com)
• Tafseer Al-Mizan (almizan.org)
• Teachings of Islam (shirazi.org.uk)
• The Shi'a (shia.org)
• Ya Zahra AlulBayt Global Information Center (yazahra.net)
• Al Muslimeen (almuslimeen.net)

Websites commemorating Shi'a Imams

• Imam Ali commemorative website (imamalinet.net)
• Quotes of Imam Ali (sufiblog.com/timeless.php)
• Imam Hussayn commemorative website(geocities.com/hussaynia/)
• In the Memory of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (almujtaba.com)
• Islam, the Prophet and Imams from an esoteric Shi'a perspective (islamfrominside.com)

Shia Islam directories and encyclopedias

• Shi'ite Encyclopedia
• Hawzah Yellow Pages
• List of Shi'a Ulema
• SHI'A Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai Translated By: Sayyid Husayn Nasr
• Root and branches of faith by Maqbul Hussein Rahim