The Shia Imam is considered by the Shia sect of Islam to be the rightful successor to Muhammad, and is similar to the Caliph in Sunni Islam. Unlike the Caliph, the Imam must be descended from Muhammad, through his daughter Fatima Zahra and her husband Ali. This belief is what led to the split between the Shia and Sunni, as the Shia felt that Ali was the rightful successor of Muhammad (which Shias believe is indicated by his actions at Ghadir Khom), while the Sunni felt that it was Abu Bakr. Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... It is sometimes difficult to separate concepts in Islam from concepts specific to Arab culture, or from the language itself. ... The religion of Islam consists of faith (إيمان, īmān) and practice (دين, dīn). ... There is also a town called Shāhāda, which is now in Nandurbār district (formerly in Dhule district) in the northwest corner of Maharashtra state in India. ... 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See also Grand Mufti Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mufti also refers to ordinary clothes, especially when worn by one who normally wears, or has long worn, a... Mullahs are Islamic clergy who have studied the Quran and the Hadith and are considered experts on related religious matters in this religion. ... Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آیت‌الله) is a high title given to major Shia clergymen. ... A marja, or marja-e-taqleed (Arabic مرجع تقليد), literally source of imitation or source of tradition, is the second highest authority on religion and law in Shia Islam after the prophet and (Shia) Imams. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; its literal meaning is the recitation and is often called Al Quran Al Karim: The Noble Quran, also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Hadith (الحديث, Arabic pl. ... 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Mutazili (Arabic المعتزلة) is an extinct theological school of thought within Islam. ... Shia Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 10-15% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ... Kharijites were members of an Islamic sect in late 7th and early 8th century AD, concentrated in todays southern Iraq. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... Introduction The Ismaili (Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmâiliyân) branch of Islam is the second largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Zaidiyah (also: Zaidi, Zaydi, or in the West Fivers) refers to a sect within Shia Islam. ... The Alawites form a Middle Eastern religious group prominent in Syria. ... Alevis are a branch of Islam, related to Shia Islam and practised mainly in (majority Sunni) Turkey, among both Turks and Kurds. ... 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Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Imaginary portrait of Ali ibn Abi Talib, by Iranian artist. ... Ghadir Khum is the famous incident which the Shias cite as the proof of Ali’s right to succeed the Prophet Muhammad after his demise. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ...

Sects

Within Shiism there are various sects that differ over the number of Imams, or path of succession. The issue of who is the rightful Imam has led to the growth of numerous sects within Shiism including: Twelvers (with Shaykhis), Ismailis (Seveners), Zaidis (Fivers), Alawites, Alevites, Druze, Ahl-e Haqq and others. Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... The Ismaili ( اسماعيلي, Persian Esmaaili) branch of Islam is the second-largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Zaiddiyah (also: Zaidi, Zaydi, or in the West Fivers) refers to a sect within Shia Islam. ... Alawite is a Middle Eastern Syria. ... Alevis are a branch of Islam, related to Shia Islam and practised mainly in (majority Sunni) Turkey, among both Turks and Kurds. ... The Druze (Arabic: duruzī درزي, pl. ... Also referred to as Yarsan and also Ali-Ilahis or Aliullahis by outsiders, is one of many Iran, combining various syncretistic and Islamic ideas with a veneration of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of Mohammad. ...

Ithna Ashariya

According to the majority of Shia, or the Twelvers, the following is a listing of the rightful successors of Muhammad according to their beliefs. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam, except for Husayn who was the brother of Hasan. Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ...

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-Rida (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 - ?)

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. ...

Ismailiya (Ismailis)

The Ismailis believe that the first six Imams listed above are the rightful successors of Muhammad, but differ beginning with the seventh, believing that Ismail bin Jafar was the rightful successor, and not his brother Musa al Kazim. From Ismail bin Jafar, the Ismaili line of Imams diverges to the descendants of Ismail, from whom the Aga Khans claim descent and their continuity. See [1] (http://www.amaana.org/history/history1.htm). The Ismaili ( اسماعيلي, Persian Esmaaili) branch of Islam is the second-largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Ismail bin Jafar was the eldest son of the sixth Shia Imam, Jafar as-Sadiq. ... Aga Khan is the title of the spiritual leader of a sect within the Ismaili branch of Islam (Nizari Ismaili). ...

Zaidhiya (Zaidis)

The Zaidis believe that the first four Imams listed above are the rightful successors of Muhammad, but differ beginning with the fifth. The Zaidis believe that Zayd bin Ali, and not his brother Muhammad al Baqir was the rightful successor to the Imamate. The Imamate for Zaidis is thus transferred from Zayd bin Ali to the other Imams who followed him, they often took the title of caliph. Unusually, the Zaidi caliphate was not hereditary, although the caliph has to be descended from Ali. Zayd ibn Ali (d. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Imaginary portrait of Ali ibn Abi Talib, by Iranian artist. ...

Important: Not All Zaidis believe that Zaid was the true Imam. Zaidis known as Wastis believe in Twelwer Imams. They are part of Shia Ithna Ashiri. Most of them settled in India and Pakistan. The biggest group of Zaidis having their belief in Twelve Shia Imams is known as Saadat-e-Bahra. Saadat means descendants of Imam Husayn bin Ali and Bahra means twelve in Hindi and Urdu Languages.

Saadat-e-Bahra's biggest gathering is in Karachi (Pakistan) and Muzaffarnagar (India).

See also

• Shi'a Islam
• Twelvers

Shia Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 10-15% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ...

External links

• Graphical illustration of the Shia sects (http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html)
• History of Imams from the "Aga Khani" point of view (http://www.amaana.org/history/history1.htm)