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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · World Religions and Traditions

Shia

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈʃiːə/adjectiveCommon term

In religious studies & theology, Shia means: Belonging to the second-largest branch of Islam, whose followers believe that leadership after the Prophet Muhammad belonged to Ali and his descendants, the Imams.

In Turkish: Şii, Şiilik, Caferi

How it is used

The name comes from Shi'at Ali, 'the party of Ali'. Used as an adjective (Shia Islam) and a noun (Shias). The largest group is the Twelvers (Ja'fari school); others are the Ismailis and Zaydis. Shia Muslims form the majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain.

Example sentences

  1. Shia Muslims commemorate the death of Husayn at Karbala in 680 CE on the day of Ashura.

  2. Twelver Shia Islam is the official religion of Iran.

Common collocations

  • Shia Islam
  • Shia Muslims
  • Twelver Shia
  • Sunni and Shia
  • SunniBelonging to the largest branch of Islam, followed by most Muslims worldwide, which accepts the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of the Prophet Muhammad.
  • imamIn Sunni Islam, a person who leads prayers in a mosque; in Shia Islam, also one of the divinely guided leaders from the Prophet's family, such as Ali and Husayn.
  • IslamA monotheistic religion that began in seventh-century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad; Muslims regard the Qur'an as God's word and follow practices such as the Five Pillars.
  • schismA formal split within a religious community into separate groups, usually over doctrine, authority or practice.

More terms: World Religions and Traditions

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