Shia Islam

    • 15% of total Muslim population
    • Iran has highest percentage of Shia of any country
    • Several branches, including Twelvers and Ismaili
    • Includes Sufi orders
    • AKA: Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism
  • Shia Islam is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith. Shia Islam constitutes roughly 15% of the Muslim world population. Countries with the largest Shia population are Iran, Pakistan, India, Iraq and Turkey.
  • Sunni/Shia Split

    The Shia/Sunni split occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.D. Sunni regard Ali ibn Abu Talib or Ali as the fourth and last of the "rightly guided caliphs", or successors to Muhammad as leader of the Muslims. Shias, on the other hand, feel that the Caliphate should pass down only to direct descendants of Mohammed or Imams. They often refer to themselves as "ahl al bayt" or "people of the house".

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