Portal:Shia Islam

Template:/box-header Shi'a Islam or Shi`ism (from the Arabic word شيعة, short for the historic phrase shi`at `Ali شيعة علي, meaning "the followers of Ali") is the second-largest Islamic denomination. The singular/adjective form of this name is Arabic shi`i شيعي. This is used to refer to a follower of the Ahlul Bayt, and in particular a follower of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was the Islamic prophet Muhammad's cousin, his son-in-law, and the father of Muhammad's only descendants. Ali was the male head of the Ahlul Bayt (Muhammad's household). Template:/box-footer

The Shia (/ˈʃiːə/; Arabic: شيعة‎‎ Shīʿah) represent the second largest denomination of Islam. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias or the Shi'a as a collective or Shi'i individually. Shi'a is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي) meaning "followers", "faction" or "party" of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, whom the Shia believe to be Muhammad's successor in the Caliphate. Twelver Shia (Ithnā'ashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shia Islam, and the term Shia Muslim is often taken to refer to Twelvers by default. As of 2009 Shia Muslims constituted 10-13% of the world's Muslim population, Shias comprised 11-14% of the Muslim population in the Middle East-North Africa region, and between 68% and 80% of Shias lived in four countries: Iran, Pakistan, India and Iraq. Shia Islam is based on the Quran and the message of the Islamic prophet Muhammad attested in hadith recorded by the Shia, and certain books deemed sacred to the Shia (Nahj al-Balagha).

Two leaves of an early Quranic manuscript in the Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts of the University of Birmingham's Cadbury Research Library were discovered in 2015 as being dated between 568 and 645, making it one of the oldest Quran manuscripts to have survived.

Source

• Al-Irbili, Kashf al-Ghamma, vol.3, p. 197.

January-2016

• 2016 Sayyidah Zaynab bombings

31 January: At least 60 people were killed and 110 wounded in a twin-suicide bomb attack in the town of Sayyidah Zaynab. The ISIS has accepted responsibility for the attack. (NBC News)

• 29 January: Four people killed and at least 18 others injured in a suicide bomb blast on Al-Ridha Mosque in Mahasin district of Al-Ahsa targeting Shia Muslims worshippers gathered for Friday Prayer (The Guardian)(Arab News)

• Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

With reference to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran from 18 January-2016 to defuse tension between the two countries, Daily Pakistan and Daily Jang disclose that Pakistan’s initiative for mediation between Iran and Saudi Arab have positive signals from both sides.

Chinese President will also visit the Iran and Saudi Arab next week. It is retrieved that China helped broker a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. After signing framework agreement, Iran became a founding member of Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Bank (Express Tribune). Mediation from Russia and Iraq have also been reported earlier (Daily Pakistan) (BBC)

• Candle light march for Execution of Nimr al-Nimr

Ladakh January 5: Buddhist, Christian and Sunni + Shia Muslims communities from Leh and Kargil have taken out a joint candle light march against the execution of Sheikh Nimr (Two Circles)

Disasters and accidents

December-2015

• 2015 Zaria Shia Massacre: Nigeria’s military has quickly buried the corpses of at least 300 Shia Muslims killed during raids at the house of Ibrahim Zakzaky in Zaria city earlier in December-2015 (BBC). HRW Africa added that: at best it was a brutal overreaction and at worst it was a planned attack on the minority Shia group (IBT)

Fāṭimah bint Muḥammad (/ˈfætəmə, ˈfɑːtiːˌmɑː/; Arabic: فاطمة‎‎ Fāṭimah, born c. 605 or 615;– died 28 August 632) is the youngest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Khadijah, wife of Ali and mother of Hasan and Hussein, and one of the members of Ahl al-Bayt."Fatimah", Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill Online. She is the object of great veneration, love, and respect by all Muslims as she lived closest to her father (prophet Muhammad) and supported him in his difficulties, is the supporter and loving caretaker of her husband and children, and is the only member of Muhammad's family that gave him descendants, numerously spread through the Islamic world and known as Sayyids. For Muslims, Fatimah is an inspiring example and Fatimah is one of the most popular girl's names throughout the Muslim world. She is a vital character in the religion of Islam and is considered a role model for all Muslim women. Fatimah's burial place is a disputed issue among Muslims from different sects. It is said that Ali ibn Abi Taleb buried his wife in an unknown location, because it was Fatimah's decision.

Nimr Baqir al-Nimr (Arabic: نمر باقر النمر‎‎) (21 June 1959 – 2 January 2016) commonly referred to as Sheikh Nimr, was a Shia Sheikh in al-Awamiyah in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province whose arrest and execution created diplomatic tension between Shia and Sunni governments. He was popular among youth and critical of the Saudi Arabian government, calling for free elections in Saudi Arabia. He was arrested by Saudi authorities in 2006, at which time al-Nimr said he was beaten by the Mabahith. In 2009, he criticised Saudi authorities and suggested that if Saudi Shia rights were not respected, the Eastern Province should secede. Saudi authorities responded by arresting al-Nimr and 35 others. During the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests, al-Nimr called for protestors to resist police bullets using "the roar of the word" rather than violence. On 8 July 2012 Saudi police shot al-Nimr in the leg and arrested him in what police described as an "exchange of gunfire." On 15 October 2014 al-Nimr was sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court for "seeking 'foreign meddling' in Saudi Arabia, 'disobeying' its rulers and taking up arms against the security forces." Al-Nimr was executed on or shortly before 2 January 2016, along with 46 others. His execution was condemned by Iran and Shiites throughout the Middle East, as well as by Western figures and Sunnis opposed to sectarianism. The Saudi government said the body would not be handed over to the family.

• ...that the Mourning of Muharram, observed by Shi'a Muslims, commemorates the anniversary of the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680?
• ...that due to the large number of pilgrims who visit Bahrain during Muharram (Muharram procession pictured), the country has been referred to as the "Karbala of the Gulf"?
• ...that Muslim ibn Awsaja al-Asadi was a companion of Muhammad prophet who participated at in Battle of Karbala as a companion of Hussain ibn Ali?
• ...that Wahhab ibn Abdullah al-Kalbi was Christian companion of Hussain ibn Ali who was killed in battle of karbala?

Template:/box-header Main Category:

• Shi'a Islam

Detailed information about the Shi'a Islam can be found under these sub-categories:

• Shi'a Muslims
  • Shi'a Imams
  • Shi'a clerics
• Ismailism

Quran

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Judaism

Christianity

Spirituality

Islam

Ashura

Islam in China

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