Shia Islam facts for kids

Ali's Tomb is one of the most important places for Shi'a Muslims

Shi'a Islam (pronounced Shee-ah Islam) is the second largest group of Muslims in the world. Muslims are followers of the religion of Islam. Shi'a Muslims believe that Ali, who was the cousin and son-in-law of the last prophet Muhammad, was chosen by God to be the first leader (called a Caliph or Imam) after Muhammad. They believe Prophet Muhammad announced Ali as the first Caliph during his last pilgrimage.

Shi'a Muslims follow the teachings of the Qu'ran (their holy book) and the family of Prophet Muhammad, whom they call the Ahl al-Bayt. They believe that the first three leaders chosen by Sunni Muslims were not important for the development of their faith. The word Shī'ī means a follower of the family of Muhammad and Ali.

Main Branches of Shi'a Islam

Just like other religions, Shi'a Islam has different groups. Today, three main branches have many followers:

• Twelvers (Ithnāˤashariyya): This is the largest group of Shi'a Muslims.
• Ismaili: This group is the second largest.
• Zaidiyyah: This is another important branch.

Images for kids

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  Kalema at Qibla of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Egypt, showing the phrase Ali-un-Waliullah ("ʿAlī is the guardian of God")

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  ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib, cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is seen as the first male to become a Muslim.

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  Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, Iran is a popular place for Shiʿa Muslims to visit. Many believe that the 12th Shīʿīte Imam—who is the promised Mahdi for Twelvers—once appeared and prayed here.

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  Shīʿa Muslims gathered for prayer at the Shrine of Imam Ḥusayn in Karbala, Iraq.

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  Map showing the different schools of Islamic law around the world.

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  Names of the 12 Imams (descendants of Imam ʿAlī) written in the beautiful style of Islamic calligraphy.

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  A calligraphic picture of the 12 Imams along with the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

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  Shāh Karim al-Husayni, known as the Aga Khan IV, is the 49th and current Imam of Nizārī Ismāʿīlīs.

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  Gold dinar (coin) of al-Ḥādī ila'l-Ḥaqq Yaḥyā, the first Zaydī Imam of Yemen, made in 910–911 CE.

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  The Zaydī State of Yemen under the rule of Imam Al-Mutawakkil Ismāʿīl bin al-Qāsim (1644–1676).

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  The special ceremony for ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib at Ghadir Khumm (from an old manuscript, 1308–1309 CE).

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  The decorated cover (Ḍarīẖ) over ʿAlī's grave, inside the Sanctuary of Imām ʿAlī, in Najaf (present-day Iraq).

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  Battle of Karbala, a painting by the Persian artist Abbas Al-Mousavi, at the Brooklyn Museum (painted between 1868 and 1933).

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  Zulfiqar with and without the shield. This depiction of ʿAlī's sword is carved on the gates of Old Cairo, like Bab al-Nasr. This sword became a symbol of Shīʿīsm.

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  A picture of ʿAlī's sword and shield carved on the Bab al-Nasr gate wall in Cairo, Egypt.

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  The Sanctuary of Imam Reza in Mashhad, Iran, is a large complex with the tomb of Imam Reza, who is the 8th Imam for Twelver Shīʿas.

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  Ghazan and his brother Öljaitü were leaders who allowed different groups within Islam to exist peacefully, unlike earlier traditions.

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  The Fatimid Caliphate at its strongest point.

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  Al Hakim Mosque, in Islamic Cairo.

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  One of the first things Shāh Ismā'īl I of the Safavid dynasty did was make the Twelver branch of Shīʿa Islam the official religion of his new Persian Empire. This caused some disagreements in the Middle East.

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  Shrine of Imam ʿAlī in Najaf, Iraq.

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  The moment Twelver Shīʿīsm was declared the official religion of Safavid Persia.

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  The Battle of Chaldiran in 1514 was a big conflict between different Muslim groups in the Middle East.

See also

In Spanish: Chiismo para niños