Bahrain has a Shia majority among its citizen population (around 60-70%), but the ruling monarchy and much of the government are Sunni, leading to significant political and social marginalization of Shia citizens, despite demographic shifts from naturalization increasing the Sunni proportion. This Sunni-Shia divide creates ongoing sectarian tensions, with Shia communities often facing discrimination and political exclusion.
Shia Muslims form a majority of the population in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan, as well as about half of the citizen population of Bahrain. Significant Shia communities are also found in Lebanon, Kuwait, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent.
While the majority of Muslims worldwide are Sunni, Shia populations are concentrated in particular regions: • Iran – ~90–95% • Iraq – ~60–70% • Bahrain – ~65–70% • Lebanon – ~30–35% • Yemen – ~35–45% (mainly Zaydi Shia) • Azerbaijan – ~65–75% • Saudi Arabia – ~10–15% (mostly in the Eastern Province) • Syria – ~10–15% ( ...
The House of Khalifa (Arabic: آل خليفة, romanized: Āl Khalīfah) is the ruling family of the Kingdom of Bahrain. They profess Sunni Islam and belong to the Anizah tribe.
The ministry website states 70.2 percent of the total (citizen and noncitizen) population is Muslim and 29.8 percent adhere to other religions and beliefs, such as Christians (10.2 percent), Jews (0.21 percent), Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Sikhs.
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Islam is the religion of the Kingdom and the legal system is based on the Islamic Shari'a codified systems and the English common law. The Islamic Sharia is the major source of legislation, followed by custom, and natural law or principles of equity and good conscience.
Are Bahais Muslims? The Bahai Faith is not the same as Islam. Islam is considered a parent religion of the Bahai Faith and there are differences between the two. One difference is that the Bahai Faith teaches that Muhammad was not the last prophet.
Bahrain's longstanding historical ties with Persia significantly shaped the island's Shia community, as Persian influence extended from the Achaemenid era into the Safavid period (1501–1722).
Citizens make up approximately 11 percent of the population, while noncitizens account for approximately 89 percent. Most citizens are Sunni Muslims, and almost all others are Shia Muslims.
Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain's economy.
Palestinians are predominantly Sunni Muslims, with Sunni Islam being the faith of the vast majority (around 85-90%) of the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, though there are also significant Palestinian Christian communities and very small Shia groups. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, is a Sunni organization, but Shia groups like Hezbollah and Iran offer strong support for the Palestinian cause.
While the exact numbers are subject to debate, the Shia comprise around 10% of the world's Muslims, and Sunnis 90%. Sunnis are a majority in most Muslim communities around the world.
Yes, Shia also do pray 5 times a day like “normal” Muslims (technically 15% of a sample set cannot be abnormal), however, many times they combine the setting under which they do Dhuhr and Asr prayers (i.e. they do both in one setting) and Maqrib and Isha prayers.
Pew Research estimated the 2020 proportion of Muslims in Lebanon in 2020 at 61.2%. Statistics Lebanon, a non-governmental research firm, estimated that 69.3% of Lebanese people Muslims, with approximately 45% of these Muslims being Shia, 45% being Sunni, and 10% being Alawite or Ismaili.
Sect identity is more common among other religious groups in India. For example, the predominant sect among Indian Muslims is Sunni Islam (55%), while 6% of Indian Muslims identify as Shia.
Shia Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq. Approximately 35% of the population in Yemen and nearly half of the Muslims in Bahrain and Lebanon are Shia Muslims. There is also a very large population of Shia Muslims living in the Persian Gulf countries especially in Saudi Arabia.
🩳 yes, you can wear shorts in Qatar, especially at the pool, beach, or in expat-heavy spots. 🧕🏼 no, you don't need to wear a hijab (unless you're entering a mosque)
This significant imbalance is largely due to the country's reliance on foreign labor, particularly in construction and other industries, where the workforce is predominantly male. Women make up only a small percentage of the population, as most migrant workers are men who come to Qatar for employment opportunities.
Islam. Around 95.9% of Oman's population is Muslim, of which 45% follow Ibadism. An estimate recorded around 45% following Sunni Islam while the other 5% identifying as Shia Muslims.
Bahrain embraced Islam in 629 (the seventh year of hijra); Mohammed ruled Bahrain through one of his representatives, Al-Ala'a Al-Hadhrami. During the time of Umar I the famous companion of the Prophet, Abu Hurayrah, was the governor of Bahrain. Umar I also appointed Uthman bin Abi Al Aas as governor of the area.
The Shia view of the Qur'an differs from the Sunni view, but the majority of both groups believe that the text is identical. While some Shia disputed the canonical validity of the Uthmanic codex, the Shia Imams always rejected the idea of alteration of Qur'an's text.
Baha'u'llah allowed for two wives in the Kitab-i-Aqdas but 'Abdu'l-Baha said that given the conditions placed on having two wives (treating them equally and fairly) it was not practical or possible to have more than one wife.
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest surviving religion in the world, it is also described by the 19th century term Sanātana Dharma ( lit. 'eternal dharma'). Vaidika Dharma ( lit. 'Vedic dharma') and Arya Dharma are historical endonyms for Hinduism.