Shia Muslims follow the core tenets of Islam, like praying, fasting (Ramadan), giving charity (Zakat), and pilgrimage (Hajj), but emphasize leadership through the Prophet Muhammad's family (Ahl al-Bayt) and specific spiritual guides (Imams). Key practices include prayer with prostration on natural earth (turbah), mourning rituals for Imam Husayn (especially in Muharram), and deeper theological focus on Divine Justice (Adalat) and the awaited Mahdi.
Unlike Sunnis, Shi'a Muslims prioritise the descent of divine revelation through Muhammad's family line over accounts of his life and teachings as passed down by his companions.
Shia Muslims believe that just as a prophet is appointed by God alone, only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. They believe God chose ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib to be Muhammad's successor and the first caliph (Arabic: خليفة, romanized: khalifa) of Islam.
The succession to Muhammad in 632 led the Muslims to be split into two camps, the Sunnis, who believed that the caliphs of the Islamic community should be chosen by a council, as in Saqifa, while a second group, the Shia, who believed that Muhammad had named his successor to be Ali ibn Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in- ...
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.
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.
Rulings. According to the Islamic jurisprudence, it is forbidden to drink any sort of alcoholic drinks, little or much, and it will be punished, even if the person drinks so little that does not lead to intoxication.
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.
Religious figures
The five roots of Usul ad-Din. The foundations of the faith in Shi'a Islam; five key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Adalat (justice), prophethood, imamate, resurrection.
"Al Salam" literally means "The Peace"; the number "313" is the number men who accompanied the Islamic Prophet Muhammad during the Battle of Badr and is said by Shias to be the number of people that will accompany the 12th Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, when he returns to the world during the end of times.
Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam
Stand upright facing the Qiblah (direction of Mecca) and recite the adhan and iqama. Please note that all the recitations during the prayer must be in Arabic. Although approximate transliteration has been given below for each recitation, it is best to try and learn the Arabic script and pronounciations.
There are disagreements between the Shi'as and Sunnis with regard to the way one should wash their hands as well as wiping their head and feet in wudu'. For example, the Shi'as take it as obligatory to wash one's hands from over elbow to the tip of one's fingers, but the Sunnis hold that the reverse should be done.
Sectarian differences. For the most part, Sunnis and Shias observe Ramadan the same way, but there are some differences. For one, Sunnis break their fast at sunset, once the sun is no longer visible, but there is still light in the sky. However, for Shias they wait to break after it gets completely dark.
It is used to seek intercession through Ali, (where many Sunni Muslims would call blasphemous), the 1st Shia imam and 4th Sunni caliph, with most practitioners being Shia Muslims. However, it is not, as many believe, calling upon Ali, which would make it shirk by Sharia.
During his time in the heavens, Allah gave the commandment to the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) to establish 50 daily prayers. The Prophet then went back and forth between Prophet Musa (as) and Allah until the prayers were reduced to 5 daily prayers whilst still being equivalent in reward to 50 prayers.
It is common for Muslims to pray five times a day, the first just before sunrise and last around two hours after sunset, each prayer taking about five minutes. In a normal workday (9am to 5pm), Muslims generally pray twice once at approximately 1pm and again at approximately 4pm.
The reason behind considering this act as not recommended is manifold, the foremost being the issue of modesty, purification (Taharat) and cleanliness. In Twelver Shia Islam, oral sex is permitted as long as najasah (impurity) is not consumed.
Russia and Australia have the highest prevalence of alcohol dependence overall, with 2.61 per cent and 2.58 per cent, respectively. According to the WHO, US has the lowest rate of alcohol dependence with only 1.92 per cent.
Overall, while there may be historical and minority views against coffee, the prevailing opinion in Islamic jurisprudence is that it is permissible to consume.
Iran - 90-95%
In Iran, Shia Muslims make up the majority, with 92.2% of all Muslim population in the country belonging to this sect. Initially, Iran was a Sunni majority until 1500 when Shah Ismail I conquered Iran and forced a conversion of Sunni Muslims to Shia Islam with several Sunnis murdered in the process.
Since Muhammad had no direct male heir, the option for this would have been his cousin and son-in-law, Ali. Rallying around Ali, this group came to be known as the "Shiat Ali" (meaning "followers of Ali" in Arabic). This name was eventually shortened to "Shia."
Books attributed to Shia Imams
Al-Sahifa al-Alawiya (Book of Supplications (Du'a)) by Imam Ali, translated by William Chittick. Divan-i Ali ibn Abu Talib (poems which are attributed to Ali ibn Abu Talib).