The biggest branch of Shia Islam is Twelver Shi'ism (Ithna 'Ashariyya), which follows the line of the Twelve Imams and makes up about 85% of all Shia Muslims, with large populations in Iran (where it's the state religion), Iraq, Azerbaijan, and significant minorities elsewhere, while Iran is the largest Shia-majority country and the only one with Shia Islam as the basis of its government.
Today, there are three major surviving Shia groups: Twelvers, Ismailis (some but not all of whom are called Seveners), and Zaydis (aka Fivers). Twelver Shi'ism is prominent in Iran and Iraq, Ismailis in Central Asia, and Zaydis in Yemen.
Religious figures
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.
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.
"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.
While the founder of all Islam is clearly Muhammad, the founder of Shia Islam is unquestionably his nephew and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ali would become the founder, Caliph, and first Imam of the Shia Islamic sect.
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.
The constitution designates Islam as the official religion, with over 90% of the Emirati population are Sunni Islam, mainly following the Maliki school. The vast majority of the remainder 5–10% are Shia Muslims, who are concentrated in the Emirates of Dubai and Sharjah.
“The true Shia of Imam Ali ( peace be upon him) are not defined by words alone, but by their actions. They embody his teachings, uphold his values, and reflect his wisdom in every aspect of their lives. These individuals are not only followers, but a true adornment for the Imam—living testaments to his legacy.
Hamas (or the Islamic Resistance Movement) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist military and sociopolitical movement, and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO).
By 2050, Christianity is projected to remain the world's largest religion, but Islam is expected to nearly equal it in numbers, with both groups comprising around 30-31% of the global population, driven by higher birth rates in Muslim-majority areas and significant growth in Christian populations, particularly in developing regions, according to Pew Research Center analyses.
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.
It is necessary to emphasize here that all grand scholars of the Imami Shi'a are in agreement that the Qur'an which is at present among the Muslims is the very same Qur'an that was sent down to the Holy Prophet, and that it has not been altered. Nothing has been added to it, and nothing is missing from it.
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 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.
Large numbers of Shia Arab Muslims live in some Arab countries including Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. Shia Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq.
Aga Khan (Persian: آقاخان; Arabic: آغا خان; also transliterated as Aqa Khan and Agha Khan) is the hereditary title of the spiritual leader and Imām of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias, a branch of Islam with approximately 12–15 million followers worldwide.
He has been regularly listed among The 500 Most Influential Muslims of the world. He also created and hosted the television talk show Satyamev Jayate.
Over the years, Shah Rukh Khan has openly spoken about his Islamic faith and strong belief in Allah, but he has also clarified that he does not perform the five daily prayers (namaz) regularly.
Like most Sunni, Shia Islam hold that all Muslims will eventually go to Jannah, and like the Ash'ari school, believe heedless and stubborn unbelievers will go to hell, while those ignorant of the truth of Islam but "truthful to their own religion", will not.
During the reign of the first Safavid shah (king), Ismail I (r. 1501–1524), the military, political, and religious goals of the Safavids became unified. In 1501, he proclaimed himself the King of Kings and the creator of a new Shia state, thus creating a strong ideological foundation.
Of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, around 170 million are Shia. The largest populations of Shia Muslims are found in India, Iran, and Iraq. Shiism developed out of a dispute between the Prophet Muhammad's followers over who would succeed him as the leader of the Muslim community.