View source for Shi'ism

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'''Shi‘ites''' (or ''Shi‘is'') are adherents of ''Shi‘ite Islam'' (also referred to as ''Shi‘a Islam'' or ''Shi‘ism''), and make up the second largest sect of [[Islam]] with an estimated 10-20% of the total Muslim population worldwide.<ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm Comparison of Sunni and Shia Islam] - ReligionFacts</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/540503/Shiite Shīʿite] - Encyclopædia Britannica Online (2010)</ref><ref>[http://pewforum.org/Muslim/Mapping-the-Global-Muslim-Population%286%29.aspx Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 7, 2009</ref><ref>Tracy Miller - [http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 2009</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html The World Factbook]</ref> 

The historic background of the [[Sunni]]–Shi'ite split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]] died in the year 632 AD, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a [[caliph]] of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world which led to the Battle of Siffin. 

According to this Shi'ite view, Ali is the singular, rightful successor of Muhammad in his role as leader of the Muslim community, not only ruled over the community in [[justice]], but also as the interpreter of [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)|Islamic law]] and its esoteric meaning. Hence he was regarded as being free from error and sin (infallible), and appointed by [[Allah]] by divine decree (nass) to be the first Imam. 

Shi'ites allow for the combination of the five [[Salah|prayers]] into three prayer times; morning, afternoon and night. The five prayers are still proscribed however these combinations are allowed with regard to time constraints on the believer's day. 

Shi'ites, as with the Sunnis, also follow the Qur'an and [[Sunnah]]. Shi'ites have their own form of [[hadith]] which only they follow, largely based on sermons by Ali, ''Al-Kafi'' and ''Nahj al-Balagha'' being seen as the most reliable.<ref>[http://www.ahya.org/amm/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=72 Al Kafi - The Bukhari of Shi'ism] - AHYA</ref> Shi'ite [[fiqh]] (according to a fatwa by Al-Azhar, the most respected authority in Sunni Islam)<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter1b/14.html al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia] - Shi'ite Encyclopedia v2.0, Al-islam</ref> is accepted as a fifth [[Madh'hab|school of Islamic thought]].

=Islamic Unity=
Islamic unity is a term that usually refers to establishing good and peaceful relations between [[Shiites|Shi'ite]]s and [[Sunni]]s, who together form almost the entire [[Islam|Islamic]] [[Ummah]], and can refer to political unity in the form of a [[Caliph|Caliphate]].

Shi'ite Ja'fari [[fiqh]] (according to a [[fatwa]] by Al-Azhar, the most respected authority in Sunni Islam)<ref>[http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/chapter1b/14.html al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia] - Shi'ite Encyclopedia v2.0, Al-islam</ref> can be accepted as a legitimate fifth [[Madh'hab|school of Islamic thought]]. 

Other advocates of Islamic unity between Shi'ites and Sunnis include; Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani,<ref>[http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1470 Former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani: Iran Supports Palestinian and Lebanese "Mujahideen," But Will Not Initiate the Annihilation of Israel] - MEMRI TV, Video No. 1470, May 18, 2007</ref> Hojatoleslam Ali Yunesi,<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2002/25-080702.html RFE/RL Iran Report] - GlobalSecurity, 8 July 2002, Volume  5, Number  25</ref> Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini,<ref>Mubahala - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymMXX2JASTI Imam Khumayni on Islamic Unity - Eng sub] - YouTube</ref> [[Imam Khamenei|Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei]],<ref>Kumail12 - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25m5j_3hMxM muslim unity] - YouTube</ref> Hezbollah,<ref>[http://www.claudiomoffa.it/pdf/Hezbollahchavez20060816.pdf Hezbollah: We don’t have Shia agenda] - The Asianage, August 16, 2006</ref> the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashiruddin,<ref>Syed Ali Safvi - [http://www.kashmiraffairs.org/safvi_yusuf_kashmiri_sept08.html Remembering Ayatollah Yousuf Kashmiri] - KashmirAffairs, September 24, 2008</ref> and [[Zakir Naik]].<ref>Shakirshuvo - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-exUaeDB858 Unity Of The Ummah - Dr. Zakir Naik (1/13)] - YouTube</ref> Opponents include Abu Musab Zarqawi,<ref>Michel Chossudovsky - [http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=967 Al Qaeda and the Iraqi Resistance Movement] - Global Research, September 18, 2005</ref> and Sipah-e Sahaba.<ref> Najum Mustaq - [http://moderate.wordpress.com/2007/03/02/americas-musharraf-dilemma/ America’s Musharraf Dilemma] - Moderate Observer, March 2, 2007</ref>

==See Also==

*[[Sunni]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Shi'ism]]
[[Category:Rashidun Caliphs]]
[[Category:Islamic History]]
[[Category:Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House)]]
[[Category:Sacred history]]