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'''Shi‘ites''' (or '' | '''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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | ||
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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]]. | 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> | 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== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[Sunni]] | *[[Sunni]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Shi'ism]] | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Rashidun Caliphs]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Islamic History]] | ||
[[Category:Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House)]] | |||
[[Category:Sacred history]] |