When did Shia Islam start?
632 CE
Shia Islam originated as a response to questions of Islamic religious leadership which became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The issues involved not only whom to appoint as the successor to Muhammad, but also what attributes a true successor should have.
What caused the Islamic revolution in Iran?
Its causes continue to be the subject of historical debate and are believed to have stemmed partly from a conservative backlash opposing the westernization, modernization and secularization efforts of the Western-backed Shah, as well as from a more popular reaction to social injustice and other shortcomings of the …
Do Shia believe in Muhammad?
Muslims believe that Muhammad and other prophets in Islam possessed ismah. Twelver and Ismaili Shia Muslims also attribute the quality to Imams as well as to Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, in contrast to the Zaidi, who do not attribute ‘ismah to the Imams.
When did the Twelver Shi’ah faith come to Iran?
The faith forms the basis of Iran ’s present-day Islamic Republic, which came into being in 1979. Up to 95 percent of today’s more than 80 million Iranians are professing Twelvers. Iranian Shiʿah represent perhaps 40 percent or less of the world’s Twelver Shiʿi population, however.
Who was the founder of Shia Islam in Iran?
Shah Ismail, the founder of the Safavid dynasty, who established Twelver Shia Islam as the official religion of Iran at the beginning of the sixteenth century, was revered by his followers as a Sufi master.
Which is the largest branch of Shia Islam?
Twelver Shiism is the largest branch of Shia Islam, with about 85% of all Shias, or approximately 150 to 200 million Twelver Shias. Twelvers make majorities among Shia Muslims in Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain.
Who are the Twelver Shi ism in Islam?
Personal Chair of Islamic Studies and Persian, University of Edinburgh. Author of Twelver Shi’ism: Unity and Diversity in the Life of Islam and others. Twelver Shiʿah, Arabic Ithnā ʿAshariyyah, also called Imāmīs, Imāmiyyah, Jaʿfarīs, or Jaʿfariyyah, the largest of the three Shiʿi groups extant today.