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Top: Society: Religion_and_Spirituality: Islam: Shia

There are two main branches of Islam, the Sunni and the Shia. Shia is the smaller branch and consists of 15% of the Muslim population worldwide. Most Shias (known in the west as Twelvers, or Ithnasheris) believe in 12 divinely appointed successors of Prophet Mohammed, but there are significant groups who believe in only 5 or 7 Imams.

Shias are in the majority in Iran and Iraq.

Alevism

An Ithna'sheri Shia community, with strong Sufi influence. Mainly centred in Turkey.

Chats and Forums

Discussion boards, chats, mailling lists and forums.

Ismaili

The Ismailis are a branch of Shia Muslims who share a common history with the mainstream Shias, also known as “Twelvers” or “Ithnasheris”. A dispute, however, arose on the succession of the Sixth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. The Ismailis accepted Imam Jafar al-Sadiq’s eldest son “Ismail” as a rightful seventh Imam.

Mainstream Shias (Twelvers/Ithnasheris), on the other hand, accepted Imam Jafar al-Sadiq’s younger son "Musa al-Kazim" as their rightful Imam.

News and Media

Online magazines, publication and news websites.

Organizations

Islamic centers, Offices of Shia Scholars, Charity organizations.

Zaydi

Zaydis (or, for Westerners, "Fivers") are the nearest to the Sunnis in their theology, and are often referred to as the "fifth madhhab (school)", after the four Sunni orthodox schools of jurisprudence.

Named after Zayd bin Ali, grandson of Husayn, and formed by his followers. While most Shias take Muhammed Al-Baqir to be the fifth Imam, Zaydis regard his brother Zayd as Imam.

They are particularly prominent in modern Yemen.

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