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Shi'ite |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
Shi'iteMember of the Shi'ite branch of Islam, which resulted from the first fitnah, or split, within the religion over leadership. Members of the political faction that supported 'Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law, as the Prophet's heir after the murder of the third caliph, 'Uthman, the Shi'ites gradually became a religious movement after the murder of 'Ali. 'Ali's followers insisted that a caliph, or imam, be a lineal descendant of 'Ali and his wife, Fatimah. Shi'ite legal tradition is distinct from the four major schools of thought in Sunnite Islam and is generally regarded as the most conservative. Though Shi'ites represent only about 10% of Muslims in the world, they are a majority in Iran and Iraq, and there are sizable populations in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, East Africa, Pakistan, and northern India. The largest subdivision is the Ithna 'Ashariyyah, or Twelvers, who recognized 12 historical imams (including 'Ali); other subsects include the Isma'iliyyah and the Zaydiyyah. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Bombing of a major Shi'ite mosque in Samarra and an upsurge in murders, kidnappings and intimidation in Sunni/Shia-mixed and predominantly Sunni neighborhoods created unease and fear within the population. The invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon also "ultimately led to the radicalization of parts of Lebanon's Shi'ite community and the creation of Hezbollah," notes Ivan Eland of the Independent Institute. According to a report released by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1992, he had developed close ties to BCCI frontman Mohammed Hammoud, a Lebanese Shi'ite millionaire, meeting with him "ten to twenty times" in cities around the world and accepting money from him. |
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