History glossary
Shi'a
a major branch of Islam shaped by allegiance to Ali and the Prophet's family in questions of leadership.
- Category
- Religious tradition
- Region
- Islamic world
- Date range
- Early Islamic period onward
What it means
Shi'a Islam is a major branch of Islam shaped by the belief that leadership of the Muslim community rightly belonged to Ali and the Prophet's family. Sunni and Shi'a traditions therefore remembered the early succession disputes in different ways.
Stories using this term
The Rise of Islam
From Muhammad's first revelations to the early caliphates, Islam grew from a Meccan message into a civilisation spanning Africa, Asia and Europe.
The World After The Cold War
From the fall of the Soviet Union to the rise of China and global terrorism, this story traces the turbulent reshaping of the international order after 1991.
The United States After 9/11
After 9/11, the United States launched the War on Terror, invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, expanded surveillance and homeland security, and entered a long era of costly war and deep political division.
