Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Shiah Islam

Shiah Islam

5.8
A branch of Islam that believes leaders should come from Ali's family, common in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon
  • noun
  • /ˈʃiːə ɪsˈlɑːm/
translation icon : islam chiíta
  • Many followers of Shiah Islam observe the holiday of Ashura with unique religious rituals.

Examples

  • Many people practice Shiah Islam in Iran.

  • The history of Shiah Islam is closely tied to the events following the death of Prophet Muhammad.

  • Iran is widely known as a center for Shiah Islam in the modern world.

  • Many followers of Shiah Islam observe the holiday of Ashura with unique religious rituals.

  • Is Shiah Islam the same as Sunni Islam?

  • Iran is widely known as a center for Shiah Islam in the modern world.

  • The history of Shiah Islam is closely tied to the events following the death of Prophet Muhammad.

Synonyms

Shia
vsShiah Islam
22 4.7

A branch of Islam whose followers believe Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should have been Muhammad's successor

is the fuller formal name used instead of the short common term
Shiism
vsShiah Islam
1 8.5

A branch of Islam that believes Ali should have led after Muhammad

describes the branch by its belief in Ali's leadership and regional prominence

Surface Forms

Shiah Islam singular
Shiah Islams plural

Morphology

Shiah + Islam

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Shiah' names followers who endorse Ali's succession and 'Islam' names the religion, so together they denote the branch of Islam associated with Shia believers. This labeling follows common cross-linguistic patterns for religious denominations, making the meaning predictable to learners who know both constituents.

Etymology

Shiah Islam comes from Arabic. The word Shiah means 'the followers' or 'party' of Ali, who many people believed should be the Prophet's next 'leader' after his death. So, Shiah Islam refers to the group that follows Ali and his family, which is why it is one of the two main branches of Islam today.