Shiite Muslims Are A Minority

Shiite Muslims are otherwise known as the Shia Muslims. They are a minority in the Muslim community. This community was formed soon after the Prophet’s death. There was a difference of belief between the Sunni sect and the Siite sect. While the Muslims of the Sunni sect believed that anyone could take the Prophet’s place, as long as he was capable of ruling the Muslim world, the Shiites did not agree. This Muslim sect believed that only the Prophet’s relations should be the successor. They believed that this was because they belonged to holy blood. The Shiite Muslims are however a very small minority in the Muslim society.

They comprise of about ten percent of the entire Muslim population in the world. There are religious guidance lines from the Prophet and his family, and the Shiites follow this very diligently. This sect is also divided into sub divisions, but has only three dominant ones. Many of them live in Iran and Iraq. The meaning of the sect name means followers of Ali. Ali was the relation of the Prophet, and he was expected to take the place of the Prophet. This Muslim society believes in Allah, the one and only God, his prophets, his messengers and also in the family of the prophet.

The descendants of the Prophet’s family are the Muslim Shia imams, who are considered to be fathered by Ali. These Muslims believe that the family of the Prophet and his close companions were the best people who knew about the religious teachings of Islam. This was because they were always with him. They believe that they were the only people who had first hand information about what God spoke to the Prophet. Shiite Muslims always argue with the Sunni Muslims and say that Ali was the rightful successor to the Muslim faith. This sect of Muslims did not have faith in the caliphate appointed by the Sunni Muslims.

About three quarters of the Muslims of the Shia sect reside in the Middle East, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. Ninety percent of the Iran Muslim population is Shiite too. These Muslims believe that unless they are known as the minority Muslim community in the country where they live, they are often considered as Sunni Muslims. As the Sunnis believe in the five pillars of Islam, so do the Shiites but their principles are different. They are oneness, justice, prophethood, leadership and the day of judgement.

The Shiite Muslims believe that they should also wear the head dress, but they follow the dissimulation of one’s religious beliefs if their lives are in danger. The Shiite Muslims worship Ali because they believe that the Prophet personally appointed him to be the only successor of the Muslim faith. They disqualified all the other caliphates, and only thought of Ali as the one and only caliphate. It is also believed that they considered Ali as the incarnation of God. One division of the Shiites only view Ali as a protector of the Islamic faith and not a prophet.