Shia Islam

Shi’a Islam is the second largest branch of Islam.

The Muslim community includes diverse intellectual, spiritual, and organisational traditions. This includes different perspectives and understandings of the messages of the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad.

One of these perspectives is Shi’a Islam. Shi’a and Sunni Islam divided many years ago after the death of Prophet Muhammad.

A key point of division revolves around leadership after Muhammad’s death. Shi’a Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad chose Ali as the next leader (Caliph).

For over 1,000 years, groups of Sunni and Shi’a Muslims have lived together, debated, disagreed, and fought with each other. There is a long and complex history between them that also involves politics and power. Shi’a Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches.