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1.

What are the Origins of the sect?
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Shiite Muslims are the product of the violent schism that followed
the death of the prophet Muhammad in AD 632, and through the
centuries have
generally been the losers in the struggle to lead the faithful and to
divide patronage and power. That has left them with a sharp feeling of
dispossession, of being a people denied their destiny by corrupt rulers.
The split started with a fight over who should lead the faithful after
Muhammad's death. One side believed that direct descendants of
the prophet
should take up the mantle of caliph – the leader of the world's Muslims.
They were known as the Shiat-Ali, or "partisans of Ali," after the
prophet's cousin and son-in-law Ali, whom they favored to become caliph.
They became known as Shiites.
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Shi’ites follow Ali
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120 Million of them in the world
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The Shia consist of one major school of thought known as the Jafaryia
or the "Twelvers," and a few minor schools of thought, as the
"Seveners" or
the "Fivers." These names all refer to the number of imams they recognize
after the death of Muhammad. The term Shia is usually meant to be
synonymous with the Jafaryia/Twelvers.
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The distinctive set of principles and institution of Shia Islam is
the leadership which includes the idea that the successor of Muhammad be
more than merely a political leader
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The Twelver Shias further believe that the Twelve Imams who succeeded
the prophet were sinless and free from error and had been chosen by
Allah <http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/beliefs/god.htm> through
Muhammad
- Shia Holidays
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In addition to the general Muslim holidays and Ashura (see above),
the following days are of special significance to Shia Muslims.
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Arba'een Arba'een - commemorated on the 20th of Safar, 40 days after
Ashurah. Shias also remember the terrible treatment of the women of Imam
Hussein's household - they were dragged from Karbala (central Iraq) to
Shaam (Damascus, Syria) - with many young children dying of thirst and
exposure along the route.
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Eid al-Ghadeer - A celebration held on the 18th of Dhil-Hijjah
marking the event of Ghadeer Khumm in 10 AH. The day on which God stated
the completion of Islam. Laylatul Qadr is the biggest night, and Eid
al-Ghadeer is the biggest day.
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Eid al-Mubahila- A celebration held on the 24th of Dhil-Hijjah
marking the event of al-Mubahila between the Household of the
Prophet and a
Christian deputation from Najran, in 10 AH.
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Milad al-Nabi - A celebration to mark the Prophet Muhammad's birth
date, 17th Rabbi al-Awwal. Coincides with the birth date of the 6th Shia
Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq. (The Sunnis mark the occasion on 12th Rabbi
al-Awwal.)
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Mid of Shaban- Significant to all Muslims, but specifically to Shias
as it also marks the birth date of their 12th and final Imam, Muhammad
al-Mahdi
2.

What are the basic tenets and beliefs of your sect?
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For Shiites, the first true leader of the Muslim community was Ali,
who was considered an imam, a term used among Shiites not only
to indicate
leadership abilities but also to signify blood relations to the Prophet
Muhammad. As Ali’s descendants took over leadership of the Shiite
community, the functions of an imam became more clearly defined.
Each imam
chose a successor and, according to Shiite beliefs, he passed down a type
of spiritual knowledge to the next leader. Imams served as both spiritual
and political leaders. But as Shiites increasingly lost their political
battles with Sunni Muslim rulers, imams focused on developing a
spirituality that would serve as the core of Shiite religious
practices and
beliefs. Shiites believe that when the line of imams descended from Ali
ended, religious leaders, known as mujtahids, gained the right
to interpret
religious, mystical, and legal knowledge to the broader
community. The most
learned among these teachers are known as ayatollahs (lit. the “sign of
God”).
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Shiite religious practice centers around the remembrance of Ali’s
younger son, Hussein, who was martyred near the town of Karbala
in Iraq by
Sunni forces in 680. His death is commemorated each year on the tenth day
of the Islamic month of Muharram in a somber and sometimes violent
ritualistic remembrance known as “Ashura,” marked among some
Shiites by the
ritual of self-flagellation. As a minority that was often persecuted by
Sunnis, Shiites found solace in the Ashura ritual, the telling of the
martyrdom of Hussein and the moral lessons to be learned from it.
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"Twelver Shiism"—the most common form of Shiism today—is pervasive in
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Bahrain. Twelvers accept a line of twelve
infallible imams descendent from Ali and believe them to have
been divinely
appointed from birth. The twelve imams are viewed as harbors of the faith
and as the designated interpreters of law and theology. Twelvers believe
that the twelfth and last of these imams “disappeared” in the late ninth
century. This “hidden imam” is expected to return to lead the community.
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Although most Shiites agree on the basic premise that Ali was the
first rightful imam, they disagree on his successors. The
Ismailis, who are
the second largest Shiite sect, broke off in the eighth century,
recognizing only the first seven imams (the seventh was named
Ismail, hence
the names “Ismaili” and “Sevener”). Historically and at least until the
sixteenth century, the Ismailis were far more disposed than the
Twelvers to
pursuing military and territorial power. In the past, they established
powerful ruling states, which played significant roles in the development
of Islamic history. Today, Ismailis are scattered throughout the
world but
are prominent in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. There are also Ismaili
communities in East and South Africa.
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Although there are considerable differences between Sunni and Shiite
Islam, the two Islamic sects share common traditions, beliefs, and
doctrines. All Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was the
messenger
of Allah. All believe that they must abide by the revelations
given to the
Prophet by Allah (as recorded in the Quran) and by the hadith (sayings of
the Prophet and his companions). The concepts of piety, striving for
goodness, and social justice are fundamental to Islamic belief and
practice. Additionally, all Muslims are expected to live in
accordance with
the five pillars of Islam: (1) shahada—recital of the creed “There is no
God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet”; (2) salat—five obligatory
prayers each day; (3) zakat—giving alms to the poor; (4)
sawm—fasting from
sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan; and (5) hajj—making a
pilgrimage to Mecca once during a lifetime if one is physically and
financially able.


1.

How and why does your sect differ from the other sects?
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Sunnis
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Are a large portion of Islam, while the Shi’ites are a very small
portion
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Believe that the caliph should be elected, while Shi’ites believe
that the caliph should be hereditary


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Wahhabis
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Suffis
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Baha’ism
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4. What Evidence is there that your sect is what Islam should REALLY
be, as opposed to what the other sects claims?
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their willing to self harm for their love to Allah
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Ali should be the nex