2.2- Shia

• Shi'a

  Muslims who believe in the imamate, the Successorship of Ali
• Shi'a Islam

  Another group of Muslims who believed that Muhammad had named his cousin Ali as his successor
• Ali


  • One of the earliest converts to Islam
  • Married to Muhammad's daughter, Fatima
  • Thought the true leader (Imam) had to be a descendent of Muhammad and chosen by God
  • Each Imam would identify the next one before he died
• Shi'a

  Have their own interpretation of Islamic laws and only accept sayings of Muhammad that have been passed down through Ali or his followers
• Five roots (key beliefs) of 'Usal ad Din in Shi'a Islam

  • Tawhid - God is one, God is not made up of different persons
  • Prophethood - Accepting that Muhammad is God's last prophet
  • God is just and wise and cannot do wrong, holding humans accountable for their actions
  • The Imamate - Accepting that the twelve Imams are the leaders of Islam
  • Believing in resurrection and judgement by God
• 5 roots of usul addin

  Tawhid / Adalat / Resurrection / Prophethood / Imamate