Shi'a,
what?
Shi'ism is a branch of
Islam which is primarily practised in Iran. The majority of Islamic
states are Sunni, such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Shi'ism gained its
popularity under the Safavids and has continued to be Iran's state religion.
It differs from Sunni Islam because, instead of electing their religious
officials, in Shi'ism the rulers must be decendents of the son-in-law of
the Prophet Mohammad. Therefore, a Sunni state is ruled by
an elected body of religious leaders, and a Shi'a state is ruled by one
leader who is the Prophet's spiritual ancestor. The leader's relationship
to the Prophet not only gives him political legitamacy, but also a spiritual
authority which approaches semi-divinity.
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