June 19, 2013
The week's top five must-sees,
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The week's top five must-sees,
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Description
The Shia represent the largest schismatic sect in Islam, accounting for 10-20% of the world's normative body of Muslims. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatul ʻAlī, meaning "followers", "faction", or "party" of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin Ali, whom the Shia believe to be Muhammad's successor in the Caliphate.
Shia Islam is based on the Quran and the message of the Islamic prophet Muhammad attested in Shia hadith, and certain books deemed sacred to Shia. In contrast to other types, the Shia believe that only God has the right to choose a representative to safeguard Islam, the Quran and sharia. Thus the Shias look to Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law, whom they revere and consider divinely appointed, as the rightful successor to Muhammad, and the first imam. The Shia extended this belief to Muhammad's family, the Ahl al-Bayt, and certain individuals among his descendants, known as imams, who they believe possess special spiritual and political authority over the community, infallibility, and other traits.
Although there were many Shia branches throughout history, modern Shia Islam has been divided into three main branches, namely the Ithna ashariyya, the Ismailis and the Zaidis.
(via Freebase)
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![Bahraini regime strips 31 dissenters of citizenship [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-13722000/13722989/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=a42151bc47f39491afdead7d129f09da)
![Militants slaughter five Shia Muslims in Pakistan [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-13652000/13652429/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=b72cbfb21f75b3a351dd4b0f036099c8)
![Two foreign workers killed by bombings in Bahrain's capital [Jordan TV, Jordan]](/images/image_cache/base-13557000/13557231/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=450dc787d571eb573cb322919434b9cb)
![Bahraini regime criminalizes all public gatherings and rallies [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-13188000/13188063/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=fd9d7e2f90a46943b33b3a7b1fb694fb "Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed")
![Pakistan: Funeral for Shiite judge gunned down in alleged 'targeted killing' [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-9619000/9619044/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=e8382390ec592dea18d6c6b4c3c3664b)
![Bahraini police attack protestors mourning slain teenager [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-9182000/9182615/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=8ae272675877023f763fab143b537afc)
![Amnesty International calls on Bahrain to free prisoners of conscience after 'travesty of justice' [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-8591000/8591355/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=336ec2add37d761c88b3405e1aedd5c8)