Xiitas

Xiitas, also written Shiites, are adherents of Shia Islam, one of the two main branches of Islam alongside Sunnism. The name derives from shi‘atu Ali, meaning the party or followers of Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law. The central difference between Shiites and Sunnis concerns legitimate leadership after Muhammad’s death: Shiites maintain that leadership should remain within the Prophet’s family, in the line of Imams believed to be divinely chosen.

The Imamate is a key concept for many Shiites. In Twelver Shiism, the largest branch, the Imams are a succession of twelve divinely guided leaders; Ismailis and Zaidis have different lines and interpretations of leadership. Shiite jurisprudence also develops through clerical authority, with scholars and jurists guiding religious life; many communities follow a marja al-taqlid, a senior cleric whose rulings are studied in hawzas (religious seminaries).

Practices commonly observed by Shiites include the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali’s martyrdom at Karbala, especially during Ashura, as well as pilgrimages to shrines in Karbala and Najaf. Daily prayers and fasting are observed, though practices may vary by community. Shiite communities also emphasize rituals, theological education, and charitable works within their local contexts.

Geographically, Iran has the largest Shia population, with sizable communities in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon (notably Hezbollah), as well as in Pakistan, India, and various diaspora communities in Europe and the Americas. Throughout history, political developments—such as the Safavid dynasty adopting Shia Islam in Persia and the 1979 Iranian Revolution—have significantly influenced the global profile of Shiite communities.