isnaashariyah

Isnaashariyah, also known as Twelver Shi'ism, is the largest branch of Shia Islam. Its adherents, the Isnaasharis, believe in twelve divinely ordained Imams who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad as his rightful successors. These Imams are considered infallible spiritual and political leaders who possess divine knowledge and authority. The lineage of the Imams begins with Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, and continues through his descendants.

The twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is believed to be in occultation, meaning he is hidden from humanity but will reappear at the end of times to establish justice and peace on Earth. In the absence of the Imam, religious authority is vested in qualified jurists known as mujtahids, who interpret Islamic law and guide the community. Isnaashari theology emphasizes the concept of divine justice and the importance of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's household). Their religious practices include daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, and mourning rituals for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the third Imam, at the Battle of Karbala. Isnaasharis are found predominantly in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Pakistan, as well as in diaspora communities worldwide.