shia
n. C / Un. one of the two main branches of Islam. People who follow this branch believe that leadership of the community should have stayed within the family of the Prophet Muhammad.
n. the branch of Islam that regards Ali and his descendants as the legitimate successors to the Prophet Muhammad. Often used collectively to refer to the community of believers or the theological system itself.
The Shia and Sunni communities live together in many cities.
Scholars of the Shia tradition emphasize the spiritual authority of the Imams as descendants of the Prophet.
The historical divergence between the Shia and Sunni branches originated in a dispute over political and religious leadership following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century.
When referring to the branch of Islam, it is uncountable; when referring to an individual follower, it is countable.