Ali ibn Abi Talib is considered by Shia Muslims as the first Imam, the rightful religious and political successor to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Imam Ali (PBUH) is the only unique personality in the ...

1. Disagreement over Ali’s right to succession. The major difference by which Shia Islam distinguishes itself from mainstream Islam is the belief that Ali was designated the immediate successor ...

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Sunday that Saudi Arabia, which is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, ... Q&A: How do Sunni and Shia Islam differ? Share this: ...

More than 85 percent of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunni. They live across the Arab world, as well as in countries like Turkey, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Shia Muslims consider Ali to be Muhammad’s rightful heir and the first “legitimate” leader of Shia Islam. Their celebration of Ali takes place on the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of Ramadan ...

NAJAF, Iraq | The Imam Ali Mosque is considered the one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam. The NewsHour recently visited the shrine during Ramadan and watched as crowds grew throughout the evening.

The twelve Imams according to Shia Islam are the twelve descendants of Muhammad beginning with Ali bin Abu Talib and ending with Muhammad ibn al-Hassan or the Mahdi. According to them, these were ...