Summary of What is Shia Islam? - Twelverism

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Shia Islam is a branch of Islam that follows the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad's successors, the Imams. The main texts of Shia Islam are the Kitab al-Kafi, Tahavi Bellat Kam, and Al-Ester. Practices that characterize Shia Islam include Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, and the annual pilgrimage to Kerabala, where imams' graves are visited.Today, the majority of Shia followers follow the rationalistic Usuli school.

• 00:00:00 This video provides an overview of the history and intellectual development of the Shia Islamic community. Shia Muslims believe that authority to lead the community is passed down from the prophet's family, specifically from Ali, the son of Muhammad. This messianic movement developed early on and was a difficult topic to understand due to the many competing accounts.
• 00:05:00 Shia Islam believes in a succession of infallible imams who are able to interpret the Quran and Sunnah correctly and adapt to new times and situations. The main difference between different branches of Shia Islam is in their acceptance of different lines of imams as being correct.
• 00:10:00 Shia Islam is a religious tradition that holds that there is only one true imam, who went into a lesser occultation, and will return at the end of time. This became a major turning point in the history of Twelve Irish Shiites, as they began to distinguish themselves from other Muslims. Other beliefs and practices that make Shiaism unique include the belief that there can be no time when there is no imam present to lead the community, and the strict attitude towards law and doctrine that developed after the occultation of the last imam.
• 00:15:00 Shia Islam is the largest Islamic denomination, with over 1.5 billion adherents. Twelverism is the predominant Shia belief system, which places a great emphasis on reason and intellect. This intellectual tradition began to shift after the occultation of the 12th imam, and grew in popularity after the 9th and 10th centuries.
• 00:20:00 Shia Islam is a branch of Islam that follows the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad's successors, the Imams. The main texts of Shia Islam are the Kitab al-Kafi, Tahavi Bellat Kam, and Al-Ester. Practices that characterize Shia Islam include Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, and the annual pilgrimage to Kerabala, where imams' graves are visited. Shi'i thought has developed in various ways from the proto-Sunni Sunni Muslims, and today there are many different Shi'i sects.
• 00:25:00 The Shia branch of Islam emphasizes the importance of the Imam and his successors. They believe that the Imam is the only one who can lead the community in jihad (holy war). If there is no Imam, there can be no such war.
• 00:30:00 The Safavid dynasty was founded in the 16th century and ruled Persia for 200 years. During their time, they established 12th Shia Islam as the new state religion, and sought to convert their citizens to the creed. They were also the arch rivals of the Sunni Ottoman Empire to the west. However, in the 18th century, the Usuli school of Shia law (which is rationalistic) began to gain the upper hand over the Traditionalist school (which is traditional). Today, the majority of Shia followers follow the rationalistic Usuli school.
• 00:35:00 The video discusses the religious beliefs of Shia Islam, which includes aspects of mysticism and sufism. The summary states that while sufism is mainly a Sunni affair, some of its metaphysical speculations and psychological theories were adapted by Shia thinkers as essential to a comprehensive understanding of Islamic doctrine and spirituality. The hostile attitude of the Safavids towards sufism, and their scholars' opposition to the practice of tasawolf, is mentioned as an interesting example. According to the summary, Mullah Sadra's philosophy of al-hikmat al-muta'aliyah (transcendent wisdom) became paradigmatic in Shiaism, and is still studied by scholars today.
• 00:40:00 Shia Islam is a complex and diverse tradition with a long history. Safavid rule played a significant role in developing Shia jurisprudence and doctrine, and Shaikh Ali Reza Ashtiani is considered the father of Shia jurisprudence. Shia Islam also has a strong mystical tradition.
• 00:45:00 The Shia branch of Islam follows the teachings of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam. Twelverism is the name of the Shia belief system.