shia

/ˈʃiːə/
adjective
  1. Relating to the Shia branch of Islam.
    • She attends a Shia mosque every Friday for prayers.
    • The book explains Shia beliefs about religious leadership.
    • The Shia tradition includes the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
noun
  1. One of the two main branches of Islam, which holds that Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law Ali and his descendants are the rightful successors to the Prophet.
    • Shia is the second-largest branch of Islam after Sunni.
    • The history of Shia goes back to the early days of the Muslim community.
    • She wrote her thesis on the development of Shia in the Middle East.
  2. A follower of the Shia branch of Islam; a Shi'ite.
    • He is a Shia and goes to a different mosque than his Sunni friends.
    • Many Shia live in the city of Najaf, which is a holy site for them.
    • The Shia in the region celebrate the festival with great devotion.
Synonyms
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