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Twelver Shi'ism

Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:24:54 AM Wikipedia source

Twelver Shi'ism (Arabic: اِثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة, romanized: Ithnā ʿAshariyya) is the largest branch of Shia Islam. Twelver Shi'as believe that the Twelve Imams are divinely appointed as both spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and that they possess special knowledge and authority to guide the Muslim community. According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemplary human individuals who rule over the Muslim community (Ummah) with justice, and are able to preserve and interpret the Islamic law (Sharia) and the esoteric meaning of the Qur'an. The words and deeds (sunnah) of Muhammad and the Imams are a guide and model for the Muslim community to follow. As a result, Muhammad and the Imams must be free from error and sin, a doctrine known as Ismah (literally 'protection') or infallibility, and must be chosen by divine decree, or nass, through Muhammad. Globally, there are about 170–255 million Twelvers: most of the inhabitants of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Azerbaijan, about half of the Muslim population of Bahrain, and sizeable minorities in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. Iran is the only country where Twelver Shi'ism is the state religion. Twelvers share many tenets with other Shi'ite sects, such as the belief in the Imamate. The Isma'ili and Nizari branches believe in a different number of Imams and, for the most part, a different path of succession regarding the Imamate. They also differ in the role and overall definition of an Imam. Twelvers are also distinguished from Isma'ilis by their belief in Muhammad's status as the "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam an-Nabiyyin), in rejecting the possibility of abrogation of Sharia laws, and in considering both esoteric and exoteric aspects of the Qur'an. Alevis in Turkey and Albania, and Alawites in Syria and Lebanon, share belief in the Twelve Imams with Twelvers, but their theological doctrines are markedly different.

Tables

Holiest sites in Twelver Shi'ism[5] · Theological doctrine › Holy sites
Masjid al-Haram
Masjid al-Haram
sanctuary
Masjid al-Haram
location
Mecca
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
sanctuary
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
location
Medina
Al-Haram al-Sharif
Al-Haram al-Sharif
sanctuary
Al-Haram al-Sharif
location
Jerusalem
Imam Ali Shrine
Imam Ali Shrine
sanctuary
Imam Ali Shrine
location
Najaf
Imam Husayn Shrine
Imam Husayn Shrine
sanctuary
Imam Husayn Shrine
location
Karbala
Al-Baqi'
Al-Baqi'
sanctuary
Al-Baqi'
location
Medina
Jannat al-Mu'alla
Jannat al-Mu'alla
sanctuary
Jannat al-Mu'alla
location
Mecca
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque
sanctuary
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque
location
Damascus
Al Abbas Mosque
Al Abbas Mosque
sanctuary
Al Abbas Mosque
location
Karbala
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
sanctuary
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
location
Damascus
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery
sanctuary
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery
location
Damascus
Imam Reza Shrine
Imam Reza Shrine
sanctuary
Imam Reza Shrine
location
Mashhad
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
sanctuary
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
location
Baghdad
Al-Askari Mosque
Al-Askari Mosque
sanctuary
Al-Askari Mosque
location
Samarra
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
sanctuary
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
location
Qom
sanctuary
location
Masjid al-Haram
Mecca
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Medina
Al-Haram al-Sharif
Jerusalem
Imam Ali Shrine
Najaf
Imam Husayn Shrine
Karbala
Al-Baqi'
Medina
Jannat al-Mu'alla
Mecca
Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque
Damascus
Al Abbas Mosque
Karbala
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
Damascus
Bab al-Saghir Cemetery
Damascus
Imam Reza Shrine
Mashhad
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
Baghdad
Al-Askari Mosque
Samarra
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
Qom

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