Shia

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablereligion

   The second largest branch of Islam, whose followers believe the Prophet Muhammad's rightful successor was his cousin and son-in-law Ali.

   Grammar: Used as the name of the branch: Shia is practiced in Iran and Iraq.

   Shia is the majority branch of Islam in Iran and Iraq.

   Historians trace the split between Sunni and Shia to a dispute about leadership.

   Her family follows Shia traditions during Ashura.

2. 2nouncountablereligion

   A follower of this branch of Islam.

   Grammar: Countable: a Shia, many Shia, or Shias.

   Patterns

   • the Shia of somewhere

   The Shia of southern Iraq travel to Karbala each year.

   He is a Shia who lives in Beirut.

   Many Shia fast and mourn during the month of Muharram.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounreligion

   Relating to this branch of Islam or its followers.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun: Shia scholars, a Shia mosque.

   Patterns

   • Shia Muslim
   • Shia scholar

   A Shia scholar gave the lecture.

   The Shia community marked Ashura with a procession.

Word forms

Common combinations

Shia Muslim

She is a Shia Muslim from Lebanon.

Sunni and Shia

Sunni and Shia communities live side by side in the city.

Shia cleric

A Shia cleric led the prayers.

Shia majority

Iran has a Shia majority.

Synonyms and how they differ

Shiite

Shiite is a common English variant of the same word, sometimes avoided by followers who prefer Shia.

Shi'a

Shi'an is a spelling that keeps the Arabic glottal stop; the meaning is the same.

Opposites

Word family

Shiite noun

a follower of Shia Islam

Shiism noun

the beliefs of Shia Islam

Sunni noun

the other main branch of Islam

Commonly confused: Shia or Sunni?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Shia”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words