n.
Member of the Sh 012B; 02BD; ite branch of Islam , which resulted from the first fitnah , or split, within the religion over leadership.
Members of the political faction that supported Al 012B; , Muhammad 's son-in-law, as the Prophet's heir after the murder of the third caliph, 02BD; Uthm 0101; n, the Shites gradually became a religious movement after the murder of 02BD; Al 012B; . 02BD; Al 012B; 's followers insisted that a caliph , or imam , be a lineal descendant of 02BD; Al 012B; and his wife, F 0101; timah . Sh 012B; 02BD; ite legal tradition is distinct from the four major schools of thought in Sunnite Islam and is generally regarded as the most conservative. Though Sh 012B; 02BD; ites represent only about 10% of Muslims in the world, they are a majority in Iran and Iraq, and there are sizable populations in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, East Africa, Pakistan, and northern India. The largest subdivision is the Ithn 0101; Ashariyyah , or Twelvers, who recognized 12 historical imams (including 02BD; Al 012B; ); other subsects include the Ism 0101; 012B; liyyah and the Zaydiyyah.