Shiah

/ ˈʃiːə /

noun

1. one of the two main branches of Islam (the other being the Sunni), making up a tenth or more of the entire Muslim population, and forming the majority in Iran and Iraq, which regards Mohammed's cousin Ali and his successors as the true imams
2. another name for Shiite

adjective

1. designating or characteristic of this sect or its beliefs and practices

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shiah¹

C17: from Arabic shī`ah sect, from shā`a to follow

Example Sentences

“Oh, if we can pull this thing off; rope together the young hotheads and the Shiah obscurantists,” she wrote home.

From The New Yorker

Rights campaigners say the blasphemy law in Pakistan is widely used against religious minorities, including Christians, Ahmadis and more recently Shiah Muslims, usually on flimsy pretexts.

From Reuters

I'm very good friends with his eldest son, Shiah, who plays with me now.

From The Guardian

Its small, well-executed menu features brunch standards — omelets, burgers — and its owner, Shiah Blau, 25, seems equally energized by his food and his community.

From New York Times

Thus the Shiah priest gains great influence, not to say considerable wealth, in Persia, and the Shah himself fears the influence of the priesthood.

From Project Gutenberg