Indian Shia History

Shias are the second largest denomination of Islam, after Sunnis. The followers of Ahlul Bayt (as) are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shī’atu Alī, meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali". Shias practice  the Fiqh e Jafariyya (Al Jafariyya Jurisprudence). Shias believe Twelve Imams as the spiritual and political successors to Muhammad (sawaws).

Disagreement broke out over who would succeed Muhammad (sawaws) as leader of the Muslim community. While the Sunnis followed the companions of Muhammad, the Shias followed Ali who was appointed as the Khalifa by Muhammad (sawaws) himself at Ghadeer, saying “Man Kuntu Maulahu Fa Haaza Ali Maula” which means "Of whomsoever I'm his master, this Ali is his master” Imam Ahmad has recorded this tradition related by Bara' ibn 'Azib in his Musnad, vol.4, p. 281. Hazrath Umar congratulating Ali (A.S.) said, "O Ali from today you are my master and the master of every Muslim men and women." [Riazun Nazra, page 169].

According to some national and international sources Indian Shia population is the world's second-largest after Iran. Indian Shiite population in mid 2005-2006 between 25% to 31% of entire Muslim population of India. India, the only non Muslim nation in the world with Shiite population of 3-4 percent of its entire population, has  recognized the day of Ashura listed as Moharram as the Public Holiday in India.  

The Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar during the 16th and 17th centuries even donned blackened garments and helped to arrange the Kala Tazia (Black Tazia) processions. Even the Scindias of Gwalior and the Holkar Maharajas of Indore conducted  Majlis or Muharram congregations.

Shiite Islam has deep rooted influence in present and history of India from North to South with various Shia Muslim dynasties ruling Indian provinces from time to time. Few prominent ones of the Indian Shia Muslim dynasties are as follows:

*Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1527 AD)
*Sharqi Dynasty (1394 CE to 1479 CE)
*Berar Sultanate (1490-1572 AD)
*Bidar Sultanate (1489-1619 AD)
*Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687 AD)
*Adil Shahi dynasty (1527–1686 AD)
*Nawab of Awadh (1722-1858 AD)
*Najafi Nawabs of Bengal (1757–1880)
*Nawab of Rampur
*Nizams of Hyderabad State(1724–1948 AD)

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Written by Admin

We are group of Shia students whose aim is to make reach the fact about real islam and answer the doubts raised against shiaism in mondern days.