Symposium 67

What is Shi’ism?

Anwar: Salam ‘Alaykom!

Hasan: Alaykom As-Salam Wa Rahmatollah Wa Barakatoh!

Anwar: The Shi’ite and the Sunnis are two common words I hear a lot. This makes us wonder why the followers of one same religion split into two sects.

Hasan: Before we discuss this question, we need to know what this word, Shi’ism, means linguistically and idiomatically.

Shi’ite linguistically means the followers and the supporters or a group of people getting together.