Shiah

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shiah \Shi"ah\, prop. n.
     Same as {Shiite}; when used with a plural verb, the Shiites,
     collectively.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Shiite \Shi"ite\, Shiah \Shi"ah\, n. [Ar. sh[imac]'a[imac]a
     follower of the sect of Ali, fr. sh[imac]'at, sh[imac]'ah, a
     multitude following one another in pursuit of the same
     object, the sect of Ali, fr. sh[=a]'a to follow.]
     A member of that branch of the Mohammedans to which the
     Persians belong. They reject the first three caliphs, and
     consider Ali as being the first and only rightful successor
     of Mohammed. They do not acknowledge the Sunna, or body of
     traditions respecting Mohammed, as any part of the law, and
     on these accounts are treated as heretics by the Sunnites, or
     orthodox Mohammedans.
     [1913 Webster] Shikaree

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Shiah
       n : one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam; mainly in
           Iran [syn: {Shia}, {Shiah Islam}, {the Shiites}]