Shia Islam

Comprehensive history of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989, his role in shaping the Islamic Republic, and his influence on Iranian and regional politics

The Battle of Karbala (680 CE) was a confrontation in which Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was killed with his companions by Umayyad forces near the Euphrates. It became one of the most consequential events in Islamic history, shaping the development of Shia Islam.

A major Shia Islamic caliphate (909-1171 CE) that ruled North Africa, Egypt, and parts of the Middle East. Founded by the Ismaili Shia dynasty claiming descent from Fatimah, the Fatimids established a powerful empire centered in Cairo rivaling the Abbasid and Umayyad caliphates.

The division between Sunni and Shia Islam, originating from disputes over leadership succession after Prophet Muhammad's death, evolved into distinct theological, legal, and political traditions that have shaped Islamic civilization.