What are the holy cities of Shia?

After the four holy cities of Islam (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Damascus), Najaf, Karbala and Qom are the most revered by Shias.

What was the first Shia country?

The first Shia state was the Idrisid dynasty (780–974) in Maghreb. Next was the Alavid dynasty (864–928) established in Mazandaran (Tabaristan), north of Iran. These dynasties were local, but they were followed by two great and powerful dynasties.

Where are the Shias located?

Shias comprise a majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain, and a plurality in Lebanon, while Sunnis make up the majority of more than forty countries from Morocco to Indonesia.

What was before the Safavid empire?

Almost simultaneously with the emergence of the Safavid Empire, the Mughal Empire, founded by the Timurid heir Babur, was developing in South-Asia. The Mughals adhered (for the most part) to a tolerant Sunni Islam while ruling a largely Hindu population.

Where is the Karbala located?

Karbala
Battle of Karbala/Location

Which countries are Shia and which are Sunni?

Sunnis are a majority in almost all Muslim communities around the world. Shia make up the majority of the citizen population in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan, as well as being a small minority in Pakistan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Chad and Kuwait.

Were Safavids Sunni or Shia?

Like most Iranians the Safavids (1501-1722) were Sunni, although like many outside Shi’ism they venerated Imam Ali (601-661), the first of the 12 Shia imams.

Why are Safavids Shia?

It was a process that involved forced conversion and resulted in hostility with Iran’s Sunni neighbours, particularly the Ottoman Empire. As a direct result, the population of the territory of present-day Iran and neighbouring Azerbaijan were converted to Shia Islam at the same time in history.