Table of Contents
Which country has the highest percentage of Shia Muslims?
Most Shi’as (between 68\% and 80\%) live in mainly four countries: Iran, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Iraq. Furthermore, there are concentrated Shi’a populations in Lebanon, Russia, Pakistan, and 10 sub-Saharan African countries.
How did Shia Islam spread in Iran?
By the 10th century, the majority of Persians had become Muslim. The Safavid dynasty made Shia Islam the official state religion in the early sixteenth century and aggressively proselytized the faith by forced conversion.
When did Persia become Shia?
Until the 16th century, Persia was mostly Sunni. At the turn of that century, the Safavid dynasty conquered much of what is now Iran and made Shiism the official religion. The conversion was accompanied by a massive crackdown on Sunnis, so that over time much of the population became Shia.
Was Nadir Shah a Shia?
Nader idolized Genghis Khan and Timur, the previous conquerors from Central Asia. He imitated their military prowess and—especially later in his reign—their cruelty….
| Nader Shah | |
|---|---|
| Religion | pre-coronation: Twelver Shia Islam post-coronation: Ja’fari Mazhab of Sunni Islam (Personally irreligious) |
| Seal | |
| Military career |
Are there Shia Muslims in the Middle East?
While the majority of Muslims in the Middle East (specifically the Arab countries) are Sunni, there has always been Shia living in those lands. Similarly, there have always been Sunni living in predominately Shia lands, as is the case with the current Saudi Arabia and Iran. Sunni and Shia have been in theological dialogue from the beginning.
What is the percentage of Shia in Iran?
Iran – 90-95\%. In Iran, Shia Muslims make up the majority, with 92.2\% of all Muslim population in the country belonging to this sect. Initially, Iran was a Sunni majority until 1500 when Shah Ismail I conquered Iran and forced a conversion of Sunni Muslims to Shia Islam with several Sunnis murdered in the process.
What are the top 5 Shia countries in the world?
1 Iran – 90-95\%. In Iran, Shia Muslims make up the majority, with 92.2\% of all Muslim population in the country belonging to this sect. 2 Azerbaijan – 65-75\%. Azerbaijan and Iran were both conquered by Shah Ismail I around the same time where he also forced a conversion of Sunnis to Shia Islam. 3 Iraq – 65-70\%.
Is Saudi Arabia a Shia or Sunni country?
Saudi Arabia follows a reformist strain of Islam, Wahhabism, and there is limited freedom of religion between the different sects even whilst all of the population are Muslims . Small Shia communities are present in Egypt and Jordan making up over 1\% of the population.