Member of a sect of Islam who believe that
Ali was Muhammad's first true successor. They
are doctrinally opposed to the Sunni Muslims.
Holy men have greater authority in the
Shi'ite sect than in the Sunni sect. They are
prominent in Iran and Lebanon and are also
found in Iraq and Bahrain. Breakaway
sub-sects include the Alawite sect, to which
the ruling party in Syria belongs; and the
Ismaili sect, with the Aga Khan IV (1936-) as
its spiritual head.