Concept
Concept
Sects of Islam
فرقههای اسلام
The various branches and schools of Islam, from Sunni and Shia to sub-currents such as Ismailis, Zaydis, and Sufis, with differing creedal and legal positions.
Read in context →At a glance
- Two major branches
- Sunni and Shia
- Iran's majority
- Twelver Shiism
Detail
This section addresses the various denominations and sects of Islam and their place in Iran and the wider Muslim world. Islam divides into two major branches, Sunni and Shia, each with its own schools and sub-branches — from the four Sunni legal schools to Shia branches such as Twelver, Ismaili, and Zaydi, as well as currents like Sufism. In Iran, Twelver Shiism is the majority and official confession, though Sunni minorities and other orientations are also present.
Related entities
Sources
- Britannica — 'Islam: Sects and schools'
- Encyclopaedia Iranica — 'Islam in Iran'
- Pew Research Center — Muslim demographics