G. What are the demographics of where this sect can be found? How many people practice this particular branch?

• 10-20% of the world's muslims are Shias.
• The Shia majority countries are Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain. 
• Shia Muslims constitute over 35% of the population in Lebanon, over 45% of the population in Yemen, 20-40% of the population in Kuwait, over 20% in Turkey,10–20% of the population in Pakistan, and 10-19% of Afghanistan's population.
• About 120 million people are Shias. 

F. How and where did this particular branch develop?

The Shia are believed to have started as a political party and developed into a religious movement in the Middle East. The origins of Shiism lie in the disagreement about the succession of Muhammad in the 7th century, when the 'Party of Ali' supported the prophet's son-in-law. The First Civil War (656-661 C.E.) cemented the divisions within the Muslim community.

E. How does your sect differ from the other branches within the major religion?

Name of Religion	Sunni	Shia
Current Adherents	940 million	120 million
Percentage of total Muslims	90%	10%
True successor of Prophet	Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favored wife, 'A'ishah	Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah
Primary locations	Most Muslim countries	Iran, Iraq, Yemen
Identity of Imams*	Human leaders	Infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an
Muhammad	Will come in the future	Has already been to Earth. Will come back at the end of time.
Holy Cities	Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem	Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala,

*Imam- Someone who leads prayer in a Mosque 

D. How does this monotheistic religion differ from the other two major monotheistic religions?

• Their holy book is the Qur'an. 
• Their scriptural language is Arabic. 
• They worship 5 times a day, every day.
• They celebrate Eid ​ul-​Fitr and ​Eid ​ul-​Adha.
• Shia Muslims believe that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the rightful successor to Muhammad.
• Age of religion is 
  1000-​5000 ​Years ​Old.
• Mainly practiced in Iran,​Azerbaijan,​Bahrain ​and ​Iraq.​
• 100,​000,​000-​1,​000,​000,​000 followers.

C. What traditions or rituals do they follow? List and describe at least 3.

The Pillars of Shia Islam
There are 10 practices that Shia Muslims must perform, called the Ancillaries of the Faith. 

1. Salat - The Islamic prayer. It consists of five daily prayers, all facing Mecca. Muslims must wash themselves before prayer. 
2. Swam of Ramadan - Muslims must abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins.
3. Zakat -The practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and is required for all who are able to do so. It is considered to be a personal responsibility for Muslims to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality. Consists of spending 2.5% of one's wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy
4. Khums - An annual taxation of one-fifth of all gain.
5. Hajj - Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim is required to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. 
6. Jihad - A holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; also a personal struggle in devotion to Islam.
7. Commanding what is Just - Encouraging people to do the necessary good in life when they forget to do so; for example forgetting Salah. 
8. Forbidding what is Evil - To oppose injustice. 
9. Tawalla - Expressing love towards Muhammad's family. 
10. Tabarra - Disassociation with those who oppose God and those who caused harm to Muhammad or his family.

B. What holy book do they use and what holy days do they observe? List and describe at least 2.

The Islamic holy book is the Quran. It is regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language.

There are two main holidays: Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The following are required on Eid ul-Fitr:

• To wake up very early in the morning.
• To clean one's teeth.
• To have a bath.
• To wear the best of clothing that one possesses.
• To wear perfume.
• To eat a sweet food before the Eid prayer.
• To be happy!
• To give as much charity as is possible.
• To go early for Eid salaat. (the special prayer on this day)
• To read the Eid salaat in an open field.
• Go to the Eid prayer on foot

Eid al-Adha or "Festival of Sacrifice" is celebrated to recognize Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to give him a sheep to sacrifice. It is celebrated every year on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Everyone is expected to dress in their best clothes to perform the Eid prayer in an open field. Some more wealthy Shia's sacrifice their best domestic animal to show their obedience to God.

A. What is the place of worship? What are the major features of this place?

A. What is the place of worship? What are the major features of this place? (details of architecture, how it is decorated, what the place is called) 

The Shia worship in Mosques. Mosques tend to differ from country to country based on that country's traditions. However, there are many common features:

1. Ablutions - These are usually in a separate part of the building. Here, people purify, or clean themselves with water before prayer. (It is required)

2. Prayer Hall - A big room where many mats are layed down on the ground facing Mecca; specifically the Q'bla or first mosque, which is the destination of those who go on the Hajj pilgramage. Men and women are segregated from each other.

3. Dome - Many mosques have domes in their prayer hall, but the Q'bla, the first mosque, does not.

4. Minaret - A tall slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer

5. Library - Where people can study the Koran.

6. Mihrab - A niche in the main wall of the prayer hall which faces Mecca to denote which way to pray.

7. Mimbar - An elevated seat for the Imam to perch on whilst addressing the assembled worshippers.

Decoration includes the prohibition of living creatures or any other sort of figurative art which has lead to the development of beautiful calligraphy and geometric decoration. This comes from the idea that only Allah has the gift to bestow life.