शिया मुस्लिम
150201980..
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia Islam
hia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam, after Sunni Islam. The
followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of
the historic phrase Sh?’atu Al?, meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or
"party of Ali"
Similar to other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is based on the teachings
of the Islamic holy book, the Qur?n and the message of the final prophet of Islam,
Muhammad. In contrast to other schools of thought, Shia Islam holds that
Muhammad's family, the Ahl al-Bayt ("the People of the House"), and certain
individuals among his descendants, who are known as Imams, have special spiritual
and political authority over the community. Shia Muslims further believe that Ali,
Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the first of these Imams and was
the rightful successor to Muhammad and thus reject the legitimacy of the first
three caliphs.
Shias regard Ali as the second most important figure after Prophet Muhammad.
According to them, Muhammad suggested on various occasions during his lifetime
that Ali should be the leader of Muslims after his demise. According to this view,
Ali as the successor of Muhammad not only ruled over the community in justice,
but also interpreted the Sharia Law and its esoteric meaning. Hence he was
regarded as being free from error and sin (infallible), and appointed by God by
divine decree (Nass) to be the first Imam. Ali is known as "perfect man" (al-insan
al-kamil) similar to Muhammad according to Shia viewpoint. As a result, Shias use
Hadiths attributed to Muhammad and Im?ms, and credited to the Prophet's family
and close associates, in contrast to the Sunni traditions where the sunnah is largely
narrated by companions. Subsequently, the hadith contrasts between the Shias
and Sunnis are one of the main reasons for friction between them, as Sunnis do
not accept Shia hadith and vice versa.
Shia Muslims in India
hia Muslims are a large minority among India's Muslims. However, there has
been no particular census conducted in India with regards to sects, but Indian
sources like Times of India and DNA reported Indian Shiite population in
mid 2005-2006 between 25% to 31% of entire Muslim population of India which
accounts them in numbers between 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 of 157,000,000
Indian Muslim population. However, as per an estimation of one reputed Shiite
NGO Alimaan Trust, India's Shia population in early 2000 was around 30 million
with Sayyids comprising just over half of the entire Shia population. According to
some national and international sources Indian Shia population is the world's
second-largest after Iran Shiite population was also acclaimed publicly as second
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
largest by the 14th Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh quoted in the year
2005. One of the lingering problems in estimating the Shia population is that
unless the Shia form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire
population is often listed as Sunni. For example, the 1926 rise of the House of
Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shias. The Shia-majority
areas of Al-Hasa, Qatif and Hofuf on the Persian Gulf, Western Arabia provinces
of Jizan, Asir, and Hejaz that had large Shia minorities have officially been
completely stripped off their religious identities.[16] Shiites are estimated to be 21-35
percent of the Muslim population in South Asia, although the total number is
difficult to estimate due to the intermingling between the Muslim Sects and
practice of taqiyya by Shiites.
However, some external sources like the Pew Research Center figure them
between 10 to 14 percent giving the numbers between 16,000,000 to 24,000,000.
However, the Pew Research Center report is not considered authentic by
many Shiites and also national and International reports after taking into
consideration the report released by Britannica Book of the year in 1997 which put
the estimates of Shiite population in India in 1996 over 26,000,000 out of entire
Indian Muslim population of 103,000,000 at that time.
There are many big and small towns and villages with majority Shiite Muslim
population in India. Many Sayyids between 12th to 16th century migrated to
the Indian subcontinent to escape the persecution of Shiasin
mostly Sunni ruled Middle East. Prominent places in India with majority or
considerable Shiite Muslim population are Kargil, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad,
Barabanki, Lucknow, Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat. Shias in
Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat are majority Sayyids. Among
theShias of India an overwhelming majority belongs to the Ithna Ashari (Twelver)
division, while the Shias among the Khoja and Bohra communities
are Ismaili. Dawoodi Bohras are primarily based in India, even though
the Dawoodi theology originated in Yemen. India is home to the
majority Dawoodi Bohra population most of them concentrated in Gujarat out of
over 1 million followers worldwide
History
here is no certainty as to when the Shia community first established itself in
India. As per historical evidences and the genealogy maintained by
the Sayyids who migrated to India from Middle East the history of Shia
Islam traces long back around 1000 years. The rulers of various dynasties
of India and also in the 11th century the rulers of Multan and Sindh which are now
part of Pakistan were adherents of Shia Islam. The Nawabs of Awadh and Hyder
Ali & Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who were rulers in India, were also Shia Muslims.
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia culture and belief has left its influence all over India with Imam al Husain ibn
Ali becoming the revered personality in India not only for the Shias but also from
non-Muslim communities, especially the Hindus of northern India who participate
in ceremonies commemorating Husain ibn Ali's martyrdom on the day of Ashura.
Shaykh al-Mufid writes that before the Battle of Karbala, Husain ibn Ali and the
commander of the enemy forces, Umar ibn Saad, met at night and talked together
for a long time. After that meeting Umar ibn Saad sent a letter to the Governor
of Kufa, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad in which he wrote that Husain ibn Ali has
suggested that he go to ‘one of the border outposts’ of the rapidly
expanding Muslim empire as a way of resolving conflict.[28] Other traditions name
that border outpost as Al Hind or India. Even though Husain ibn Ali himself was
not able to go toIndia, some of the Shia did emigrate there for various reasons,
including those who came as refugees from Umayyads and Abbasid
spersecution These refugees brought with them rituals which kept alive
the remembrance of Karbala and their Shia Identity.
Its narrated by Abd al Razzaq al Muqarram in his work of Maqtal al-Husayn that
prior to his martyrdom, Al Abbas ibn Ali while asking water
for Mohammad's family from the Yazid's army expressed his desire to go
either Rome or to India. This made some people wept in the army of Yazid.
It has been believed that in 7th century few ladies from the household of
Prophet Mohammad after Battle of Karbala came in Punjab province
of India which after the partition of 1947 became a part of Pakistan. One of the
prominent of them was Ruqayyah bint Ali, the daughter of Ali bin Abi
Talib through his wife Ummul Banin, Ruqayyah bint Ali was the sister of Abbas
ibn Ali and wife of Muslim ibn Aqeel. Still her shrine inLahore, Punjab of Pakistan,
is visited by people all around and she is referred as Bibi Pak Daman.
Persecution
hiites in India faced persecution by some Sunni rulers and Mughal
Emperors which resulted in the martyrdom of Indian Shia scholars likeQazi
Nurullah Shustari (also known as Shaheed-e-Thaalis, the third Martyr)
and Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi (also known as Shaheed-e- Rabay, the fourth
Martyr) who are two of the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
Shias also faced persecution in India in Kashmir for centuries, by the Sunni
invaders of the region which resulted in massacre of many Shias and as a result
most of them had to flee the region.[32] Shias in Kashmir in subsequent years had to
pass through the most atrocious period of their history. Plunder, loot and
massacres which came to be known as ‘Taarajs’ virtually devastated the
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
community. History records 10 such Taarajs also known as ‘Taraj-e-Shia’ between
15th to 19th century in 1548, 1585, 1635, 1686, 1719, 1741, 1762, 1801, 1830, 1872
during which the Shia habitations were plundered, people slaughtered, libraries
burnt and their sacred sites desecrated.[32] Such was the reign of terror during this
period that the community widely went into the practice of Taqya in order to
preserve their lives and the honor of their womenfolk. Village after village
disappeared, with community members either migrating to safety further north or
dissolving in the majority faith. The persecution suffered by Shias in Kashmir
during the successive foreign rules was not new for the community. Many of the
standard bearers of Shia’ism, like Sa’adaat or the descendants of the
Prophet Mohammad and other missionaries who played a key role in spread of the
faith in Kashmir, had left their home lands forced by similar situations.
India's role in battle of Karbala
athanvilal Wahshi, a Hindu Writer narrated about the arrival of a helper
for Husain’s cause on the eight day of Moharram. Husain ibn
Aliwelcomed him and immediately confirmed his Indian Identity. Husain
ibn Ali then goes on to praise India and its people in the following words:
"The perfumed fragrance entered the realm of love from your country The
cool breeze came to my grandfather Mohammad from that garden."
Upon asking more about the guest’s background he finds out that he is an Indian
merchant residing in neighboring city of Basra, his father had been entrusted with
the treasury of the war booty by none other than Ali bin Abitalib. For this reason
the merchant holds himself morally responsible for assisting Husain ibn Ali in any
possible way when the later is in trouble. Husain ibn Ali appreciated gesture, but
discouraged the merchant from taking up arms in following words:
"Brother, in my opinion you are the beloved of the world In this country you
are the treasure of India."
Munshi Prem Chand further narrates the perception of this merchant on the part
of Imam as suspicion about Husain ibn Ali’s sincerity because of being a Hindu.
With tear filled eyes the traveler said: ”I am a Hindu, perhaps my fidelity is not
convincing Master! Even though this heart is the land of Idol Temple In it is also
lit the light of affection”.
Husain ibn Ali said : What have you said in passion, Why should my eyes doubt
your fidelity? My lord is aware of my conscience. What’s the difference
between Hindu and Muslim is the quest for truth. This has the guiding principle
for the People of the Cloak or Ahl al-Kisa. ”.
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia Muslim Dynasties in India
hiite Islam has deep rooted influence in present and history of India from
North to South with various Shia Muslim dynasties ruling Indian provinces
from time to time.
Few prominent ones of the Indian Shia Muslim dynasties are as follows:
§ Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1527 AD)
The Bahmani Sultanate also called the Bahmanid Empire or Bahmani
Kingdom was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the
great medieval Indian kingdoms.[35] Bahmanid Sultanate was the first
independent Islamic and Shi'ite Kingdom in South India.
§ Sharqi Dynasty (1394 CE to 1479 CE)
The Sharqi sultanate was an independent medieval Shia Muslim dynasty
of North India, one of the many kingdoms that came up following the
disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate.[37] Between 1394 CE to 1479 CE,
Sharqi dynasty ruled from Jaunpur in the present day state of Uttar Pradesh.
§ Berar Sultanate (1490-1572 AD)
On the establishment of the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan (1348), Berar
Sultanate was constituted one of the five provinces into which their
kingdom was divided, being governed by great nobles, with a separate army.
The perils of this system becoming apparent, the province was divided
(1478 or 1479) into two separate provinces, named after their
capitals Gawil and Mahur.
§ Bidar Sultanate (1489-1619 AD)
Bidar Sultanate was one of the Deccan sultanates of late medieval India. Its
founder, Qasim Barid was a Turk, domiciled in Georgia. He joined the
service of the Bahmani sultan Muhammad Shah III. He started his career as
a Sar-Naubat but later became the Mir-Jumla (prime minister) of the Bahmani
sultanate.
§ Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687 AD)
The Qutb Shahi dynasty was a Turkic dynasty (whose members were also
called the Qutub Shahis). They were the ruling family of the kingdom
of Golconda in southern India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged
to Kara Koyunlu.
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§ Adil Shahi dynasty (1527–1686 AD)
The Adil Shahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of
the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a
province of the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1518), before its political decline
in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518. The
Bijapur Sultanate was absorbed into the Mughal Empire on 12 September
1686, after its conquest by the Emperor Aurangzeb.
§ Nawab of Awadh (1722-1858 AD)
Of all the Muslim states and dependencies of the Mughal empire, Awadh
had the newest royal family, the Nawabs of Awadh. They were descended
from a Persian adventurer called Sa'adat Khan, originally
from Khurasan in Persia.
§ Najafi Nawabs of Bengal (1757–1880)
The Najafi Dynasty of Nawabs of Bengal were Sayyids and were
descendants of Prophet Muhammad through Al Imam Hasan ibn Ali, ruling
from 1757 until 1880.
§ Nawab of Rampur
Rampur, former princely state of British India. Previously ruled by Shiite
Muslim Nawabs of Rampur, it was incorporated into the state of Uttar
Pradesh in 1949.
§ Nizams of Hyderabad State(1724–1948 AD)
The ruling Nizams of Hyderabad State patronized Islamic art, culture and
literature and developed railway network in Hyderabad. Islamic Sharia law
was the guiding principle of the Nizams' official machinery.
Present circumstances (2011)
ndia, the only non Muslim nation in the world with Shiite population of 3-4
percent of its entire population, has recognized the day of Ashuralisted
as Moharram as the Public Holiday in India. India also has the Birthday of
Imam Ali bin Abi Talib as public Holiday in states of Biharand Uttar Pradesh,
whose capital Lucknow is considered as the centre of India’s Shiite
Muslim community. The Birthdate of Ali bin Abi Talibis not recognized by any
country in any of its states other than India and Iran as public Holiday. It is also a
known fact that when Saddammercilessly quelled a Shia uprising in 1992. The
world media remained silent and damage to the shrines of Husayn ibn Ali and his
half-brotherAl Abbas ibn Ali, in the course of Baathist attempts to flush
out Shia rebels was a tightly kept secret of the Saddam regime but Indian media
Doordarshan was the only network in the world to have shown that footage
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
However, there has been a report about the Moharram procession being banned
and Shiite people protesting against the ban were beaten up by the Indian
Army. Main procession is banned in Srinagar since the eruption of militancy in
1990s, the ban is protested by Shiitesevery year during Moharram who condemn
and blame Indian government for suppressing their right of religious
freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Muslim majority state.
Apart from the reign of few Mughal Emperors, there have been no reports of
specific targeted persecution of Shias in India unlike the neighboring Pakistan and
few Middle Eastern countries. India being a secular country, Shiite
Muslims in India practice their religion freely without any restriction, except for
few areas like Kashmir where their religious freedom is suppressed by Indian
government. However, inpost Godhra riots a Shia Ex Member of the
Parliament Ehsan Jafri was reported to be burnt to death by Hindu mob in his
own residence in the state of Gujarat in 2002.
Shias also claim to be sidelined in India, hence the All India Shia Personal Law
Board was formed after segregation from the All India Muslim Personal Law
Board in 2005 to address the legal needs of the Shia population. AISPLB feels that
there should be a national policy for the Shias to prevent their exploitation by
vested interests. The attitude of the government towards Muslims especially
in Maharashtra came in for criticism.[1] The newly formed All India Shia Personal
Law Board had 69 members at the time of formation compared to 204 members in
theAll India Muslim Personal Law Board.[43] The Shia body had the support of the
erstwhile royal family of Lucknow, some 2000 descendants of the family claim to
have extended their support. Shias claim they have been sidelined by the Sunnidominated
law board, which was set up in 1972.[44] Maulana Mirza Mohammed
Athar, president of the breakaway All India Shia Personal Law Board explained the
reason for segregation saying that, Shias have formed a forum of themselves
because the All India Muslim Personal Law Board never took interest in their well
being." Shias and Sunnis do not interpret family laws in a similar way. Shiites also
have different Mosques and Burial grounds in India.
Azadari In India
hiite Muslims doing Azadari by performing Tatbeer in Mumbai, India on
the day of Ashura Azadari or the mourning practice of Imam Husain ibn
Ali is very much prevalent across India. One thing which is worth noting in
Indian Azadari is the participation of non Muslims in Shia rituals on the day of
Ashura.
The Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar during the 16th and 17th centuries even donned
blackened garments and helped to arrange the Kala Tazia (Black Tazia)
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processions. Even the Scindias of Gwalior and the Holkar Maharajas of Indore
conducted Majlis or Muharram congregations.
In Lucknow Hindus regularly join Muslims in the Azadari and Alam processions.
The Sufi saints of India along with the Shi'ite Scholars encouraged the mixing and
merging of indigenous elements from the rich cultural heritage of the land to that
of Muharram thus proclaiming the message of peaceful co-existence among
communities and united resistance to tyrannical authority.
The carrying of Alams through fire by men is more common. There are several
occasions when these are traditionally practiced particularly in the town
of Vizianagaram 550 km outside of Hyderabad where 110 Alams are taken through
the fire. A significant aspect of fire walking in the context
of Moharram commemorations in Andhra Pradesh is the participation of Hindus
in the ceremonies. In Vizinagaram 109 of the Alams are carried by Hindus.
Notable Shia Muslim Personalities of India
Religion
§ Grand Ayatollah Ghufran Ma'ab - One of the leading Ayatollah, India had
ever produced.
§ Sayyid Ahmad al Musawi al Hindi - Grandfather of revolutionary Iranian
leader Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah al Musawi al Khomeini. He was born in
Kintoor Barabanki UP
§ Qazi Nurullah Shustari - Executed by Mughal Emperor Jehangir, is regarded
as the third among the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
§ Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi - Executed by Sunni Ruler of Jhajhar, also
known as the Shahid Rabay or the fourth martyr of the five martyrs of Shia
Islam.
§ Ayatollah Sayyid Mir Hamid Hussain al Musawi Kintoori Lakhnavi -
Leading Indian Cleric of his time.
§ Mir Anis - Legendary Urdu poet and renowned Marsia writer all over the
world. He was born in Faizabad in the northern Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh in 1803 and died in 1874.
§ Mirza Dabeer - Leading Urdu poet of India who excelled and perfected the
art of Marsiya writing and is considered the leading exponent of
Marsiya writing along with Mir Anis.
§ Maulana Sayyid Urujul Hasan Meesum - Cleric from India
§ Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsin Nawab Rizvi Mujtahid - Vice Principal
of Sultanul Madaris, Lucknow, former Principal, Madarse Aliya (Oriental
College), Rampur, and Madarse Nasirya, Jaunpur.
§ Ayatollah Najmul Millat - Leading Ayatollah and father of Maulana Syed
Mohammad the founder of Madrasatul Waizeen
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Ayatullah Agha Hajji Mirza Mahdi Puya Yazdi - A Twelver Shia Muslim and
an Islamic scholar, most notable for his famous tafsir of theQur'an.
§ Ayatollah Syed Mohammad Abul Hasan – Founder of Sultanul Madaris son
of Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah.
§ Grand Ayatollah Ali Naqi Naqvi - Leading Mujtahid of modern India.
§ Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah – Father of Grand Ayatollah Syed Mohammad
Abul Hasan.
§ Ayatollah Syed Aqeel-al-Gharavi - Leading Shia scholar and community
activist of India.
§ Syed Kalbe Hussain - One of the senior clerics of India.
§ Maulana Muhammad Rizvi - Twelver Shia Cleric, son of Maulana Sa'id
Akhtar Rizvi and author of the book Sh?‘ism Im?mate & Wil?yat. Canada:
Al-Ma‘?rif Books. 1999. ISBN 0-920675-11-5.
§ Maulana Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi - Indian born, Twelver Sh?‘ah scholar, who
actively promoted Islam in East Africa.
§ Syed Sibte Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric and father of Syed Mohammad Waris
Hasan Naqvi
§ Syed Mohammad Waris Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric form Lucknow, India.
§ Maulana Kalbe Abid(late) - Mujtahid from Lucknow, India and father of
Maulana Kalbe Jawad.
§ Late Maulana Sayyid Aqa Hasan Naqvi - Mujtahid from Lucknow
§ Maulana Kalbe Sadiq - Senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law
Board and brother of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
§ Maulana Kalbe Jawad - Leading cleric of India, leader of Friday prayers
in Asafi Imambargah and son of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
§ Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar - Leading Orater of India, and the first
president of All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB).
§ Syed Hamidul Hasan - Cleric from India and one of the students of
Ayatullah al-Uzma Syed Muhsin al-Hakim and Ayatullah al-Uzma SyedAbul
Qasim al-Khoei.
§ Maulana Syed Ghulam Hussain Raza Agha Mujtahid ul Asr - Leading
scholar and head of ulema of Hyderabad
§ Raja Amir Mohd. Khan (Raja of Mehmoodabad)-Famous Marsiyakhan
Business and politics - present and past
§ Azim Premji, CEO of India's 3rd largest IT company Wipro Technologies
and the 5th richest man in India with an estimated fortune of US$17.1
billion.
§ Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, Chancellor of Jamia Millia
University, former Sheriff of Mumbai and owner of Akbarallys
and Wockhardt.
§ Zoher Khorakiwala and Komail Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, owner
of Monginis Bakery Chain
§ Sir Sultan Ahmed - Indian barrister and politician
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Zafar Ali Naqvi - Indian politician and Member of the Parliament of India
§ Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - Former Indian Federal Minister and Member of
the Parliament of India
§ Ehsan Jafri (1929 – February 28, 2002) - Indian politician and ex-Member of
the Parliament of India, killed during Gulbarg Society massacre
§ Syed Sibtey Razi - Governor of Assam state and former Governor
of Jharkhand state.
§ Ali Yawar Jung - Former Indian diplomat and former Governor of the state
of Maharashtra from 1971 to 1976. He played a significant role in full scale
establishment of Azadari in Mumbai.
§ Nur Jehan - Mughal Empress, considered mastermind behind Jehangir's
rule, family origin in Persia
§ Mumtaz Mahal - Wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I buried in Taj
Mahal in Agra, India.
§ Bahmani Sultanate rulers.
§ Sharqi Dynasty rulers
§ Berar Sultanate rulers.
§ Bidar Sultanate rulers.
§ Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers.
§ Adil Shahi dynasty rulers.
§ Nawab of Awadh rulers.
§ Begum Hazrat Mahal - Wife of Wajid Ali Shah, last Nawab of the princely
kingdom of Awadh
§ Nawab of Rampur rulers.
§ Najafi Dynasty Nawabs of Bengal.
§ Hyderabad State Nizam rulers.
§ Mahabat Khan - prominent Mughal general and statesman, perhaps best
known for his coup against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1626.
§ Sayyed Mahmud Khan - Military general of Mughal Emperor Akbar's army.
§ Siraj ud-Daulah - Last ruler of Bengal before British intrusion.
Bollywood
§ Kamal Amrohi - Bollywood film director, screenwriter, and dialogue writer
§ Meena Kumari - Bollywood Actress and Urdu-Hindi Poetess.
§ Farida Jalal - Bollywood Actress.
§ Jagdeep - Bollywood Actor and Comedian, father of Javed
Jaffrey and Naved Jaffrey.
§ Feroz Khan - Indian Actor, Film editor, Producer and Director in
the Bollywood film Industry.
§ Saeed Jaffrey - Indian Punjabi British actor.
§ Sanjay Khan - Actor turned film producer and director
§ Akbar Khan - Film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.
§ Fardeen Khan - Indian established Bollywood actor and son of
legendary Feroz Khan.
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Zayed Khan - Indian Bollywood actor and son of Sanjay Khan.
§ Javed Jaffrey - Bollywood actor and comedian.
§ Naved Jaffrey - Co-producer of Boogie Woogie series.
§ Emraan Hashmi - Bollywood actor
§ Farah Khan Ali - Gemologist and renowned Jewellery designer of India
§ DJ Aqeel - DJ, singer and composer
Sports
§ Syed Kirmani - Former Indian cricket captain who was awarded Padma
Sri in 1982
§ Jalaluddin Rizvi - Former field hockey player who represented India in
the 1984 Olympics and 1982 Asian Games
Journalism
§ Saeed Naqvi - Senior journalist and Distinguished Fellow at Observer
Research Foundation, 20 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi. Visiting Professor at
Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia and Senior Advisor at Centre
for Culture, Media and Governance, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New
Delhi.
§ Nikhat Kazmi - Senior correspondent writing for The Times of India since
1987
Others
§ Amir Rizvi - Indian designer
§ Ali Hyder Tabatabai - Poet, translator and scholar of languages
§ Safi Lakhnavi - Urdu poet
§ Saghar Khayyami - Urdu poet leading humorist and satirist
Shia organizations in India
§ All India Shia Personal Law Board
§ Jamia Nazmia
§ Sultan al Madaris
§ All India Shia Yateem Khaana
§ All India Shia Husaini Fund
§ All India Shia Conference (1930s)
§ Anjuman Haideri Hallaur
§ HIZ Society
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
List of nations with Shia population
Figures indicated in the first three columns below are based on the October 2009
demographic study by the Pew Research Center report, Mapping the Global
Muslim Population.
Nations with over 100,000 Shi'a
Country Shi'a population
Percent of
Muslim
population
that is
Shi'a
Percent
of global
Shi'a
populati
on
Minim
um
estima
te/clai
m
Maximum estimate/claim
Iran
66,000,000 –
70,000,000 90–95 37–40
Pakistan
17,000,000 –
26,000,000 10–15 10–15 43,250,000 – 57,666,666
India
16,000,000 –
24,000,000 10–15 9–14 40,000,000 – 50,000,000
Iraq
19,000,000 –
22,000,000 65–70 11–12
Turkey 7,000,000 – 11,000,000 10–15 4–6
Yemen 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 35–40 5
Azerbaijan 5,000,000 – 7,000,000 65–75 3–4
Afghanistan 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 10–15 <2 15–19% of total population
Syria 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 15–20 <2
Saudi Arabia 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 10–15 1–2
Nigeria <4,000,000 <5 <2 5-10 million
Lebanon 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 45 <1
Tanzania <2,000,000 <10 <1
Kuwait 500,000 – 700,000 20–25 <1 35–40% of total population
Germany 400,000 – 600,000 10–15 <1
Bahrain 400,000 – 500,000 65–75 <1
Tajikistan 400,000 7 <1
United Arab
Emirates
300,000 – 400,000 10 <1
United States 200,000 – 400,000 10–15 <1
Oman 100,000 – 300,000 5–10 <1 948,750
United
Kingdom
100,000 – 300,000 10–15 <1
Bulgaria 100,000 10–15 <1
Qatar 100,000 10 <1
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia Islam
hia Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam, after Sunni Islam. The
followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of
the historic phrase Sh?’atu Al?, meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or
"party of Ali"
Similar to other schools of thought in Islam, Shia Islam is based on the teachings
of the Islamic holy book, the Qur?n and the message of the final prophet of Islam,
Muhammad. In contrast to other schools of thought, Shia Islam holds that
Muhammad's family, the Ahl al-Bayt ("the People of the House"), and certain
individuals among his descendants, who are known as Imams, have special spiritual
and political authority over the community. Shia Muslims further believe that Ali,
Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the first of these Imams and was
the rightful successor to Muhammad and thus reject the legitimacy of the first
three caliphs.
Shias regard Ali as the second most important figure after Prophet Muhammad.
According to them, Muhammad suggested on various occasions during his lifetime
that Ali should be the leader of Muslims after his demise. According to this view,
Ali as the successor of Muhammad not only ruled over the community in justice,
but also interpreted the Sharia Law and its esoteric meaning. Hence he was
regarded as being free from error and sin (infallible), and appointed by God by
divine decree (Nass) to be the first Imam. Ali is known as "perfect man" (al-insan
al-kamil) similar to Muhammad according to Shia viewpoint. As a result, Shias use
Hadiths attributed to Muhammad and Im?ms, and credited to the Prophet's family
and close associates, in contrast to the Sunni traditions where the sunnah is largely
narrated by companions. Subsequently, the hadith contrasts between the Shias
and Sunnis are one of the main reasons for friction between them, as Sunnis do
not accept Shia hadith and vice versa.
Shia Muslims in India
hia Muslims are a large minority among India's Muslims. However, there has
been no particular census conducted in India with regards to sects, but Indian
sources like Times of India and DNA reported Indian Shiite population in
mid 2005-2006 between 25% to 31% of entire Muslim population of India which
accounts them in numbers between 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 of 157,000,000
Indian Muslim population. However, as per an estimation of one reputed Shiite
NGO Alimaan Trust, India's Shia population in early 2000 was around 30 million
with Sayyids comprising just over half of the entire Shia population. According to
some national and international sources Indian Shia population is the world's
second-largest after Iran Shiite population was also acclaimed publicly as second
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largest by the 14th Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh quoted in the year
2005. One of the lingering problems in estimating the Shia population is that
unless the Shia form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire
population is often listed as Sunni. For example, the 1926 rise of the House of
Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shias. The Shia-majority
areas of Al-Hasa, Qatif and Hofuf on the Persian Gulf, Western Arabia provinces
of Jizan, Asir, and Hejaz that had large Shia minorities have officially been
completely stripped off their religious identities.[16] Shiites are estimated to be 21-35
percent of the Muslim population in South Asia, although the total number is
difficult to estimate due to the intermingling between the Muslim Sects and
practice of taqiyya by Shiites.
However, some external sources like the Pew Research Center figure them
between 10 to 14 percent giving the numbers between 16,000,000 to 24,000,000.
However, the Pew Research Center report is not considered authentic by
many Shiites and also national and International reports after taking into
consideration the report released by Britannica Book of the year in 1997 which put
the estimates of Shiite population in India in 1996 over 26,000,000 out of entire
Indian Muslim population of 103,000,000 at that time.
There are many big and small towns and villages with majority Shiite Muslim
population in India. Many Sayyids between 12th to 16th century migrated to
the Indian subcontinent to escape the persecution of Shiasin
mostly Sunni ruled Middle East. Prominent places in India with majority or
considerable Shiite Muslim population are Kargil, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad,
Barabanki, Lucknow, Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat. Shias in
Hallaur, Sadaat Amroha and Naugawan Sadat are majority Sayyids. Among
theShias of India an overwhelming majority belongs to the Ithna Ashari (Twelver)
division, while the Shias among the Khoja and Bohra communities
are Ismaili. Dawoodi Bohras are primarily based in India, even though
the Dawoodi theology originated in Yemen. India is home to the
majority Dawoodi Bohra population most of them concentrated in Gujarat out of
over 1 million followers worldwide
History
here is no certainty as to when the Shia community first established itself in
India. As per historical evidences and the genealogy maintained by
the Sayyids who migrated to India from Middle East the history of Shia
Islam traces long back around 1000 years. The rulers of various dynasties
of India and also in the 11th century the rulers of Multan and Sindh which are now
part of Pakistan were adherents of Shia Islam. The Nawabs of Awadh and Hyder
Ali & Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who were rulers in India, were also Shia Muslims.
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia culture and belief has left its influence all over India with Imam al Husain ibn
Ali becoming the revered personality in India not only for the Shias but also from
non-Muslim communities, especially the Hindus of northern India who participate
in ceremonies commemorating Husain ibn Ali's martyrdom on the day of Ashura.
Shaykh al-Mufid writes that before the Battle of Karbala, Husain ibn Ali and the
commander of the enemy forces, Umar ibn Saad, met at night and talked together
for a long time. After that meeting Umar ibn Saad sent a letter to the Governor
of Kufa, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad in which he wrote that Husain ibn Ali has
suggested that he go to ‘one of the border outposts’ of the rapidly
expanding Muslim empire as a way of resolving conflict.[28] Other traditions name
that border outpost as Al Hind or India. Even though Husain ibn Ali himself was
not able to go toIndia, some of the Shia did emigrate there for various reasons,
including those who came as refugees from Umayyads and Abbasid
spersecution These refugees brought with them rituals which kept alive
the remembrance of Karbala and their Shia Identity.
Its narrated by Abd al Razzaq al Muqarram in his work of Maqtal al-Husayn that
prior to his martyrdom, Al Abbas ibn Ali while asking water
for Mohammad's family from the Yazid's army expressed his desire to go
either Rome or to India. This made some people wept in the army of Yazid.
It has been believed that in 7th century few ladies from the household of
Prophet Mohammad after Battle of Karbala came in Punjab province
of India which after the partition of 1947 became a part of Pakistan. One of the
prominent of them was Ruqayyah bint Ali, the daughter of Ali bin Abi
Talib through his wife Ummul Banin, Ruqayyah bint Ali was the sister of Abbas
ibn Ali and wife of Muslim ibn Aqeel. Still her shrine inLahore, Punjab of Pakistan,
is visited by people all around and she is referred as Bibi Pak Daman.
Persecution
hiites in India faced persecution by some Sunni rulers and Mughal
Emperors which resulted in the martyrdom of Indian Shia scholars likeQazi
Nurullah Shustari (also known as Shaheed-e-Thaalis, the third Martyr)
and Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi (also known as Shaheed-e- Rabay, the fourth
Martyr) who are two of the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
Shias also faced persecution in India in Kashmir for centuries, by the Sunni
invaders of the region which resulted in massacre of many Shias and as a result
most of them had to flee the region.[32] Shias in Kashmir in subsequent years had to
pass through the most atrocious period of their history. Plunder, loot and
massacres which came to be known as ‘Taarajs’ virtually devastated the
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community. History records 10 such Taarajs also known as ‘Taraj-e-Shia’ between
15th to 19th century in 1548, 1585, 1635, 1686, 1719, 1741, 1762, 1801, 1830, 1872
during which the Shia habitations were plundered, people slaughtered, libraries
burnt and their sacred sites desecrated.[32] Such was the reign of terror during this
period that the community widely went into the practice of Taqya in order to
preserve their lives and the honor of their womenfolk. Village after village
disappeared, with community members either migrating to safety further north or
dissolving in the majority faith. The persecution suffered by Shias in Kashmir
during the successive foreign rules was not new for the community. Many of the
standard bearers of Shia’ism, like Sa’adaat or the descendants of the
Prophet Mohammad and other missionaries who played a key role in spread of the
faith in Kashmir, had left their home lands forced by similar situations.
India's role in battle of Karbala
athanvilal Wahshi, a Hindu Writer narrated about the arrival of a helper
for Husain’s cause on the eight day of Moharram. Husain ibn
Aliwelcomed him and immediately confirmed his Indian Identity. Husain
ibn Ali then goes on to praise India and its people in the following words:
"The perfumed fragrance entered the realm of love from your country The
cool breeze came to my grandfather Mohammad from that garden."
Upon asking more about the guest’s background he finds out that he is an Indian
merchant residing in neighboring city of Basra, his father had been entrusted with
the treasury of the war booty by none other than Ali bin Abitalib. For this reason
the merchant holds himself morally responsible for assisting Husain ibn Ali in any
possible way when the later is in trouble. Husain ibn Ali appreciated gesture, but
discouraged the merchant from taking up arms in following words:
"Brother, in my opinion you are the beloved of the world In this country you
are the treasure of India."
Munshi Prem Chand further narrates the perception of this merchant on the part
of Imam as suspicion about Husain ibn Ali’s sincerity because of being a Hindu.
With tear filled eyes the traveler said: ”I am a Hindu, perhaps my fidelity is not
convincing Master! Even though this heart is the land of Idol Temple In it is also
lit the light of affection”.
Husain ibn Ali said : What have you said in passion, Why should my eyes doubt
your fidelity? My lord is aware of my conscience. What’s the difference
between Hindu and Muslim is the quest for truth. This has the guiding principle
for the People of the Cloak or Ahl al-Kisa. ”.
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Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
Shia Muslim Dynasties in India
hiite Islam has deep rooted influence in present and history of India from
North to South with various Shia Muslim dynasties ruling Indian provinces
from time to time.
Few prominent ones of the Indian Shia Muslim dynasties are as follows:
§ Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1527 AD)
The Bahmani Sultanate also called the Bahmanid Empire or Bahmani
Kingdom was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the
great medieval Indian kingdoms.[35] Bahmanid Sultanate was the first
independent Islamic and Shi'ite Kingdom in South India.
§ Sharqi Dynasty (1394 CE to 1479 CE)
The Sharqi sultanate was an independent medieval Shia Muslim dynasty
of North India, one of the many kingdoms that came up following the
disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate.[37] Between 1394 CE to 1479 CE,
Sharqi dynasty ruled from Jaunpur in the present day state of Uttar Pradesh.
§ Berar Sultanate (1490-1572 AD)
On the establishment of the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan (1348), Berar
Sultanate was constituted one of the five provinces into which their
kingdom was divided, being governed by great nobles, with a separate army.
The perils of this system becoming apparent, the province was divided
(1478 or 1479) into two separate provinces, named after their
capitals Gawil and Mahur.
§ Bidar Sultanate (1489-1619 AD)
Bidar Sultanate was one of the Deccan sultanates of late medieval India. Its
founder, Qasim Barid was a Turk, domiciled in Georgia. He joined the
service of the Bahmani sultan Muhammad Shah III. He started his career as
a Sar-Naubat but later became the Mir-Jumla (prime minister) of the Bahmani
sultanate.
§ Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687 AD)
The Qutb Shahi dynasty was a Turkic dynasty (whose members were also
called the Qutub Shahis). They were the ruling family of the kingdom
of Golconda in southern India. They were Shia Muslims and belonged
to Kara Koyunlu.
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§ Adil Shahi dynasty (1527–1686 AD)
The Adil Shahi dynasty ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur in the Western area of
the Deccan region of Southern India from 1490 to 1686. Bijapur had been a
province of the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1518), before its political decline
in the last quarter of the 15th century and eventual break-up in 1518. The
Bijapur Sultanate was absorbed into the Mughal Empire on 12 September
1686, after its conquest by the Emperor Aurangzeb.
§ Nawab of Awadh (1722-1858 AD)
Of all the Muslim states and dependencies of the Mughal empire, Awadh
had the newest royal family, the Nawabs of Awadh. They were descended
from a Persian adventurer called Sa'adat Khan, originally
from Khurasan in Persia.
§ Najafi Nawabs of Bengal (1757–1880)
The Najafi Dynasty of Nawabs of Bengal were Sayyids and were
descendants of Prophet Muhammad through Al Imam Hasan ibn Ali, ruling
from 1757 until 1880.
§ Nawab of Rampur
Rampur, former princely state of British India. Previously ruled by Shiite
Muslim Nawabs of Rampur, it was incorporated into the state of Uttar
Pradesh in 1949.
§ Nizams of Hyderabad State(1724–1948 AD)
The ruling Nizams of Hyderabad State patronized Islamic art, culture and
literature and developed railway network in Hyderabad. Islamic Sharia law
was the guiding principle of the Nizams' official machinery.
Present circumstances (2011)
ndia, the only non Muslim nation in the world with Shiite population of 3-4
percent of its entire population, has recognized the day of Ashuralisted
as Moharram as the Public Holiday in India. India also has the Birthday of
Imam Ali bin Abi Talib as public Holiday in states of Biharand Uttar Pradesh,
whose capital Lucknow is considered as the centre of India’s Shiite
Muslim community. The Birthdate of Ali bin Abi Talibis not recognized by any
country in any of its states other than India and Iran as public Holiday. It is also a
known fact that when Saddammercilessly quelled a Shia uprising in 1992. The
world media remained silent and damage to the shrines of Husayn ibn Ali and his
half-brotherAl Abbas ibn Ali, in the course of Baathist attempts to flush
out Shia rebels was a tightly kept secret of the Saddam regime but Indian media
Doordarshan was the only network in the world to have shown that footage
I
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
However, there has been a report about the Moharram procession being banned
and Shiite people protesting against the ban were beaten up by the Indian
Army. Main procession is banned in Srinagar since the eruption of militancy in
1990s, the ban is protested by Shiitesevery year during Moharram who condemn
and blame Indian government for suppressing their right of religious
freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a Muslim majority state.
Apart from the reign of few Mughal Emperors, there have been no reports of
specific targeted persecution of Shias in India unlike the neighboring Pakistan and
few Middle Eastern countries. India being a secular country, Shiite
Muslims in India practice their religion freely without any restriction, except for
few areas like Kashmir where their religious freedom is suppressed by Indian
government. However, inpost Godhra riots a Shia Ex Member of the
Parliament Ehsan Jafri was reported to be burnt to death by Hindu mob in his
own residence in the state of Gujarat in 2002.
Shias also claim to be sidelined in India, hence the All India Shia Personal Law
Board was formed after segregation from the All India Muslim Personal Law
Board in 2005 to address the legal needs of the Shia population. AISPLB feels that
there should be a national policy for the Shias to prevent their exploitation by
vested interests. The attitude of the government towards Muslims especially
in Maharashtra came in for criticism.[1] The newly formed All India Shia Personal
Law Board had 69 members at the time of formation compared to 204 members in
theAll India Muslim Personal Law Board.[43] The Shia body had the support of the
erstwhile royal family of Lucknow, some 2000 descendants of the family claim to
have extended their support. Shias claim they have been sidelined by the Sunnidominated
law board, which was set up in 1972.[44] Maulana Mirza Mohammed
Athar, president of the breakaway All India Shia Personal Law Board explained the
reason for segregation saying that, Shias have formed a forum of themselves
because the All India Muslim Personal Law Board never took interest in their well
being." Shias and Sunnis do not interpret family laws in a similar way. Shiites also
have different Mosques and Burial grounds in India.
Azadari In India
hiite Muslims doing Azadari by performing Tatbeer in Mumbai, India on
the day of Ashura Azadari or the mourning practice of Imam Husain ibn
Ali is very much prevalent across India. One thing which is worth noting in
Indian Azadari is the participation of non Muslims in Shia rituals on the day of
Ashura.
The Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar during the 16th and 17th centuries even donned
blackened garments and helped to arrange the Kala Tazia (Black Tazia)
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processions. Even the Scindias of Gwalior and the Holkar Maharajas of Indore
conducted Majlis or Muharram congregations.
In Lucknow Hindus regularly join Muslims in the Azadari and Alam processions.
The Sufi saints of India along with the Shi'ite Scholars encouraged the mixing and
merging of indigenous elements from the rich cultural heritage of the land to that
of Muharram thus proclaiming the message of peaceful co-existence among
communities and united resistance to tyrannical authority.
The carrying of Alams through fire by men is more common. There are several
occasions when these are traditionally practiced particularly in the town
of Vizianagaram 550 km outside of Hyderabad where 110 Alams are taken through
the fire. A significant aspect of fire walking in the context
of Moharram commemorations in Andhra Pradesh is the participation of Hindus
in the ceremonies. In Vizinagaram 109 of the Alams are carried by Hindus.
Notable Shia Muslim Personalities of India
Religion
§ Grand Ayatollah Ghufran Ma'ab - One of the leading Ayatollah, India had
ever produced.
§ Sayyid Ahmad al Musawi al Hindi - Grandfather of revolutionary Iranian
leader Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah al Musawi al Khomeini. He was born in
Kintoor Barabanki UP
§ Qazi Nurullah Shustari - Executed by Mughal Emperor Jehangir, is regarded
as the third among the five martyrs of Shia Islam.
§ Mirza Muhammad Kamil Dehlavi - Executed by Sunni Ruler of Jhajhar, also
known as the Shahid Rabay or the fourth martyr of the five martyrs of Shia
Islam.
§ Ayatollah Sayyid Mir Hamid Hussain al Musawi Kintoori Lakhnavi -
Leading Indian Cleric of his time.
§ Mir Anis - Legendary Urdu poet and renowned Marsia writer all over the
world. He was born in Faizabad in the northern Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh in 1803 and died in 1874.
§ Mirza Dabeer - Leading Urdu poet of India who excelled and perfected the
art of Marsiya writing and is considered the leading exponent of
Marsiya writing along with Mir Anis.
§ Maulana Sayyid Urujul Hasan Meesum - Cleric from India
§ Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsin Nawab Rizvi Mujtahid - Vice Principal
of Sultanul Madaris, Lucknow, former Principal, Madarse Aliya (Oriental
College), Rampur, and Madarse Nasirya, Jaunpur.
§ Ayatollah Najmul Millat - Leading Ayatollah and father of Maulana Syed
Mohammad the founder of Madrasatul Waizeen
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Ayatullah Agha Hajji Mirza Mahdi Puya Yazdi - A Twelver Shia Muslim and
an Islamic scholar, most notable for his famous tafsir of theQur'an.
§ Ayatollah Syed Mohammad Abul Hasan – Founder of Sultanul Madaris son
of Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah.
§ Grand Ayatollah Ali Naqi Naqvi - Leading Mujtahid of modern India.
§ Ayatollah Syed Ali Shah – Father of Grand Ayatollah Syed Mohammad
Abul Hasan.
§ Ayatollah Syed Aqeel-al-Gharavi - Leading Shia scholar and community
activist of India.
§ Syed Kalbe Hussain - One of the senior clerics of India.
§ Maulana Muhammad Rizvi - Twelver Shia Cleric, son of Maulana Sa'id
Akhtar Rizvi and author of the book Sh?‘ism Im?mate & Wil?yat. Canada:
Al-Ma‘?rif Books. 1999. ISBN 0-920675-11-5.
§ Maulana Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi - Indian born, Twelver Sh?‘ah scholar, who
actively promoted Islam in East Africa.
§ Syed Sibte Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric and father of Syed Mohammad Waris
Hasan Naqvi
§ Syed Mohammad Waris Hasan Naqvi - Shia Cleric form Lucknow, India.
§ Maulana Kalbe Abid(late) - Mujtahid from Lucknow, India and father of
Maulana Kalbe Jawad.
§ Late Maulana Sayyid Aqa Hasan Naqvi - Mujtahid from Lucknow
§ Maulana Kalbe Sadiq - Senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law
Board and brother of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
§ Maulana Kalbe Jawad - Leading cleric of India, leader of Friday prayers
in Asafi Imambargah and son of Maulana Kalbe Abid(late).
§ Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar - Leading Orater of India, and the first
president of All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB).
§ Syed Hamidul Hasan - Cleric from India and one of the students of
Ayatullah al-Uzma Syed Muhsin al-Hakim and Ayatullah al-Uzma SyedAbul
Qasim al-Khoei.
§ Maulana Syed Ghulam Hussain Raza Agha Mujtahid ul Asr - Leading
scholar and head of ulema of Hyderabad
§ Raja Amir Mohd. Khan (Raja of Mehmoodabad)-Famous Marsiyakhan
Business and politics - present and past
§ Azim Premji, CEO of India's 3rd largest IT company Wipro Technologies
and the 5th richest man in India with an estimated fortune of US$17.1
billion.
§ Fakhruddin T. Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, Chancellor of Jamia Millia
University, former Sheriff of Mumbai and owner of Akbarallys
and Wockhardt.
§ Zoher Khorakiwala and Komail Khorakiwala - Dawoodi Bohra, owner
of Monginis Bakery Chain
§ Sir Sultan Ahmed - Indian barrister and politician
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Zafar Ali Naqvi - Indian politician and Member of the Parliament of India
§ Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - Former Indian Federal Minister and Member of
the Parliament of India
§ Ehsan Jafri (1929 – February 28, 2002) - Indian politician and ex-Member of
the Parliament of India, killed during Gulbarg Society massacre
§ Syed Sibtey Razi - Governor of Assam state and former Governor
of Jharkhand state.
§ Ali Yawar Jung - Former Indian diplomat and former Governor of the state
of Maharashtra from 1971 to 1976. He played a significant role in full scale
establishment of Azadari in Mumbai.
§ Nur Jehan - Mughal Empress, considered mastermind behind Jehangir's
rule, family origin in Persia
§ Mumtaz Mahal - Wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I buried in Taj
Mahal in Agra, India.
§ Bahmani Sultanate rulers.
§ Sharqi Dynasty rulers
§ Berar Sultanate rulers.
§ Bidar Sultanate rulers.
§ Qutb Shahi dynasty rulers.
§ Adil Shahi dynasty rulers.
§ Nawab of Awadh rulers.
§ Begum Hazrat Mahal - Wife of Wajid Ali Shah, last Nawab of the princely
kingdom of Awadh
§ Nawab of Rampur rulers.
§ Najafi Dynasty Nawabs of Bengal.
§ Hyderabad State Nizam rulers.
§ Mahabat Khan - prominent Mughal general and statesman, perhaps best
known for his coup against the Mughal Emperor Jahangir in 1626.
§ Sayyed Mahmud Khan - Military general of Mughal Emperor Akbar's army.
§ Siraj ud-Daulah - Last ruler of Bengal before British intrusion.
Bollywood
§ Kamal Amrohi - Bollywood film director, screenwriter, and dialogue writer
§ Meena Kumari - Bollywood Actress and Urdu-Hindi Poetess.
§ Farida Jalal - Bollywood Actress.
§ Jagdeep - Bollywood Actor and Comedian, father of Javed
Jaffrey and Naved Jaffrey.
§ Feroz Khan - Indian Actor, Film editor, Producer and Director in
the Bollywood film Industry.
§ Saeed Jaffrey - Indian Punjabi British actor.
§ Sanjay Khan - Actor turned film producer and director
§ Akbar Khan - Film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.
§ Fardeen Khan - Indian established Bollywood actor and son of
legendary Feroz Khan.
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
§ Zayed Khan - Indian Bollywood actor and son of Sanjay Khan.
§ Javed Jaffrey - Bollywood actor and comedian.
§ Naved Jaffrey - Co-producer of Boogie Woogie series.
§ Emraan Hashmi - Bollywood actor
§ Farah Khan Ali - Gemologist and renowned Jewellery designer of India
§ DJ Aqeel - DJ, singer and composer
Sports
§ Syed Kirmani - Former Indian cricket captain who was awarded Padma
Sri in 1982
§ Jalaluddin Rizvi - Former field hockey player who represented India in
the 1984 Olympics and 1982 Asian Games
Journalism
§ Saeed Naqvi - Senior journalist and Distinguished Fellow at Observer
Research Foundation, 20 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi. Visiting Professor at
Academy of Third World Studies, Jamia Millia and Senior Advisor at Centre
for Culture, Media and Governance, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New
Delhi.
§ Nikhat Kazmi - Senior correspondent writing for The Times of India since
1987
Others
§ Amir Rizvi - Indian designer
§ Ali Hyder Tabatabai - Poet, translator and scholar of languages
§ Safi Lakhnavi - Urdu poet
§ Saghar Khayyami - Urdu poet leading humorist and satirist
Shia organizations in India
§ All India Shia Personal Law Board
§ Jamia Nazmia
§ Sultan al Madaris
§ All India Shia Yateem Khaana
§ All India Shia Husaini Fund
§ All India Shia Conference (1930s)
§ Anjuman Haideri Hallaur
§ HIZ Society
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
List of nations with Shia population
Figures indicated in the first three columns below are based on the October 2009
demographic study by the Pew Research Center report, Mapping the Global
Muslim Population.
Nations with over 100,000 Shi'a
Country Shi'a population
Percent of
Muslim
population
that is
Shi'a
Percent
of global
Shi'a
populati
on
Minim
um
estima
te/clai
m
Maximum estimate/claim
Iran
66,000,000 –
70,000,000 90–95 37–40
Pakistan
17,000,000 –
26,000,000 10–15 10–15 43,250,000 – 57,666,666
India
16,000,000 –
24,000,000 10–15 9–14 40,000,000 – 50,000,000
Iraq
19,000,000 –
22,000,000 65–70 11–12
Turkey 7,000,000 – 11,000,000 10–15 4–6
Yemen 8,000,000 – 10,000,000 35–40 5
Azerbaijan 5,000,000 – 7,000,000 65–75 3–4
Afghanistan 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 10–15 <2 15–19% of total population
Syria 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 15–20 <2
Saudi Arabia 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 10–15 1–2
Nigeria <4,000,000 <5 <2 5-10 million
Lebanon 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 45 <1
Tanzania <2,000,000 <10 <1
Kuwait 500,000 – 700,000 20–25 <1 35–40% of total population
Germany 400,000 – 600,000 10–15 <1
Bahrain 400,000 – 500,000 65–75 <1
Tajikistan 400,000 7 <1
United Arab
Emirates
300,000 – 400,000 10 <1
United States 200,000 – 400,000 10–15 <1
Oman 100,000 – 300,000 5–10 <1 948,750
United
Kingdom
100,000 – 300,000 10–15 <1
Bulgaria 100,000 10–15 <1
Qatar 100,000 10 <1
Shia [By Syed Iqbal Husain Rizvi] www.shia?e?ali.com [2011]
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