The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2226 page)

m. Because of their strict allegiance to Im
ms, Shi‘ites have divided into many sects, of which the following are or have been important:
Ithn
-‘Ashar
ya
(Twelvers), Zaydis (
Seveners
, see ISMA-‘
L
S), B
tinites, Niz
ris (now called
Aga Khanids
), and the
Druzes
. Sh
‘a communities are found as majorities in Iran and parts of Iraq, and as sizeable minorities in India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Yemen, Persian Gulf States, and E. Africa.

 
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see
AL-SHIBLI
.

 
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