‖ Shiah
(ˈʃɪə)
Forms: α. 7 Seaw, Chias, 8 Schia(h, Shiyah, 9 Shiya, Shya, 8– Shia, 9 She(e)ah, Sheer, 8– Shiah; β. 7 Schiai, 7–8 Shii, 8 Shiay.
[Arab. shīﻋa{suph} sect, f. root shāﻋa, in the third conjugation to follow.
The β forms, strictly speaking, represent a distinct word, Arab. shiyaﻋīy a member of the Shiah sect, a Shiite.]
1. a. Properly (but in Eng. somewhat rarely) used as a collective name for that one of the two great Muslim sects (chiefly represented by the Persians) which differs from the Sunnites or orthodox Muslims chiefly in maintaining that Ali (Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law) was the true successor of the prophet, the three first caliphs of the Sunnites being regarded as usurpers. b. Commonly, an adherent of this sect, a Shiite.
| 1626 Methold in Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 4) 995 He is by Religion a Mahumetan, discended from Persian Ancestors, and retayneth their opinions, which differing in many points from the Turkes, are distinguished in their Sects by tearmes of Seaw and Sunnee. 1668 Rycaut Pres. St. Ottoman Emp. ii. xi. 127 The Shii are opposed by the Subjects of the whole Ottoman Empire, as the most heretical of any of the rest. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 107 The Persians call themselves Schiai, because they think it enough to follow the commands of their Law. 1753 Hanway Trav. (1762) II. iv. ii. 106 The sect of Schias includes the Persians and some princes of the Indies, who are followers of Ali, who are also distinguished by the name of Adeliah. 1759 Universal Hist., Mod. VI. 34 The two chief sects, named Sunni and Shiay, into which the Mohammedans are divided. 1798 G. Forster Journ. Bengal to Eng. II. 129 In contradistinction to the Soonis, who in their prayers cross their hands on the lower part of the breast, the Schiahs drop their arms in straight lines. 1815 Elphinstone Acc. Caubul (1842) I. 269 The Sheeahs are more discountenanced than any other religious sect. 1827 Buckingham Trav. Mesopot. II. 483 The mosque of the Imam Hossein, so highly reverenced by the Shiahs. 1830 Meyrick Ant. Arms & Armour II. Pl. 141 He was a Sheer, a religious sect violently opposed to the Sunis. 1874 H. H. Cole Catal. Ind. Art S. Kens. Mus. App. 305 The earth is held in superstitious veneration by the Muhammadans, especially the ‘Sheahs’. 1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 593/1 The Sh{iacu}‘a were divided into several sects. 1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars ii. xxvii. 140 They were Shias, and had been since the days of Kerbela. 1969 Pioneer (Lucknow) 13 Aug. 4/8 Syeds are mostly Shias in Lucknow. |
2. attrib. and adj.
| 1698 Fryer Acc. E. India & P. i. iv. 29 His Substitute here is a Chias Moor. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. India vii. iv. II. 159 The enthusiasm of the nation for the Sh{iacu}a religion. 1903 Sir A. H. Layard Autobiog. I. viii. 337 Being of the Shiah sect of Islam. 1955 Times 31 Aug. 6/6 The Shia mourning day, Ashura, commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the prophet, passed off without incident. 1974 Educ. & Community Relations Jan. 5 Celebrated with processions mostly by the Shia sect. |