Sunni IslamSunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Muslim community, being appointed at the meeting of Saqifa. This contrasts with the Shia view, which holds that Muhammad appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661) as his successor.Shia IslamShia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It is rooted in the belief that the Islamic prophet Muhammad explicitly designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661) as his rightful political successor (caliph) and the divinely guided spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam).
Twelver Shi'ismTwelver Shi'ism (Arabic: اِثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة, romanized: Ithnā ʿAshariyya; Persian: دوازده امامی, romanized: Davāzdah-emāmī) is the largest branch of Shia Islam. Twelver Shi'as believe that the Twelve Imams are divinely appointed as both spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and that they possess special knowledge and authority to guide the Muslim community.
Ottoman EmpireFormer empire (c. 1299–1922)The Ottoman Empire, also known historically as Turkey or the Turkish Empire, was a state that spanned much of Southeastern Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century, centred in modern-day Turkey. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries.
SultanSultan (; Arabic: سلطانsulṭān, pronounced) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal nounسلطةsulṭah, meaning "authority" or "power".
Ismail IShah of Safavid Iran from 1501 to 1524DynastySafavidFatherShaykh HaydarMotherHalima BegumReligionTwelver Shia IslamSignatureMilitary careerConflictsTreelike listSafavid conquest of ShirvanBattle of JabaniBattle of GulistanSiege of BakuSafavid - Aq Qoyunlu WarsBattle of SharurBattle of Hamadan (1503)Siege of Tabriz (1501)Capture of ErzincanCapture of ErzurumConquest of ArmeniaConquest of FarsConquest of Persian IraqCapture of KermanCapture of NakhchivanConquest of YazdConquest of DiyarbakirSafavid conquest of Arab IraqBattle of Baghdad (1508)Safavid–Mamluk HostilityBattle of Diyarbakir (1511)Persian–Uzbek warsBattle of MarvYazidi uprisingTurkoman invasions of GeorgiaOttoman–Persian WarsŞahkulu rebellionBattle of ChaldiranCampaign of Trabzon (1505)Battle of Erzincan (1507)Campaign of Trabzon (1510)Capture of Bayburt (1514)Siege of KemahBattle of TeletiIsmail I (Persian: اسماعیل یکم, romanized: Ismāʿīl; 17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524) was the founder and first shah of Safavid Iran, ruling from 1501 until his death in 1524.
BulgariaCountry in Southeastern EuropeBulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, and Romania across the Danube river to the north.
Safavid dynastyThe Safavid dynasty (; Persian: دودمان صفوی, romanized: Dudmân-e Safavi, pronounced) was the ruling dynasty of Safavid Iran, and one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder empires.
Muhammad in IslamIslamic views of MuhammadLifeMeccaHijrahFirst Islamic stateAfter Conquest of MeccaFarewell Pilgrimage (Farewell Sermon)HadithMilestones and recordsCareerMilitaryDiplomaticMiraclesQuran (First revelation)Isra and Mi'rajSplitting of the MoonViews and PerspectivesViews JewsChristiansPerspectives IslamBibleJudaismMedieval ChristianHistoricityCriticismSuccessionSaqifahGhadir KhummCompanions of MuhammadHadith of the pen and paperAhl al-BaytPraiseSalawatNaatMawlidRelatedMohammedanMahoundAl-Masjid an-NabawiPossessionsRelicsSealHistory of IslamIn Islam, Muhammad (Arabic: مُحَمَّد) is venerated as the Seal of the Prophets who transmitted the eternal word of God (Qur'ān) from the angelGabriel (Jibrīl) to humans and jinn.
QizilbashAlevi militant groupsQizilbash troops of Shah Ismail I. Circa 1647 painting, Chehel SotounQizilbash or Kizilbash were a diverse array of mainly TurkomanShiamilitant groups that flourished in Iranian Azerbaijan, Anatolia, the Armenian highlands, and the Caucasus from the late 15th century onwards, and contributed to the foundation of the Safavid dynasty in early modern Iran.
AliShia Imam (632–661) and Rashidun caliph (656–661)Ali ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: عليّ بن أبي طالب, romanized: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib; c. 600 – c. 28 January 661 CE) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from 656 CE until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
SufismMystic practices in IslamSufism (Arabic: التصوف, romanised: al-tasawwuf) is a diverse Islamic spiritual and ethical discipline concerned with spiritual excellence (ihsan), purification of the self and heart (tazkiya), sainthood and closeness to God (wilaya), and remembrance of God (dhikr). At its heart is an ardent love of God (mahabba, ishq) and that which reflects Him.
Twelver Shi'ismTwelver Shi'ism (Arabic: اِثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة, romanized: Ithnā ʿAshariyya; Persian: دوازده امامی, romanized: Davāzdah-emāmī) is the largest branch of Shia Islam. Twelver Shi'as believe that the Twelve Imams are divinely appointed as both spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and that they possess special knowledge and authority to guide the Muslim community.Ottoman EmpireFormer empire (c. 1299–1922)The Ottoman Empire, also known historically as Turkey or the Turkish Empire, was a state that spanned much of Southeastern Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century, centred in modern-day Turkey. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries.SultanSultan (; Arabic: سلطانsulṭān, pronounced) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal nounسلطةsulṭah, meaning "authority" or "power".Ismail IShah of Safavid Iran from 1501 to 1524DynastySafavidFatherShaykh HaydarMotherHalima BegumReligionTwelver Shia IslamSignatureMilitary careerConflictsTreelike listSafavid conquest of ShirvanBattle of JabaniBattle of GulistanSiege of BakuSafavid - Aq Qoyunlu WarsBattle of SharurBattle of Hamadan (1503)Siege of Tabriz (1501)Capture of ErzincanCapture of ErzurumConquest of ArmeniaConquest of FarsConquest of Persian IraqCapture of KermanCapture of NakhchivanConquest of YazdConquest of DiyarbakirSafavid conquest of Arab IraqBattle of Baghdad (1508)Safavid–Mamluk HostilityBattle of Diyarbakir (1511)Persian–Uzbek warsBattle of MarvYazidi uprisingTurkoman invasions of GeorgiaOttoman–Persian WarsŞahkulu rebellionBattle of ChaldiranCampaign of Trabzon (1505)Battle of Erzincan (1507)Campaign of Trabzon (1510)Capture of Bayburt (1514)Siege of KemahBattle of TeletiIsmail I (Persian: اسماعیل یکم, romanized: Ismāʿīl; 17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524) was the founder and first shah of Safavid Iran, ruling from 1501 until his death in 1524.BulgariaCountry in Southeastern EuropeBulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, and Romania across the Danube river to the north.Safavid dynastyThe Safavid dynasty (; Persian: دودمان صفوی, romanized: Dudmân-e Safavi, pronounced) was the ruling dynasty of Safavid Iran, and one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder empires.Muhammad in IslamIslamic views of MuhammadLifeMeccaHijrahFirst Islamic stateAfter Conquest of MeccaFarewell Pilgrimage (Farewell Sermon)HadithMilestones and recordsCareerMilitaryDiplomaticMiraclesQuran (First revelation)Isra and Mi'rajSplitting of the MoonViews and PerspectivesViews JewsChristiansPerspectives IslamBibleJudaismMedieval ChristianHistoricityCriticismSuccessionSaqifahGhadir KhummCompanions of MuhammadHadith of the pen and paperAhl al-BaytPraiseSalawatNaatMawlidRelatedMohammedanMahoundAl-Masjid an-NabawiPossessionsRelicsSealHistory of IslamIn Islam, Muhammad (Arabic: مُحَمَّد) is venerated as the Seal of the Prophets who transmitted the eternal word of God (Qur'ān) from the angelGabriel (Jibrīl) to humans and jinn.QizilbashAlevi militant groupsQizilbash troops of Shah Ismail I. Circa 1647 painting, Chehel SotounQizilbash or Kizilbash were a diverse array of mainly TurkomanShiamilitant groups that flourished in Iranian Azerbaijan, Anatolia, the Armenian highlands, and the Caucasus from the late 15th century onwards, and contributed to the foundation of the Safavid dynasty in early modern Iran.AliShia Imam (632–661) and Rashidun caliph (656–661)Ali ibn Abi Talib (Arabic: عليّ بن أبي طالب, romanized: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib; c. 600 – c. 28 January 661 CE) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from 656 CE until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.SufismMystic practices in IslamSufism (Arabic: التصوف, romanised: al-tasawwuf) is a diverse Islamic spiritual and ethical discipline concerned with spiritual excellence (ihsan), purification of the self and heart (tazkiya), sainthood and closeness to God (wilaya), and remembrance of God (dhikr). At its heart is an ardent love of God (mahabba, ishq) and that which reflects Him.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.