Shia Islamic branches

Alawites () are an ethnoreligious group, many of whom identify as Arabs, who live primarily in Syria and elsewhere in the Levant. They follow Alawism, an offshoot of Shia Islam as a ghulat branch during the ninth century. Alawites venerate Ali ibn Abi Talib, the "first Imam" in the Twelver school, as a manifestation of the divine essence. It is the only ghulat sect still in existence today. The group was founded during the ninth century by Ibn Nusayr, who was a disciple of the tenth Twelver Imam, Ali al-Hadi, and of the eleventh Twelver Imam, Hasan al-Askari. For this reason, Alawites are also

Zaydism (), also referred to as '''Fiver Shi'ism''', is a branch of Shia Islam that emerged in the eighth century following Zayd ibn Ali's unsuccessful rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate. Zaydism is one of the three main branches of Shi'ism, the other two being Twelverism and Ismailism.

Alevism (; ; ), also known as Qizilbashism, is a syncretic and mystic tradition, formulated by Haji Bektash Veli. It is generally agreed that it is akin to a Sufi rendition of Twelver Shi'ism that integrates Central Asian shamanic elements, though some dissenting voices base the Alevi belief squarely in a non-denominational, heterodox Anatolian Islam instead. They acknowledge the six articles of faith of Islam, but may differ regarding their interpretation. Lack of gender segregation in ritual contexts and clergy is one of the key features that sets Alevism apart from Muslim orthodoxy.

branch of Isma'ili Shia Islam

The Kaysanites () were a Shi'i sect of Islam that formed from the followers of Al-Mukhtar. They traced Imamate from Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah and his descendants. The name Kaysaniyya was most likely derived from the name of Mukhtar's chief guard, Abu Amra Kaysan.

Sufi Shi'a order (tariqah) founded by Safi-ad-din Ardabili

The '''''' () were a branch of early Shi'a Islam. The term mainly refers to a wide variety of extinct Shi'i sects active in 8th- and 9th-century Kufa in Lower Mesopotamia, and who, despite their sometimes significant differences, shared several common ideas. These common ideas included the attribution of a divine nature to the Imams, metempsychosis (the belief that souls can migrate between different human and non-human bodies), a particular gnostic creation myth involving pre-existent 'shadows' (azilla) whose fall from grace produced the material world, and an emphasis on secrecy and dissocia

The Nuqtavi ( Nuqṭawiyyah) movement was founded by Mahmoud Pasikhani () when he proclaimed himself the Mahdi in 1397. The group is an offshoot of Hurufism, from which Pasīkhānī was expelled for arrogance. The group first arose in Anjudan near Kashan an area known for its Nizari Isma'ili Shia Islam. The group attempted to proclaim Tahmasp I as Mahdi after Pasikhani died.

thumb|right|Shah Ismail I (1501-1524) watches his troops defeat the Musha'sha leader Sultan Fayyad. Album-mounted folio of Bijan's history created by [[Mo'en Mosavver, ]] The '''Musha'sha' (also spelled Mosha'sha''''; ) were a Shi'i Arab dynasty based in the town of Huwaizah in Khuzestan, ruling from 1435 to 1736. Initially starting out as a tribal confederation, they gradually transformed into a zealous Isma'ili Shi'i dynasty. The independence of the Musha'sha' was put to an end in 1508 by the Safavid shah Ismail I (), who claimed to be the only legitimate Shi'i ruler. Following this, the Mus

The Ghurabiyya Shi‘a were a ghulat sect of Shi‘a Islam. They are one of the best known of a few extremist Shi‘i sects who adopted the belief that the angel Gabriel was mistaken when passing on the prophecy to Muhammad instead of Ali.

Al-Rawandiyya, Rawandians, or Ravendians is a term referring to a minority sect of Shi'i origin that originated in Khorasan during the Abbasid rule. The term was later expanded to include the entire Abbasid Shi'a community. The etymology is said to derive from Al-Kasim ibn Rawand or from Abu'l Abbas al-Rawandi, but little is known about these individuals. Other sources claim that the name is derived from Abd Allah al-Rawandi. Accounts by later historians and heresiographers claim that the Rawandiyya held numerous doctrines, some of which suggest belief in metempsychosis and divine incarnation,

Batriyya or Butriyya (, adjective form Batrī) or Batrism is an early branch of Zaydī Islam.

Iraqi Shi'a militant group (c.2003 - c.2008)

right|thumb|250px|Demir Baba Teke|Demir Baba teke, Alian sacred place

Dhammiyya was a Ghulat sect within Shia Islam. The name Dhammiyya was derived from the Arabic word Dhamm, meaning blame. Therefore, the Arabic name Dhammiyya is translated as blamers. The sect was also known as the 'Ulyaniyya or 'Alya'iyya, named after ‘Ulyan (or 'Alya) ibn Dhira' as-Sadusi (or ad-Dawsi, or al-Asdi), and appear to have been active around 800 CE.

The Fathites, also Aftahiyya or Fathiyya (), are a now-extinct branch of Shia Islam, who were supporters of Abdallah al-Aftah, believing him to be the imam after the death of his father Ja'far al-Sadiq, the sixth imam of Shiism, in 765 CE. Abdallah's inheritance of the imamate was contested, with varying stories stating that either that he died within 70 days of his father, or that he was not sufficiently competent.

thumb|Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib by Hakob Hovnatanian

Shia sect

extinct Ghulat sect of Shia Islam