What is Shia Islam, how did it arise in Iran, and what is the importance of martyrdom in Shia Islam?

The greatest schism between Muslims is the Shia-Sunni split. The split originated after the death of prophet Muhammad who left no heir apparent or direct male descendant. This left a power vacuum. The main argument was over whether to hand power to the descendants of Muhammad or to qualified individuals no matter his tribal background. A group of prominent muslims at the time elected Abu Bakr, a companion of Mohammed, to be the first caliph over Ali, Muhammad’s cousin. The supporters of Ali who opposed this decision named themselves the “shi’atu Ali'', Arabic for “Ali’s partisans. Opposition against bloodline succession named themselves Sunnis.

Shia identity is rooted in victimhood over the killing of Husayn, Mohammed’s grandson, in the Karbala battle, and a long history of marginalization by the Sunni majority. This mindset produced a strong sense of martyrdom among the Shias. The brave attempt by Husayn resisting the Sunnis symbolizes resistance against corrupt tyrants betraying Islam. This battle translated into the creation of a Shia sect based on martyrdom for a holy cause. Karbala contributed to the modern identity of the Iranian regime as one of resistance to the Shah and later participating in various geopolitical struggles as a part of the “struggle against oppression”.

Shiism was not originally Iranian, the Safavid dynasty changed that, and over the following two centuries they fought the Ottomans, the seat of the Sunni caliphate. Safavid Shahs converted their country because they wanted to be independent of the religious control of the Ottoman Sunni Caliph, and consolidate their power in Iran as well as add cohesion to their domain. Safavids did their job through coercion and force which ultimately changed the character of Iran. The Safavid dynasty left Iran with a deep-seated character that has persisted ever since, which is a Shia islam with Iranian characteristics that’s pivotal to the core of modern Iran.