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Article: The Twelver Shiites.
- Article from:
- APS Diplomat Redrawing the Islamic Map
- Article date:
- December 1, 2003
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The majority of Shiites in the world today are Twelvers. They were originally the same group of friends and supporters of Ali who, after the death of Prophet Mohammed, in order to defend the right of the Household of the Prophet in the question of the caliphate and religious authority, began to criticise and protest against the prevalent views and separated from the majority of the people.
During the caliphate of the "rightly-guided caliphs" (632-656 AD) the Shiites were under pressure which became much greater during the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) when they were no longer protected in any way against destruction of their lives and property.
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