Imam Jafar as Sadik, the Sixth Imam of Imamias, founded the Shia school, and thus the Shia school is earlier than the Sunni schools. As has been seen earlier, the Shias do not accept any tradition which does not emanate from the household of the Prophet, particularly of Ali. They, also, do not accept Kiyas. According to them, the Imam is the final interpreter of law.
The Ijma could be valid only when it was not possible to consult the Imam. The Shias do not accord recognition to equity, public policy, public goods, or analogy. Literally meaning ‘faction’, the term Shia is abbreviation of Shiat AIL It represents that faction of the Muslims, which after the death of the Prophet, attached itself to Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet, and considered him to be their leader, both in temporal and spiritual matters. The Shias consider Ali to be the rightful successor to the Prophet, and consequently do not recognize the first three Caliphs.
The Shias has been continually plagued by the dynastic troubles.
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Disputes, troubles, dissensions, and strife arose from time to time about the question of succession to the Immamate. The first dynastic trouble arose after the death of the fourth Imam, Zaynul Abidin.
One faction of the Shias accepted Zayd, a son of the fourth Imam as their Imam. Thus, came into existence the first school of law of the Shias. Yemen is the stronghold of the Zaydis. Zayd is the author of the Mqjmu-ul-Flaq, but the work is available only in spurious form.
After the death of Imam Jafar, the sixth Imam, dissensions and dynastic troubles cropped up again. The majority of the Shias followed Musa Kazim. This sector school came to be known as the Ithna Ashari School: it is also known as the Twelvers.
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The Ithna Ashari School prevails in Iran. Almost half of the Muslim population of Iraq belongs to this sect. They are also found in Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan. After the Hanafis, the Ithna Ashari sect has the largest number of followers in India. There are numerous works belonging to this school, the most famous being Shar-ai-ul-Islam.
The minority of the Shias, after the death of Jafar, followed Ismail, the elder son of Imam Jafar: consequently, they are known as the Ismailis, and their school is known as Ismaili school.
They are also known as the Seveners. The leading work of the Ismaili school is the Daaimul-Islam. Originally, this school prevailed in Egypt where it found favour with the Fatimidi kings (909-1171 A.D.). It is also known Fatimidi school.
It has small number of followers, in several countries, such as Central Asia, East Africa, South Arabia, Iran, Syria and Pakistan. In India, Ismailis are divided into two groups : (i) the Khojas, they are also known as the Eastern Ismailis, and are the followers of H.H. the Agha Khan who is their 49th Imam, and (ii) the Boharas, who are also known as the Western Ismailis.