WORLD RELIGIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Shias comprise a majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain, and a plurality in Lebanon, while Sunnis make up the majority of more than forty countries from Morocco to Indonesia.

Detailed explanation-2: -Iran is unique in the Muslim world because its population is overwhelmingly more Shia than Sunni (Shia constitute 95% of the population) and because its constitution is theocratic republic based on rule by a Shia jurist.

Detailed explanation-3: -Of all Iranian Muslims, 90-95% are Shi’ites. Almost all Iranians as Muslim, with 90–95% thought to associate themselves with the official state religion – Shia Islam – and about 5–10% with the Sunni and Sufi branches of Islam. 99.8% of Iranians identifying as Muslim.

Detailed explanation-4: -Today, Shia Muslims make up the majority of the Iraqi population. Iraq is the location of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, pilgrimage sites for millions of Shia Muslims. Najaf is the site of Ali’s tomb, and Karbala is the site of the tomb of Muhammad’s grandson, third Shia imam Husayn ibn Ali.