Sheeahs, Or Shiites Shiahs (Ar. shia a faction), a sect of Mohammedans, who believe that Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed, was by right entitled to be his immediate successor. The proper name of the sect is Shiat Ali, or Ali's party. After the death of the prophet the party that supported Ali's rivals, Abubekr, Omar, and Othman, successively effected their elevation to the caliphate before him, and he did not attain that office till 23 years after the death of Mohammed. The Shiahs consisted mainly of the Persian portion of the early adherents of Islam. They entertained the most exaggerated notions concerning Ali, and even during his lifetime propounded doctrines assigning to him a certain participation in the nature and attributes of God, and placing him above Mohammed. The Shiahs reject such of the traditions of Islam as relate to the first three caliphs or any other enemies of Ali, and they accept certain traditions which are rejected by the Sunnis, or orthodox Mohammedans. To the common formula of faith, "There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet," they add, "Ali is the vicar of God." The Shiah doctrines made rapid progress, and in the early centuries of Islam repeatedly attained to power (see Caliphs); and at present they form the majority of the Persian and Hindoo Mohammedans.