Last modified: 2025-08-16 by ian macdonald
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![[Shia flag]](../images/p/pk_alish.jpg)
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by William Garrison, 13 July 2025
This flag can be readily identified as a Shia-Muslim flag as along both the left and right sides of it are depictions of the double-pronged Zulfiqar sword. The Shia believe that this sword was used by the Muslim prophet Mohammed, who allegedly gave it to his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib. Shiites ("Followers of Ali") maintain that this sword's transfer meant that Muhammed was bequeathing the leadership of the Muslim "ummah" ("community") to Ali and his heirs. Sunni Muslims accept Ali as their fourth Rashidun caliph (political leader), while the Shia recognize Ali as being their first Imam leader. In the middle of this flag there is an image of the Muslim's holiest shrine: the black-clothed Kaaba in Mecca, KSA. Above it is the word Urdu word for "Ali". According to Islamic tradition, both Shia and Sunni believe that Imam Ali was born inside the Kaaba c. 600 CE. Following Ali's assassination in early 661 CE, he was succeeded by Muawiya I, who was then succeeded by his son Yazid. However, one of Muhammad's grandsons, Imam Husayn/Hussain, thought that he should succeed Muawiya. Husayn led a small militia of supporters towards Damascus to overthrow Yazid, however Husayn was killed at the Battle of Karbala in Oct. 680 CE, which led to a split of the Muslim community between the Shia (Husayn) v. Sunni. Disgruntled Shia therefore display this flag that proclaims their still hoped-for control of the Muslim ummah. This narrow but long flag was displayed in Pakistan, where about only 15% of the population are Shiites.
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/photo
William Garrison, 13 July 2025