Question

WHAT DOES SHIA MEAN?

Answer 1

it's a denomination of Islam, second to Sunni Islam in number of practitioners

Answer 2

"followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali"

Answer 3

technically it's arabic for "group" or "faction"

Answer 4

Shia |ˈ sh ēˌä| (also Shi'a)
noun ( pl. same or Shias )
one of the two main branches of Islam, followed esp. in Iran, that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's first true successor. Compare with Sunni .
• a Muslim who adheres to this branch of Islam.
ORIGIN from Arabic šīעa ‘party (of Ali).’