Of course...

Of course, their contact with the capital (Baghdad) and Medina had been less due to the existence of the Aghlabi government in Egypt which was formed to counter them.[^8] In this manner, Shi‘ism during the second century AH was spread in both the eastern and western parts of the Muslim world, and in addition to Khuzestan, the mountainous region { jabal } (the regions around the Zagros mountain ranges) and central Iran, Shi‘ism was also spread in far-flung regions such as Central Asia, present day Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Maghrib (Morocco), India, and Tabaristan.[^9] Lesson 18: Summary The first center of Shi‘ism is Medina and the pioneering Shi‘ah used to live in this city.

During the period of the first three caliphs, the Shi‘ah sahabah (companions of the Prophet (S)) was scattered in the different cities and regions and calling people toward Shi‘ism on the basis of the Qur’an. The transfer of ‘Ali ( ‘a ) to Iraq had a tremendous impact on Shi‘ism in Iraq. From the time of Hajjaj, Shi‘ism was extended beyond the realm of Iraq and Hijaz.

During the ‘Abbasid period, the Shi‘ah in the east, in addition to Iran, also found their way into Central Asia, India, and the Caucasus, and in the west also, with the establishment of the Idrisi government in Maghrib, a fertile ground was paved for the influence of Shi‘ism. The Shi‘ah-populated regions during the first century AH were confined to Hijaz and Iraq. Owing to the residence of the pure Imams ( ‘a ) and Banu Hashim there, Medina was the first city where the Shi‘ah gathered together.

The second Shi‘ah-concentrated region next to Medina was Yemen because the people embraced Islam through ‘Ali’s ( ‘a ) hand. Lesson 18: Questions Where was the first center of Shi‘ism? Whom is the initial spread of Shi‘ism associated to? Which regions were Shi‘ah-populated during the first century AH? What was the reason behind the inclination of the Yemenis toward Shi‘ism? [^1]: Muhammad Jawad Mughniyyah, Ash-Shi‘ah fi’l-Mizan (Qum: Manshurat ash-Sharif ar-Radi, 1413 AH), pp. 26-28.

[^2]: Sayyid Muhsin Amin, A‘yan ash-Shi‘ah (Beirut: Dar at-Ta‘aruf Li’l-Matbu‘at, n.d.), vol. 1, p. 25. [^3]: Nahj al-Balaghah, Faydh al-Islam, Sermon 235. [^4]: Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Jabir Baladhuri, Insab al-Ashraf, researched by Muhammad Baqir Mahmudi (Beirut: Manshurat Mu’assasah al-A‘lami Li’l-Matbu‘at, 1394 AH), vol. 2, p. 237. [^6]: A‘yan ash-Shi‘ah, vol. 1, p. 25.