ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shia Islam in Bangladesh

Hey there! So, Shia Islam is one of the branches of Islam, which is practiced by some people in Bangladesh. Basically, Shias believe that Ali (the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad) should have been the first leader (caliph) of Islam after the death of the Prophet, whereas the majority of Muslims (called Sunnis) believe that Abu Bakr (a close friend of the Prophet) was the rightful first caliph.

In Bangladesh, there are not a lot of Shias, but they do have a presence there. They have their own mosques and community centers where they pray and meet with each other. They also have different religious customs and practices than Sunnis. For example, during the month of Muharram (which is important to both Shias and Sunnis), Shias have specific rituals, such as wearing black and mourning the death of Hussain (the grandson of the Prophet) who was killed in a battle.

However, even though Shias and Sunnis have some differences in their religious beliefs and practices, they are still both Muslims and share many common beliefs and values. It is important to respect and understand the differences in our religious beliefs and practices, but also to focus on what unites us as human beings.