• Cite verse in Quran where Muhammad named Ali successor
  • Ali was 4th caliph and got into power struggle which he lost
  • Trace the line of caliphs back through Muhammad’s bloodline
  • Have been more marginal and predominantly exist in Iran
• Over time, grew further apart from mainstream Sunni Islam
• Rejected Baghdad’s authority, set about taking land off Sunnis
  • Conquered the cities of Jerusalem and Damascus