page_title: Schools of Islamic theology
section_title: Usulism
hierarchical_section_title: Schools of Islamic theology / Shia schools of theology / Ithnā'ashariyyah / Imami-Ja'faris / Usulism
caption_attribution_description: English: Imam Ali Mosque - Shrine of: 1st Shia Imam - Ali ibn Abi Talib; Prophet Adam; Prophet Nuh. (Najaf, Iraq)
context_page_description: Schools of Islamic theology are various Islamic schools and branches in different schools of thought regarding aqidah. According to Muhammad Abu Zahra, Qadariyah, Jahmis, Murji'ah, Muʿtazila, Batiniyya, Ash'ari, Maturidi, Athari are the ancient schools of aqidah.
  The main split between Sunni and Shia Islam was initially more political than theological, but over time theological differences have developed. Still, differences in aqidah occur as divisions orthogonal to the main divisions in Islam along political or fiqh lines, such that a Muʿtazili might, for example, belong to Ja'fari, Zaidi or even Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
context_section_description: The Usuli form the overwhelming majority within the Twelver Shia denomination. They follow a Marja-i Taqlid on the subject of taqlid and fiqh. They are concentrated in Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iraq, and Lebanon.
caption: Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq, where Ali the first Shia Imam is buried.
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