Ayatollah Ruholla Khomenei, the most well known Ayatollah in the West for his role in the overthrowing of the Shah in 1979 and establishing a Government dominated by the Clergy in Iran.

Below listed are the Fundementals to the Shia Branch of Islam. These differ from the Sunni Branch of Islam, but they are similar. These are:

Roots of Islam

Tawheed - (Oneness of God) - The most fundamental aspect of all beliefs revolves around the total acceptance of the Absolute and Perfect Creator. Belief in the Originator of all causes and effects with no effect on Him and that He is One, Everliving, Beneficent and Merciful. He has neither colleagues nor a partners. The Almighty God is Unique and is Absolute, No entity in His Universe can ever comprehend His true state and none should even bother to try for it will lead to futility and insanity.

A Divine rule can be established only by a man , who, where justice and equity are required, neither feels deficient nor weak and who is not greedy and avaricious. . . . - (Hazrat Ali Ibne Abi Talib (A.S)

Adl - (Justice) - Essentially part of Tawheed. Belief that God is Just. He will reward or punish any person according to his deeds and thus the notion of predestination (where all decisions are God's and not any one else's) in one's deeds does not exist. It is absolutely forbidden in Islam to believe that the Almighty, Merciful Allah planned our destiny and that the good and the bad are just His Will and there is no choice for us between them

Nubuwwat (Prophethood) - Belief in the Prophets (PBUH) of God who excel all other persons for whom they are sent for. All prophets of Allah are perfect and sinless (ma'soom). Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH) is the last of the prophets sent by God and the sealer of prophets for NO more are to come, EVER! The total number of prophets (PBUT) that were sent by God to mankind is 124,000 and every nation on earth was given guidance through them.

Imamat - (Guidance) - Belief in the divinely appointed leadership after the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to protect and guide mankind with the revealed Truth, the Holy Qur'an and the true practices of the Holy Prophet himself. The roles of these leaders is an integral part in the protection of all the Messengers and their divine Messages. The Almighty Allah appointed through the Holy Prophet himself, twelve Guides (Imams) to protect mankind from misrepresenting and misinterpreting the Truth.

Qiyaamat - (Resurrection) - Belief in the Day of Judgement when all human beings shall be raised from the dead and all their good and bad deeds shall be ultimately judged and recompensed accordingly.

Furoo-ad-Deen (Branches of Religion)

Salat (Prayers)

Saum (Fasting)

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Zakat (Poor Rate)

Khums (Wealth Tax)

Jihad (Striving and not War)

Amr-Bil-Ma'roof (Enjoin what is good)

Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is wrong)

Tawalla (To love and respect the Ahl-ul-Bait and their friends)

Tabarra (To disassociate from the enemies of the Ahl-ul-Bait)

*Ahl-ul-Bait is the immediate five members of Prophet Muhammad's (P.B.U.H.) family.