Ithna Ashari, also known as the Twelver Shia, is a major branch of Shia Islam. Followers believe in a line of twelve Imams, starting with Ali ibn Abi Talib and ending with Muhammad al-Mahdi. They view these Imams as divinely appointed leaders who provide spiritual and temporal guidance. The Ithna Ashari community emphasizes the importance of the Quran and the teachings of the Imams. They practice rituals such as Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the third Imam. This branch of Islam is predominantly found in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.