Shiah Islam is also known as Shiite Islam or simply Shiism. It is a branch of Islam that believes in the leadership of the Imams descended from Prophet Muhammad and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Another synonym for Shiah Islam is Shia, which comes from the Arabic word shi'atu Ali or "partisans of Ali." The followers of Shia Islam are also called Shia Muslims. Other terms used to refer to this branch of Islam include Shi'ism, Shiite, and Shi'ite. Although Shiah Islam is a minority sect in Islam, it has a significant influence in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Lebanon.