Why a shrine attack particularly upsets Shi146;ites

The shrines date back to the 9th century, though the gold dome was completed in 1905. Their revered status comes from their connection to the imams, who are 8216;8216;part of the skeleton of the Shi8217;ite faith,8217;8217; said Yitzhak Nakash, professor at Brandeis University.

Shi8217;ites revere the line of succession that began with Prophet Muhammad8217;s son-in-law Ali, while Sunnis follow the rule of Arab tribal leaders, called Caliphs.

Shi8217;ites believe that the Caliphs were trying to wipe out Ali8217;s line of succession by killing off his heirs8212;the imams8212;over the first few centuries of the faith and that the 10th and 11th of Ali8217;s heirs, Ali Hadi and Hassan Askari, are buried in the shrine. 8212;LATWP