The important fact that, for at least a few centuries, Shiites have mainly settled in Iran leads us to the conclusion that basic (even pre-Islamic) culture and Iranian civilization are the most important influences on Shiite beliefs, its concepts, its religious beliefs, and its legal and sociopolitical philosophies, whereas the great majority of Muslims-in other words, religious schools and theological doctrines-are affiliated with the Sunni community and are generally present in all Arab countries, Turkey, and in the Far East, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Those differences are not only due to and justified by theological or legal issues, but various sociohistorical contexts have also played a major role in their development. Nevertheless, there are obvious differences between what is understood as Shiite philosophy and religious prescription and what is actually practiced in a social context within Shiite communities.
The status of “women” as interpreted by Shiites in a philosophical and legal context, as well as their social status in Shiite communities, throughout history up until today, can only be considered and studied within a general framework, using an approach that must obviously be based on the legal foundation established by religious Islamic thinking.
