Like most other world religions, Islam is divided into several branches that have somewhat differing doctrines and central practices. At the most general level, a distinction can be made between Sunni and Shia Islam; however, it should be noted that this division is somewhat rough and conceals a significant amount of internal diversity. Shia Islam, in particular, is subdivided into several smaller branches, each of which has its own distinguishing characteristics (Betts, 2013, p. 11). Of the various branches of Shia Islam, by far the largest is so-called Twelver Shiism (Ithna Ashariyya), which will be discussed further in the next section.