The presence of ‘Alawites and Shi‘i thought in distant regions all over the world has had a major role in the expansion and establishment of Islam in those areas. An important factor in the rise and spread of ‘Alawite following and Shi‘i thought in such places was the existence of necessary political, social, cultural, and ideological grounds in those geographical regions. Andalusia– when a Muslim sphere of influence– not only did not provide proper grounds for the spread of Shi‘ah footholds, but hindered the growth and expansion of ‘Alawite religious and political thought, because of the presence of certain specific factors, compared to other domains of the Muslim World.
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