Ghulat (; lit. "extremists", the adjectival form of
ghuluww), is a term used in the theology of
Shia Islam to describe some minority Muslim groups who either ascribe divine characteristics to figures of Islamic history (usually a member of
Muhammad's family (
Ahl al-Bayt)) or hold beliefs deemed deviant by mainstream Shi'i theology. In later periods, this term was used to describe any Shi'i group not accepted by the
Zaydis, orthodox
Twelvers, and sometimes the
Ismailis.