Islam

A Cursory Background of the Various Sects

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Origins of the Sunni-Shi'a Rift

Premises common to all Muslims :
Prophets before Muhammad, such as Adam, Abraham, and Jesus, were sent by God to convey His message to a particular nation or people. Muhammad was sent for all humankind, and he was final Prophet. Muhammad did not introduce a new faith, but rather restored the faith of the early prophets.

Upon the death of the Prophet Muhammad, however, two core issues arose :
1. Was there still a place for spiritual leaders and interpreters (Shi'a), or did Muhammad's writings and example negate the need and legitimacy of further interpretation and explication (Sunni)?
2. Should leaders should be chosen by descendancy (Shi'a), or consensus (Sunni)? Both viewpoints claim legitimacy in the wishes of Muhammad.

Mohammad had no sons who reached adulthood; and of his daughters, only Fatimah Zahra (Fatimah bint Muhammad), who married Mohammad’s cousin Ali, had children who reached adulthood. Thus only the children of Ali and Fatimah were direct descendants of Mohammad.

Following the death of Mohammad in AD 632, the leadership role went first to three men who were not blood relatives -- first to Muhammad's friend Abu Bakr (632-634), then to Umar (634-644), and to Uthman, who was assassinated in 656 after twelve years of rule. It was then that Ali, twenty-four years after Muhammad's death, finally became leader. He was accused by some of not trying hard enough to find Uthman's murderer, and like Uthman, his reign ended in assassination. Over the next few centuries, differences in theology evolved among not just the Sunni and Shi'a, but other offshoots as well.

The line of Mohammed ended in 873, when the last Shia Imam, four-year old Muhammad al-Mahdi, disappeared just days after inheriting the title. Many Shias believe that he was merely "hidden" and would return, but eventually spiritual authority passed to a council of twelve scholars called the ulema, who elected a supreme Imam. A well-known example of a supreme Iman in modern times is Khomeini, leader in Iran after the 1979 revolution.

Sunni

Abu Bakr had been the rightful heir to Muhammad's rule because he had been chosen by consensus.

Muhammad deliberately did not appoint a successor, because the Qur'an, and Muhammad's example are the exclusive authority in spiritual matters. The term Sunni comes from the Arabic sunna (سنة ), referring to the words and example of Muhammad.

For political authority, a caliph, head of state of the entire Muslim world (not only Sunni), is to be chosen by democratic consensus.

God will be beheld upon one's death.

Within Sunni are different interpretations of Islamic law (Shari'ah). There are four major schools of law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.

Shi'a

Abu Bakr was an usurper. Ali should have been the leader of all Muslims after Muhammad's death.

Spiritual guidance is gleaned from Immans, who are descendants of Muhammad, that is, from the lineage of Fatimah and Ali. With Muhammad and Ali, the cycle of prophets ended and that of Imamah began.

Immans alone have the right to be caliphs, and to interpret the Qu'ran. They are infallible, and may reveal esoteric meaning of the Qu'ran to chosen followers.

God can never be seen, neither in this life nor in the afterlife.

Shi'a and Sunni both believe in the Five PIllars of Islam, but categorize them differently.

Sunni Theological Traditions

Ash'ari
Stresses divine revelation over human reason. Ethics cannot be derived from human reason:

Maturidiyyah
Knowledge of God's existence can be derived through reason.

Athariyyah God does not resemble His creation in any way, and it is prohibited to imagine an image of God in any way.

Mu'tazilah
Attempts to combine Islmic thought with external logic and reason, incorporating influence from Greek civilization.

Branches of Shi'a

Twelvers
 Twelvers believe there were twelve Imams

 

Ismaili
Similar to the Twelvers, except for the acceptance of Ismaīl ibn Ja'far as the sixth Iman,

Zaidiyyah
Recognize the same first four Imams but accept Zayd ibn Ali as the fifth. Occasionally called Fivers in the West.


Other branches of Islam

Sufism
Sufism is a highly mystical religion followed by some Muslims within both the Sunni and Shi'a sects. Islamic law is a first step, not the complete path, to perfect submission. There is an emphasis on spiritual aspects of Islam, such as perfecting one's faith and subduing one's own ego. Charactized by a high emphasis on the after-life, and some beliefs consider contrary to strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Ibadism
Ibadism is noted for the belief that the leader should be chosen solely on the basis of his faith, not descent, and on the need to depose unjust rulers. Also noted for strictness. This is an for of the Kharijite, the only surviving branch. Most Ibadis are in Oman.
 

Ahmadis
Originating in the 19th century in Punjab, Ahmadis consider themselves to be a restoration of original Islam. They believe that Jesus did not die on the cross, but continued on earth, dying in Kashmir.


Religions that evolved from Islam

Alawites
Distinct for their deification of Ali, for their view that the Pillars of Islam (the five duties required of all Muslims) are merely symbolic, and for their religious secrecy.

Druzes
Developed from the Ismali branch of Shi'a. Incorporates Greek philosophy and Gnosticism. Druzes believe King Fatimid of Egypt (985-1021) to have been an incarnation of God; revere Jethro, father-in-law of Moses; and seven prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and the early Druze leader,  Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi).