Session 3 - Division in Islam

In this session we will be looking at the different divisions within Islam that have

come about since the death of Muhammad

We will see why the divisions took place, what the difference in beliefs are, and what

the agreements in beliefs are

Two three primary divisions within Islam

Sunnis ShiiteSufi

The difference between these different sects of Islam is great in many cases

It is like the doctrinal differences between Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodox,

Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses (all of which people call Christian)

After Muhammad died, Islam continued to grow very quickly in that region of the world

In the 8th century A.D., there arose a school of legal experts who interpreted and applied Islamic principles to different

situations throughout the Empire.

This caused the need for laws to be made that address many different situations, and

the Qur’an and Hadith was not detailed enough to answer all these questions

However, different scholars disagreed with these experts in various areas. This led

to a variety of legal schools of thought within Islam.

This caused many of the divisions that we have today within the religion of Islam

While we named the three big groups, there are actually many others: Hanifa, after Abu Hanifa;

Maliki, after Malik ibn Anas; Shafi'i, after Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i; Zaydi, after Zayd

ibn Ali; the Nusayri, Ismaili, Murji'ah, etc.

The most notable split (Sunni vs. Shiite) came about over a dispute of who would be the

successor of Muhammad

The majority, who would go on to become known as the Sunnis, backed Abu Bakr, a friend of the Prophet and father

of his wife Aisha.

Other did not agree with Abu Bakr taking over after Muhammad

They claimed the Prophet had anointed Ali, his cousin and son-in-law—they became

known as the Shia, a contraction of "shiaat Ali", the partisans of Ali.

In the end, Abu Bakr’s group (Sunnis) won the battle for successor, although Ali

(Muhammad's son in law) did rule for a short time period as the fourth Caliph

Two of the earliest caliphs were murdered. War erupted when Ali became caliph, and he too was killed in fighting in the year 661 near

the town of Kufa, now in present-day Iraq.

The war continued with Ali's son, Hussein stood up to the sunni caliph's very large

army on the battlefield. He and 72 members of his family and companions fought against

a very large Arab army of the caliph. They were all massacred in that battle.

Hussein was decapitated and his head carried in tribute to the Sunni caliph in Damascus. His

body was left on the battlefield at Karbala. Later it was buried there.

It is the symbolism of Hussein's death that is important to the Shiites.

They see it as an innocent figure being slain by a far greater, unjust force. Hussein

becomes the figure that inspires the Shiites

The Sunnis continued to monopolize political power of the Islamic state, and the Shiites

lived in the shadows looking to their Imams (twelve in number) who are the direct

descendants of Ali, for wisdom and advice

In the Shiite worldview, Ali is the first Imam, Hussein is the third Imam, and there are nine

more after them

The idea of these Imams is one big difference between the groups (Sunni/Shiite)

The Imams have authority in Shiite Islam that no one has in Sunni Islam

Sunnis claim Shiites associate divine qualities to these Imams, which makes it heresy

The Twelfth Imam

According to the Shiites, in the 10th Century the 12th Imam went into occultation and

became known as the hidden Imam

Shiites believe that Allah took him into hiding and he will return at the end times

The twelfth Imam is also known as the Mahdi or the Messiah

Shiites who believe in the Hidden Imam are known as Twelver Shiites. They are the

majority of the Shiites in the world.

Over the next centuries, Islam clashed with the

European Crusaders, with the Mongol conquerors

from Central Asia, and was spread farther by the

Ottoman Turks.

Around the year 1500, the Safavid dynasty gain control of Persia (modern day Iran). They

support the Shiite groups which gradually became the glue that held Persia together

This caused Persia to become distinct from the Ottoman Empire to its west, which was Sunni, and the Mughal Muslims to the east

in India, also Sunni.

Shiites went a long time without having much political power

Information about the Sunnis:

80% of the Muslim population belong to this sect of Islam

Sunnis emphasizes the authority of the written traditions, including the Koran & the

Hadith. The Sunna fills in areas where the Koran is silent.

Guidance comes from the elders and the religious scholars (Ulama)

Information about the Shiites:

Authority oriented (not consensus oriented) they believe that God spoke through the Imam, equivalent to the Catholic Pope

In the 9th Century, the 12th Imam occultated (Became hidden) Authority then went to the Ulama (Different from Sunnis group), who are considered to collectively be the

general representatives of the hidden Imam

Which Muslims are where?

The Shiites are concentrated in Iran, southern Iraq and southern Lebanon. But there are significant Shiite communities in

Saudi Arabia and Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India as well.

Islam is the Dominating religion in 50 countries, 35

countries of populations over

87% Muslim.

Sufism is a mystical third wing of Islam

The Sufi are a mystical tradition where the followers seek inner mystical knowledge of God. This sect "officially" developed around the 10th century and has since fragmented

into different orders

the Sufi believe their roots can be traced back to the inception of Islam in the early

7th century.

The Sufi mystic must follow a path of deprivation and meditation. There are

various forms of abstinence and poverty. Worldly things are renounced, and a complete trust in God's will is taught.

The goal is to attain to a higher knowledge and experience of Allah

The Sufi interpret the Qur’an very differently, saying there is mystical meaning behind the

things said in it

They often times have a very pantheistic worldview, the idea that all is God and God is

all (the creation)

Other sects of Islam (Sunni/Shiite) outright reject Sufi beliefs for many reasons

In part, Sufism arose as a reaction to the growing Islamic materialism that had

developed in the Empire. Islam had achieved great power, and with it, the material

gain was great.

So there is great division within Islam

The Qur’an says this shouldn’t happen:

"The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah--the [sic] which we have sent by inspiration to thee--and that which we enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion and make no

divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which

thou callest them." (Surah 42:13)

What do Sunni and Shiite Muslims (and most others) have in common?

They hold to the five pillars

1. Affirmation (Shahada): "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger." This is

recited constantly by devout Muslims.

2. Prayer (As-Salah): Muslims are required to pray five times a day, kneeling and

facing Mecca.

3. Almsgiving (Zakah): A worthy Muslim must give 2.5 percent of his income to the poor.

4. The Fast (Siyam): Faithful Muslims fast from dawn to dusk every day during the ninth month

of the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan.

5. The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj): Muslims are expected to journey to Mecca at least once in

their lifetime.

They agree on core beliefs

The ProphetsAngels

GodThe Holy Books

The Day of JudgmentThe Decree of God

While they do share many core beliefs, they also have things (some we’ve already seen)

that they disagree about

As seen before they have a different opinion on who should be leading the Islamic religion

Shiites and Sunnis share the Quran but have different collections of the hadith. Shiites believe that the imams are the source for

the hadith. Sunnis believe the hadith come from the Prophet's companions.

Different collection of Hadith (Important)

The Sunnis weigh community consensus; the Shiites rely on the infallibility of the imams.

The two groups have different ways to settle matters not addressed in the Qur’an or

the Hadith literature

The radical nature of the groups vary

Shiites represent most radical Islamic groups (Iran & Iraq are examples of this). And while this isn’t true of all Sunnis, they do tend to

be the more peaceful group worldwide

Are Muslims supposed to be aggressive and kill the infidels?

Many want to know what the Qur’an actually says about this topic, so we will

look at it briefly

The Qur'an does tells Muslims to kill and go to war to fight for Islam: Quran, chapters (Surahs) 9:5; 2:191; 2:193;

3:118; 4:75,76; 5:33, 8:12; 8:65; 9:73,123; 33:60-62.

Here are a few examples:

Fight for Allah: "And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence

they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight

with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of

the unbelievers, (Quran 2:191).

Muslims are to battle for Allah: "Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo!

the devil's strategy is ever weak," (4:76).

Allah urges war: "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against

evil)," (Quran 9:123).

Kill those against Islam: "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His

messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or

crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in

the world, and in the Hereafter," (Quran 5:33).

Beheading: "When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into

the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each

finger. 13That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah

and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment," (Quran 8:12).

There are many other examples

Some Muslims take this to be a physical and spiritual war, some take it to be only spiritual

(and tend to be more peaceful)

Why are some willing to die (suicide bombing) for the Islamic faith?

Remember, in Islam you have no guarantee if you will go to heaven or not, your good

and bad deeds will be compared on the day of judgment, and whichever one weighs

more determines where you go

Look what the Qur’an says:

Then, he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) heavy, Will be in a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. 8 But he whose

balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light, Will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit.

(Surah 101:6-9)

According to the Qur’an and the Hadith, the only way you have assurance of going to

heaven is dying in Jihad (Holy war)

"Let those fight in the cause of Allah Who sell the life of this world for

the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the

cause of Allah,--whether he is slain or

gets victory--Soon shall We give him a reward

of great (value)." (4:74, Yusifali).

"Allah's Apostle said, "Allah guarantees (to the person who carries out Jihad in His

Cause and nothing compelled him to go out but Jihad in His Cause and the belief in His Word) that He will either admit him into Paradise (Martyrdom) or return him with

reward or booty he has earned to his residence from where he went out,"

(Hadith Vol. 9, Book 93, # 555).

It makes sense if they believe it’s the only way to have eternal security

Memory VersePsalm 86:15: ”But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to

anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”