Shia Islam began when Abu Bakr, Umar and Abu Ubaydah al Jarrah offered each other the helpers (ansar) despite the announcement of Ghadir Khumm where Ali was declared master of the believers. Ali and his supporters stayed in his house then Abu Bakr sent Umar to threaten those inside by attempting to burn the house.
Which came first Sunni or Shia Islam?
This paper separates fact and fiction. The separation of Sunni and Shia is as old as Islam. Islam split into two divisions right after the Prophet Muhammad’s death in 632. Later on, these two groups came to be known as Shia and Sunni. Sunni means the individual or a group who follows the path and tradition of the Prophet.
What does Shia Islam stand for?
for more unique definitions from across the web! What does SHIA ISLAM mean? The Shia, or the Shiites, represent the second largest denomination of Islam. Adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias or the Shi'a as a collective or Shi'i individually.
Is Shia Islam or Sunni the true sect?
Though the two main sects within Islam, Sunni and Shia, agree on most of the fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam, a bitter split between the two goes back some 14 centuries. The divide originated with a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic faith he introduced.
What areas of Islam are dominated by the Shia?
What areas of Islam are dominated by the Shia? Shia Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq and Bahrain . Nearly half of the Muslim population in Lebanon and Yemen [1] [2] are Shia . There is also a significant (30-40% Kuwait, 15-20% in Saudi Arabia, 10% in Qatar) presence of Shia Muslims in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf , especially in ...
Who is father of Shia?
Husayn ibn AliHusayn ibn Ali حسين بن عليHusayn's name in Arabic calligraphyBornc. 626 or 627 Medina, Hejaz, ArabiaDied10 October 680 (aged 54) Karbala, IraqCause of deathDecapitated in Karbala15 more rows
Who is the founder of Sunni Islam?
Founded by Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (873–935).
Who is the first Shia in the world?
The first Shia state was the Idrisid dynasty (780–974) in Maghreb. Next was the Alavid dynasty (864–928) established in Mazandaran (Tabaristan), north of Iran. These dynasties were local, but they were followed by two great and powerful dynasties.
Who made Shia Islam the official religion?
The Safavids made Shia Islam the state religion, and over the following two centuries they fought with the Ottomans, the seat of the Sunni caliphate.
How did Shia Islam start?
Shia Islam originated as a response to questions of Islamic religious leadership which became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The issues involved not only whom to appoint as the successor to Muhammad, but also what attributes a true successor should have.
Does Shia follow Quran?
History. The Shī'ah use the same Qur'an as Sunni Muslims, however they do not believe that it was first compiled by Uthman ibn Affan. The Shī'ah believe that the Qur'an was gathered and compiled by Muhammad during his lifetime.
How many types of Shia are there?
There are three main branches of Shia Islam today - the Zaidis, Ismailis and Ithna Asharis (Twelvers or Imamis).
Why did Sunni and Shia split?
The divide originated with a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic faith he introduced. Today, about 85 percent of the approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are Sunni, while 15 percent are Shia, according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations.
When did Iran become Shia?
First, a brief history lesson: How did Iran become Shia? Until the 16th century, Persia was mostly Sunni. At the turn of that century, the Safavid dynasty conquered much of what is now Iran and made Shiism the official religion.
What are Shias called?
Adherents of Shīʿa Islam are called Shīʿa Muslims, Shīʿītes, or simply Shīʿa or Shia.
Do Shia believe in Prophet Muhammad?
Both Sunnis and Shiites read the Quran, the sayings of the Prophet. Both believe Prophet Muhammad was the messenger of Allah.
How did Iraq become Shia?
Since the late 18th century, most of Iraq's Sunni Arab tribes converted to Shia Islam (particularly in the 19th century). During the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of settling the semi-nomadic Sunni Arab tribes to create greater centralization in Iraq.
What is the Sunni Islam means?
A Sunni is a member of the largest branch of Islam. A Sunni is a Muslim who believes that the caliph Abu Bakr was the rightful successor to Muhammad after his death. There are several different traditions within the Sunni branch of Islam, but Sunnis are often described as orthodox Muslims.
Who do Sunnis believe in?
The Sunnis recognize the first four caliphs as the Prophet Muhammad's rightful successors, whereas the Shiʿah believe that Muslim leadership belonged to Muhammad's son-in-law, ʿAlī, and his descendants alone.
Where is Sunni Islam located?
Sunni Muslims are the vast majority of Muslims in most Muslim communities in Central Asia (including China), Europe (including Russia and the Balkans), South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Arab World, Turkey and among Muslims in the United States where in Shias are approximately 10%.
Who is the head of Islam?
imamIn a global sense, imam is used to refer to the head of the Muslim community (ummah).
What is a Shia?
A person observing Shia Islam is called a Shi'ite or Shi'i . Shia Islam is based on Muhammad's hadith (Ghadir Khumm). Shia consider Ali to have been divinely appointed as the successor to Muhammad, and as the first Imam.
Which holy cities are most revered by Shia Muslims?
After the four holy cities of Islam (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Damascus) Najaf, Karbala and Qom are the most revered by Shia Muslims. The Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala and Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom are very essential for Shias.
What is the second largest branch of Islam?
Shia Islam is the second largest branch of Islam: as of the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century, Shia Muslims constituted 10–15% of all Muslims. Twelver Shia is the largest branch of Shia Islam, with 2012 estimates saying that 85% of Shias were Twelvers.
How many times do Shias pray?
Shia religious practices, such as prayers, differ only slightly from the Sunnis'. While all Muslims pray five times daily, Shias have the option of combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha', as there are three distinct times mentioned in the Quran. The Sunnis tend to combine only under certain circumstances.
Why is praying important in Shia?
Praying or Duʼa in Shia has an important place as Muhammad described it as a weapon of the believer. In fact, Duʼa considered as something that is a feature of Shia community in a sense. Performing Duʼa in Shia has a special ritual. Because of this, there are many books written on the conditions of praying among Shia. Most of adʼayieh transferred from Muhammad's household and then by many books in which we can observe the authentic teachings of Muhammad and his household according to Shia. The leaderships of Shia always invited their followers to recite Duʼa. For instance, Ali has considered with the subject of Duʼa because of his leadership in monotheism.
What is Jihadism?
Jihad. Jihadism. Glossary. Islam portal. v. t. e. Shia Islam or Shi'ism is one of the two main branches of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most notably at the event of Ghadir Khumm, but was prevented from succeeding Muhammad as ...
What is the Hadith of Ghadir Khumm?
The narrations generally state that in March 632, Muhammad, while returning from his Farewell Pilgrimage along side a large number of followers and companions, stopped at the oasis of Ghadir Khumm. There, he took Ali's hand and addressed the gathering. The point of contention between different sects is when Muhammad, whilst giving his speech, gave the proclamation "Anyone who has me as his mawla, has Ali as his mawla. " Some versions add the additional sentence "O God, befriend the friend of Ali and be the enemy of his enemy."
Who were the leaders of Shia Islam?
Shia Islam began when Abu Bakr, Umar and Abu Ubaydah al Jarrah offered each other the helpers (ansar) despite the announcement of Ghadir Khumm where Ali was declared master of the believers. Ali and his supporters stayed in his house then Abu Bakr sent Umar to threaten those inside by attempting to burn the house. After a confrontation Ali eventually pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr. Ali would remind the companions of the tradition of Ghadir over 10 years later in the courtyard of the mosque in Kufa in a tradition known as Yawm al Ruhba. Shi’i sources are clear about the collusion of the above individuals as well Sunni ones, for example where Umar announces close to his passing that he would elect Abu Ubaydah or Salim (one of the first people to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr) if they were still alive. Therefore the Sunni leadership doctrine was really a reaction by some individuals to Ali being announced as their master.
Who was the first Shiite leader?
Shiism began for the first time with a reference made to the partisans of Ali the first leader of the Ahl al-Bayt (Household of the prophet). In the early years of Islamic history there was no "orthodox" Sunni or "heretical" Shiite, but rather of two points of view that were drifting steadily until became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad the prophet of Islam.
Why did Husayn go to Iraq?
To Sunnis, Husayn 's decision to travel to Iraq was a not mere political adventuring that went wrong, rather it was a decision to uphold the religion of Islam. To uphold the teachings of His Grand Father Prophet Muhammad and to stand against the wrong changes being incorporated in Islam by Yazid I . (Haider) According to Shiite historians, on the other hand, Husayn had "received plenty of warning of the collapse of the shii revolt in Kufa as he approached Iraq." Shiite historians record that on his journey to Kufa when Husayn received grim news from Kufa, he addressed his companions telling that "of the death and destruction that awaited them ahead." At this point, they argue, Husayn could have retired to Medina or at least accepted the offer which was made to him to refuge in the mountain strongholds of the Tayy tribe. But he refused these and even addressed his companions telling them to leave him as he proceed toward Kufa. Jafri, the Shiite historian, writes: "Husayn did not try to organize or mobilize military support, which he easily could have done in the Hijaz, nor did he even try to exploit whatever physical strength was available to him… Is it conceivable that anyone striving for power would ask his supporters to abandon him,… What then did Husayn have in mind? Why was he still heading for Kufa ?... According to Jafri it is disappointing that historians have given too much attention "to external aspects of the event of Karbala and has never tried to analyze the inner history and agonizing conflict in Husayn's mind". He points out that Husayn "was aware of the fact that a victory achieved through military strength and might is always temporal, because another stronger power can in course of time bring it down in ruins. But a victory achieved through suffering and sacrifice is everlasting and leaves permanent imprints on man's consciousness… The natural process of conflict and struggle between action and reaction was now at work. That is, Muhammad's progressive Islamic action had succeeded in suppressing Arab conservatism, embodied in heathen pre-Islamic practices and ways of thinking. But in less than thirty years' time this Arab conservatism revitalized itself as a forceful reaction to challenge Muhammad's action once again. The forces of this reaction had already moved into motion with the rise of Muawiya , but the succession of Yazid was a clear sign that the reactionary forces had mobilized themselves and had now re-emerged with full vigor. The strength of this reaction, embodied in Yazid's character, was powerful enough to suppress or at least deface Muhammad 's action. Islam was now, in the thinking of Husayn, in dire need of reactivation of Muhammad's action against the old Arabian reaction, and thus a complete shake-up. " Jafri continue to say that "Husayn's acceptance of Yazid, with the latter's openly reactionary attitude against Islamic norms, would not have meant merely a political arrangement, as had been the case with Hasan and Muawiya, but an endorsement of Yazid's character and way of life as well." He then comes to the conclusion that Husayn "realized that mere force of arms would not have saved Islamic action and consciousness. To him it needed a shaking and jolting of hearts and feelings. This, he decided, could only be achieved through sacrifice and sufferings." "for those who", he writes, "fully appreciate the heroic deeds and sacrifices of, for example, Socrates and Joan of Arc, both of whom embraced death for their ideals, and above all of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind. It is in this light that we should read Husayn's replies to those well-wishers who advised him not to go to Iraq. It also explains why Husayn took with him his women and children, though advised by Ibn Abbas that should he insist on his project, at least he should not take his family with him." "Aware of the extent of the brutal nature of the reactionary forces, Husayn knew that after killing him the Umayyads would make his women and children captives and take them all the way from Kufa to Damascus. This caravan of captives of Muhammad's immediate family would publicize Husayn's message and would force the Muslims' hearts to ponder on the tragedy. It would make the Muslims think of the whole affair and would awaken their consciousness." So, according to Gafriii that is exactly what happened. He continue to writes that "Had Husayn not shaken and awakened Muslim consciousness by this method, who knows whether Yazid's way of life would have become standard behavior in the Muslim community, endorsed and accepted by the grandson of the Prophet." Then he arrives to the conclusion that "although after Yazid kingship did prevail in Islam, and though the character and behavior in the personal lives of these kings was not very different from that of Yazid, but the change in thinking which prevailed after the sacrifice of Husayn always served as a line of distinction between Islamic norms and the personal character of the rulers."
Why is Islam considered religious?
Jafri says Islam is basically religious because Muhammad was appointed and sent by God to deliver His message, and political because of the circumstances in which it arose and grew. In the same way Shi'ism, in its inherent nature, has always been both religious and political.
How did Muhammad's progressive Islamic action succeed?
That is, Muhammad's progressive Islamic action had succeeded in suppressing Arab conservatism, embodied in heathen pre-Islamic practices and ways of thinking. But in less than thirty years' time this Arab conservatism revitalized itself as a forceful reaction to challenge Muhammad's action once again.
What was the strength of Yazid's reaction?
The strength of this reaction, embodied in Yazid's character, was powerful enough to suppress or at least deface Muhammad 's action. Islam was now, in the thinking of Husayn, in dire need of reactivation of Muhammad's action against the old Arabian reaction, and thus a complete shake-up.
What is Sayyida Nafisa?
Sayyida Ruqayya bint Ali. Sayyida Nafisa. Shia Islam portal. v. t. e. Shia Islam originated as a response to questions of Islamic religious leadership which became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The issues involved not only whom to appoint as the successor to Muhammad, but also what attributes a true successor should have.
Who is the founder of Shia Islam?
While the founder of all Islam is clearly Muhammad, the founder of Shia Islam is unquestionably his nephew and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ali would become the founder, Caliph, and first Imam of the Shia Islamic sect.
Which dynasty reignited the Sunni and Shia?
It would be the Safavid dynasty in Persia that would reignite many of the earlier issues that formed the basis of serious contention between the Sunni and the Shia branches. Today, Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam in the world.
What is the difference between Shia and Sunni?
The Sunni believe that the line of succession to be the legitimate caliph began with Abu Bakr, while the Shia believe that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was the only legitimate caliph from the beginning. The Sunni believe that the takeover by Abu Bakr was supposedly through shura, or consensus, and it became the will of the ummah, or the Islamic community. However, to the Shia, Ali and his descendants, all of whom are of the bayt, or the household of Muhammad, are the only legitimate leaders of the Islamic faith. They also believe that all the hadiths, or Islamic religious rulings and teachings, from the intervening caliphs between Abu Bakr and Ali don't actually apply to Islamic law. We also learned that the Shia sect of Islam has found itself persecuted throughout history as a result of its divergence from the majority Sunni. Modern Shia majority nations include Iran, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan, where it is still practiced to this day. In total, about 12% of the world's Muslims consider themselves Shia, which means over 200 million of the world's Muslims follow this version of the faith.
How many paragraphs should I write about the conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims?
In at least two to three paragraphs, write an essay that describes the history of and ongoing conflict between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims.
How did Fatimah die?
According to the Shia, Ali, Fatimah, and their followers refused. But Abu Bakr, Umar, and their men were more powerful, and they said that they were going to burn the house down around them if they didn't comply. Shia sources say Fatimah was killed as a result of injuries sustained when the armed men broke into the home and a fire started. In the end, though, Ali survived and bided his time.
What are the two major Islamic sects?
There are two major Islamic sects, Sunni and Shia. The split that divided them is almost as old as the religion itself. Let's explore the early days and modern place of Shia Islam. It all started right after the death of Muhammad. Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin, Ali, was busy ensuring a proper burial.
What did the Sunni believe about Abu Bakr?
The Sunni believe that the takeover by Abu Bakr was supposedly through shura, or consensus, and it became the will of the ummah, or the Islamic community. However, to the Shia, Ali and his descendants, all of whom are of the bayt, or the household of Muhammad, are the only legitimate leaders of the Islamic faith.
Where did Muhammad settle in the 620s?
In the 620s Muhammad and his followers were driven from his hometown of Mecca and settled in Medina. About a decade later, when he appeared at Mecca with a large army, the Meccans surrendered the city to him. In 632 the Prophet became ill and died.
Who was the successor of Muhammad?
At the Prophet’s death certain members of the ummah —then composed of those who had left Mecca for Medina with him and those Medinans who later converted to Islam—met and chose Abū Bakr as Muhammad’s successor ( khalīfah, or caliph ). Abū Bakr in turn designated ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb as his successor. After ʿUmar’s assassination in Medina in 644, ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān was chosen as the third caliph. Amid charges of corruption, ʿUthmān himself was also killed, in 656. Following his death, delegations of the earlier Meccan and later Medinan Muslims, as well as Muslims from key provinces in the by now quite large Muslim empire, asked ʿAlī to become the fourth caliph. He accepted and made Kūfah, in modern-day Iraq, his capital.
Who defeated the Umayyads in 750?
With much support from the mawālī and from supporters of ʿAlī’s family, the ʿAbbāsids succeeded in unseating the Umayyads in 750. The ʿAbbāsid dynasty went on to empower the mawālī but abandoned loyalists to ʿAlī’s family, whose ideological leanings might challenge the legitimacy of the dynasty.
Where are the Zaydi sects today?
The Zaydi s survive today, mainly in Yemen, and are the third largest of the three still extant Shiʿi groups, after the Twelver and Ismāʿīliyyah sects. Another movement, the ʿAbbāsids, launched a propaganda campaign about 718 that took advantage of currents desiring to replace the Umayyads with the Prophet’s family.
Who was the Prophet's cousin?
Thus, they held, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib —the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law—should have been the Prophet’s immediate successor and, thereafter, members of ʿAlī’s family. Others, however, maintained that with Muhammad’s death the link between God and humankind had ended and the community was to make its own way forward.
Where did Islam originate?
Most historians believe that Islam originated in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE. Muslims regard Islam as a return to the original faith of the prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, and, with the submission ( Islam) to the will of God.
What is the most important historiographical source for the origins of Islam?
For example, the most important historiographical source for the origins of Islam is the work of al-Tabari. While al-Tabari is considered an excellent historian by the standards of his time and place, he made liberal use of mythical, legendary, stereotyped, distorted, and polemical presentations of subject matter—which are however considered to be Islamically acceptable—and his descriptions of the beginning of Islam post-date the events by several generations, al-Tabari having died in 923.
What was the Abbasid Dynasty?
The Abbasid dynasty rose to power in 750, consolidating the gains of the earlier Caliphates. Initially, they conquered Mediterranean islands including the Balearics and, after, in 827 the Southern Italy. The ruling party had come to power on the wave of dissatisfaction with the Umayyads, cultivated by the Abbasid revolutionary Abu Muslim. Under the Abbasids Islamic civilization flourished. Most notable was the development of Arabic prose and poetry, termed by The Cambridge History of Islam as its " golden age ". Commerce and industry (considered a Muslim Agricultural Revolution) and the arts and sciences (considered a Muslim Scientific Revolution) also prospered under Abbasid caliphs al-Mansur (ruled 754–775), Harun al-Rashid (ruled 786–809), al-Ma'mun (ruled 809–813) and their immediate successors.
What were the Abbasids' rivals?
The Abbasids soon became caught in a three-way rivalry among Coptic Arabs, Indo-Persians, and immigrant Turks. In addition, the cost of running a large empire became too great. The Turks, Egyptians, and Arabs adhered to the Sunnite sect; the Persians, a great portion of the Turkic groups, and several of the princes in India were Shia. The political unity of Islam began to disintegrate. Under the influence of the Abbasid caliphs, independent dynasties appeared in the Muslim world and the caliphs recognized such dynasties as legitimately Muslim. The first was the Tahirid dynasty in Khorasan, which was founded during the caliph Al-Ma'mun 's reign. Similar dynasties included the Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids and Seljuqs. During this time, advancements were made in the areas of astronomy, poetry, philosophy, science, and mathematics.
What religion was the dominant religion in the Himyarite Kingdom?
Judaism became the dominant religion of the Himyarite Kingdom in Yemen after about 380, while Christianity took root in the Persian Gulf. There was also a yearning for a more "spiritual form of religion," and "the choice of religion increasingly became an individual rather than a collective issue.".
How many sects are there in Islam?
It is said that Muhammad had claimed that the number of sects in Islam would account to seventy three. New schools of thought in Islam have constantly been created since the dawn of Islam. Today there are over two million Muslims that are mainly divided into 5 major schools of thought in Islam across the globe. With Islam being such a popular religion, it is inevitable that Islam will be interpreted differently across the world. These 5 major Islamic schools of thought consist of: Sunni Muslims, Shi'a Muslims, Ibadi Muslims, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and Sufi Muslims.
How did Al-Ma'mun work?
Al-Ma'mun worked to centralize power and ensure a smooth succession. Al-Mahdi proclaimed that the caliph was the protector of Islam against heresy, and also claimed the ability to declare orthodoxy. Religious scholars averred that Al-Ma'mun was overstepping his bounds in the Mihna, the Abbasid inquisition which he introduced in 833 four months before he died. The Ulama emerged as a force in Islamic politics during Al-Ma'mun's reign for opposing the inquisitions. The Ulema and the major Islamic law schools took shape in the period of Al-Ma'mun. In parallel, Sunnism became defined as a religion of laws. Doctrinal differences between Sunni and Shi'a Islam became more pronounced.
Overview
History
Shīʿa Muslims believe that just as a prophet is appointed by God alone, only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. They believe God chose ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib to be Muhammad's successor, infallible, the first caliph (khalīfa, head of state) of Islam. Shīʿa Muslims believe that Muhammad designated Ali as his successor by God's command (Eid Al Ghadir). ʿAlī was M…
Terminology
Collectively, adherents of Shīʿa Islam are called the Shīʿah (Arabic: شِيعَة; /ˈʃiːə/), which is short for Shīʿatu ʿAlī (Arabic: شِيعَة عَلِيّ; /ˈʃiːʕatu ˈʕaliː/) meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "partisans of Ali"; Shīʿī (شِيعِيّ) denotes both the singular noun and the adjective form, while Shīyāʿ (شِيَاع) refers to the plural noun. Shīʿa or Shia and Shīʿīsm/Shīʿīte or Shiism/Shiite are the forms used in English and other European languages for adherents, mosques, traditions, and things associated with th…
Beliefs and practices
Shīʿa Islam is the second largest branch of Islam, followed by 10–15% of all Muslims, considered to be vast and inclusive of many different denominations and subgroups. Shīʿa Islam embodies a completely independent system of religious interpretation and political authority in the Muslim world. The original Shīʿa identity referred to the followers of Imam ʿAlī, and Shīʿa theology was for…
Demographics
It is estimated that either 10–20% or 10–13% of the global Muslim population are Shīʿas. They may number up to 200 million as of 2009. As of 1985, Shīʿa Muslims are estimated to be 21% of the Muslim population in South Asia, although the total number is difficult to estimate.
Shīʿa Muslims form a majority of the population in various regions of the Musli…
Major denominations or branches
The Shīʿa community throughout its history split over the issue of the Imamate. The largest branch are the Twelvers, followed by the Zaydīs and the Ismāʿīlīs. Each subsect of Shīʿīsm follows its own line of Imamate. All mainstream Twelver and Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Muslims follow the same school of thought, the Jaʽfari jurisprudence, named after Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq, the 6th Shīʿīte Imam. Shīʿīte …
Persecution of Shīʿa Muslims
The history of Shīʿa—Sunnī relations has often involved religious discrimination, persecution, and violence, dating back to the earliest development of the two competing sects. At various times throughout the history of Islam, Shīʿa groups and minorities have faced persecution perpetrated by Sunnī Muslims.
Militarily established and holding control over the Umayyad government, man…
See also
• Alawi Islam
• Anti-Shi'ism
• Criticism of Twelver Shia Islam
• History of Shia Islam
• Imamate in Shia doctrine
Overview
- Shia Islam originated as a response to questions of Islamic religious leadership which became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. The issues involved not only whom to appoint as the successor to Muhammad, but also what attributes a true successor should have. Sunnis regarded Caliphs as a temporal leaders,. To the Shiite, however, ...
Starting point
- Shiism began for the first time with a reference made to the partisans of Ali the first leader of the Ahl al-Bayt. In the early years of Islamic history there was no "orthodox" Sunni or "heretical" Shiite, but rather of two points of view that were drifting steadily until became manifest as early as the death of Muhammad the prophet of Islam. On the death of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, in …
Imamate the Distinctive Institution of Shia Islam
- The distinctive institution of Shi’ism is the Imamate and the question of the Imamate is inseparable from that of walayat, or the esoteric function of interpreting the inner mysteries of the Quran and the Shari’ah. Both Shia and Sunni are in agreement over the two functions of prophet hood: to reveal God's law to men, and to guide men toward God. However, while Sunnis believe t…
Imamate vs Caliphate
- The very life of Ali and his actions show that he accepted the previous caliphs as understood in the Sunni sense of Caliphate, but confined the function of Walayah, after the Prophet, to himself. That is why he is respected as the fourth caliph in the Sunni sense and as an Imam in the Shi’ite sense. Sunnites, on the other hand, reject Imamate on the basis of Quran which says Muhamma…
Husayn's uprising
- To Sunnis, Husayn's decision to travel to Iraq was a not mere political adventuring that went wrong, rather it was a decision to uphold the religion of Islam. To uphold the teachings of His Grand Father Prophet Muhammad and to stand against the wrong changes being incorporated in Islam by Yazid I. According to Shiite historians, on the other hand, Husayn had "received plenty o…
from Saqifa to Karbala
- Main article: Succession to Muhammad See also: Saqifah, Attack On Fatima’s House, Rashidun, First Fitna, Second Fitna, and Battle of Karbala Muhammadbegan preaching Islam at Mecca before migrating to Medina, from where he united the tribes of Arabia into a singular Arab Muslim religious polity. With Muhammad’s death in 632, disagreement broke out over who …
Differentiation and Distinction
- Shia Islam and Sunnism split in the aftermath of the death of Muhammad based on the politics of the early caliphs. Due to the Shi’a belief that Ali should have been the first caliph, the three caliphs that preceded him, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Usman, were considered illegitimate usurpers. Because of this, any hadith that were narrated by these three caliphs (or any of their supporters) were not ac…
Ismaili History
- Main article: Ismailism Ismailism ( الإسماعيلية, al-ʾIsmāʿīlīyah; اسماعیلیان, Esmâ’īliyân) is a branch or sub-sect of Shia Islam. The Ismāʿīlī get their name from their acceptance of Imam Ismaʻil ibn Jafar as the appointed spiritual successor (imām) to Ja’far al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelverswho accept Musa al-Kadhim, younger brother of Ismaʻil, as the true Imām.
Zaidiyya History
- Main article: Zaidiyyah Zaidiyyah or Zaidism (الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi; occasionally known as Fivers) is one of the Shia sects closest in terms of theology to the Ibadi and Muʿtazila schools. Zaidiyyah emerged in the eighth century out of Shi’a Islam. Zaidis are named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī a...
Other Sects
- Alevism
Main article: Alevism Alevism (Alevîlik or Turkish: Anadolu Alevîliği/Alevileri, also called Qizilbash, or Shī‘ahImāmī-Tasawwufī Ṭarīqah, or Shīʿah-ī Bāṭen’īyyah) is a syncretic, heterodox, and local Islamic tradition, whose adherents follow the mystical (bāṭenī) teachings of Ali, the Twelve … - Alawites
Main article: Alawites The Alawis, Alawites (علوية, Alawīyah), or Nusayris (نصيرية, Nuṣayrīyah) are an ethnoreligious group primarily in the Levant which originated from Shia Islam. The Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), considered the first Imam of the Twelver school. The group is believ…