Ali’s son, Husayn, attempted to establish a caliphate in 680 but he was beheaded and his head sent to Damascus. Thereafter Damascus’ influence ruled…
Ali’s son, Husayn, attempted to establish a caliphate in 680 but he was beheaded and his head sent to Damascus. Thereafter Damascus’ influence ruled…
The killing of Husayn is regarded as a martyrdom by the Shi’i who recall it in a passion play each year.
The Shi’i regard Ali and his successors as the only true Imams as they are family successors of the prophet.
The Sunni respect Ali, but no more than that – and do not see him as a Caliph.
It was from this time that Jersualem and the Dome of the Rock assumed importance as this was close to Syria where the Sunni Caliphs were and Jerusalem provided a focus apart from Mecca.
The Shi’ites separated from the Sunni in 661 and claim to be a continuation of Islam as it was defined through the revelations given to Muhammad.
The Shi’ites separated from the Sunni in 661 and claim to be a continuation of Islam as it was defined through the revelations given to Muhammad.
The main group of Shi’i are called ‘The Twelvers’ as they accept twelve Caliphs. The last, Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujja disappeared in a cave near Baghdad but continued to appear to followers until 940. Since then he has been been held to be hidden and God has prolonged his life. He will finally appear as the MAHDI and usher in a golden age of Shi’i Islam.
The main group of Shi’i are called ‘The Twelvers’ as they accept twelve Caliphs. The last, Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Hujja disappeared in a cave near Baghdad but continued to appear to followers until 940. Since then he has been been held to be hidden and God has prolonged his life. He will finally appear as the MAHDI and usher in a golden age of Shi’i Islam.
The hidden Mahdi is still held to inspire the religious scholars of the Twelvers. So for the Shi’i, the one true Imam is the hidden Mahdi.
The Shi’i recall the death of Husayn a grandson of Muhammud in 680. They see themselves as a persecuted minority keeping the ‘true faith’ of Islam.
The ISMAILIS split from the ‘Twelver Shi’i and now form a separate branch of Islam – although are not recognised as Muslims by other groups.
The ISMAILIS split from the ‘Twelver Shi’i and now form a separate branch of Islam – although are not recognised as Muslims by other groups.
Their leader is the Aga Kahn. They have a great commitment to education, particularly of women, and are required to contribute towards a central fund managed by the Aga Kahn which is used to improve social conditions in area where Ismailis live.
However Ismailis are a very small percentage of total Muslims…
The split between Sunni and Shi’i is of great importance in Islam. It stems back to Ali and his status but it has considerable political implications today. The Shi’i have always been non-conformist, enthusiastic and more radical than the mainstream Sunni.
The split between Sunni and Shi’i is of great importance in Islam. It stems back to Ali and his status but it has considerable political implications today. The Shi’i have always been non-conformist, enthusiastic and more radical than the mainstream Sunni.
80 – 85% of Muslims are Sunni and 15-20% are Shi’i. Shi’i are today largely found in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Eastern Saudi Arabia.
Sunni and Shi’i, however, both share a great deal – commitment to the oneness of God, the status of the Qu’ran and the Prophet as well as most Islamic ethical and religious beliefs such as resurrection and the day of judgement. However, just as with Protestants and Catholics in Christianity, there are also real tensions at times.
The Sunni see the Caliphs as being in a line running through Muawiyah and based in Damascus from 661 to 759 and then Baghdad and Samarra up until 1258.
The Sunni see the Caliphs as being in a line running through Muawiyah and based in Damascus from 661 to 759 and then Baghdad and Samarra up until 1258.
From 1258 - 1924 there have been a number of Caliphs but they had only limited influence – it is difference about the status of the early Caliphs that are decisive. These caliphs have arisen more from political than religious reasons with the Slajuks, the Timurids, the Turkomans, the Uzebks and the Ottomons.
When the Ottomons conquered Egypt in 1517, the remaining Caliph was transported to Constantinople and from there on the Ottomon sultan took the title.
About 85% of Muslims are Sunni. They believe that the successors of the Prophet were correctly chosen by consensus within the community. They see themselves as descended directly from the teaching of the Prophet – and they maintain that the Shi’i had very few followers in the decades after the death of the Prophet.
About 85% of Muslims are Sunni. They believe that the successors of the Prophet were correctly chosen by consensus within the community. They see themselves as descended directly from the teaching of the Prophet – and they maintain that the Shi’i had very few followers in the decades after the death of the Prophet.
