Islamic Groups About 1 400 years after the origin of the Islamic faith in the seventh century, there are today more than seventy different groups or schools originating from Islam. This number can be misleading, because between 85% and 90% of the about 1 billion Muslims in the world belong to one group - the Sunnis. Between ten and 14 percent of Muslims are members of the second largest group - the Shi'ïtes - and barely 1% belong to the third largest group - the Kharijis - which means that only a very small percentage Muslims are members of the many smaller splinter groups. Although the differences between Islamic groups have led to conflicts between them at various times over the centuries, generally there is today reasonable tolerance between the largest groups. The differences between them are mainly in connection with organisation and structure of the Islamic community (umma) and the interpretation of some laws and instructions in the Qur'an (see The Islamic Law). Most Muslims agree on the general doctrine of Islam. Sunni The Sunnis, who see themselves as orthodox or traditional Muslims, are the largest group with about 850 to 900 followers in various countries. The name "Sunni" is derived from the Sunna (also called Hadith). It is considered next to the Qur'an as the most important source of information on the Islamic faith and way of life. The Sunna consists of the traditional doctrine, customs and examples of the prophet Muhammad. History of the Sunni Because the Sunnis view themselves as the continuators of Islam as it was originally preached by Muhammad, the history of the group is closely connected to the general history of Islam since the origin of this religion in the seventh century (see History of Islam). It is Interesting That the Basic Doctrines of the Sunnis Developed and Were Refined Between the Eighth Until the Tenth Centuries in Reaction to the "heresies" Preached by Breakaway Groups Such as the Shi'ites, Kharijis and Mutazilites. Traditional Muslim Scholars Had to Take a View and Institute Guidelines Regarding Different Matters Such as the Leadership of the Islamic Community, the Aim of Good Deeds and the Revelation of God (Allah). In so Doing Direction was Given to the Thought and Convictions of Mainstream Islam and this Helped to Largely Restrict the Popularity of Breakaway Groups and to Unite Most Muslims Under the Sunnis.
Leadership Contrary to many other religions, there is no order for priests in Sunni Islam. On the local level the legal scholars, prayer leaders (imams) and Islamic teachers (maulvis) are highly respected in the community. In Islamic countries with a Sunni majority, the mufti, an Islamic legal scholar with special experience, knowledge and insight, is generally viewed as the person with the highest authority in Islam. In some cases a mufti was even appointed over a specific province or area by the government. Although there are various international bodies promoting Islam and co-operation between different groups and Islamic interests, there has not been a single office or person since the termination of the last caliphate in 1924 who is recognised as the supreme leader of the international Sunni community. Sunnis and the Islamic Law The practice of Islam is not restricted to a Muslim's spiritual life, but influences every level of his life. The Islamic Laws (shari'a) consist of instructions, rules and customs which guide the Muslim regarding matters such as marriage and family life, religious rituals, social order and political structures and therefore play a central role in the life of the Sunni. Sunnis use four sources for the law, namely the Qur'an (the revelation of Allah), the Sunna (the traditional doctrines, customs and examples of the prophet Muhammad), the Ijma (convictions and legal interpretations agreed upon) and ijtihad or qiyas (analogical deductions from the first three sources of the law). Four Sunni schools or ways of thinking originated as Islam developed. They differ slightly from each other regarding their interpretation and analysis of the law. The schools - the Hanafis the Shafis, the Malikis and the Hanbalis - recognise and mutually respect each other and are all viewed as part of orthodox Islam (see also Islamic Laws).
Shi'a ABOVE: Shi ites performing self-mutilation during a festival in Iran, where the Shi a-muslims are the majority (88%) of the population. The Shi'ites is the second largest Muslim group with between 100 and 150 million members worldwide. They view themselves as the true Islamic fundamentalists because they recognise the leadership of Muhammad and his descendants. Although Shi'a has much less followers than the Sunni, the Shi'ites have played a prominent role through the centuries in various political insurrections, rebellions and revolutions. The Shi'ites under Ayatollah Ruhollah Komeini were responsible for the overthrow of the government of the Shah of Iran in 1979 and the founding of a theocratic Islamic republic in that country. History of the Shi'a The origin of Shi'a was a direct result of the great schism in Islam which happened towards the end of the seventh century. The seed of this division was possibly already planted on the deathbed of the prophet Muhammad. According to Shi'ite tradition, Muhammad decided on his deathbed that Ali, his son-in-law (married to his only surviving daughter, Fatima), had to succeed him as Islamic leader. They believe that Muhammad conveyed certain godly abilities and insights to Ali, which would have enabled him to be the leader. Claim rejected The majority Muslims (see Sunni) decided that a successor of Muhammad, who would be known as the caliph, must be chosen by senior members of the community and that he did not necessarily have to be a family member or blood relative of the prophet. The first three caliphs who were chosen in this way, were all murdered by assassins, and 24 years after the death of Muhammad, Ali was chosen as fourth caliph.
Dissatisfaction regarding the way he was chosen and accusations that he played a part in the death of his predecessor forced Ali to abandon his post as caliph. Another caliph was chosen in his place, but a group of Ali's followers maintained that he, as a family member of Muhammad, still was the rightful caliph (and first imam). Husayn, the martyr Ali was however murdered himself shortly hereafter (see Kharijis) and was succeeded as imam by his oldest son, Hasan. Although Ali's followers now viewed Hasan as the rightful caliph and followed him, Shi'a as a separate group only came into being after the death of Ali's second son, Husayn. In 680 Husayn decided to take over the control of the caliphate by force. He advanced with his army from Medina to Kuffa. They were however cornered at Karbala by the much larger army of Yazid, the sixth caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. To make matters worse, Husayn's army was cut off from all fresh water. For nine days they had to face the thirst and warm sun before they decided to try and break out. Husayn and his soldiers were not only outnumbered by their opponents, but also exhausted because of the water shortage. Yazid's army gained the upperhand quickly and Husayn, grandson of Muhammad, died together with his soldiers on the battlefield.. Birth of Shi'a Husayn's death was a turning point in the struggle between those who believed that the caliph had to be a family member of Muhammad and those who supported the chosen caliphate of Yazid. First named group now openly declared that they rejected all the chosen caliphs before and after Ali and that they would in the future be known as the Shi'a (derived from an Arabic word meaning "followers of Ali"). The Shi'a today see Husayn as a martyr for true Islam. The commemoration of his death on the tenth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar, is remembered by them as the most important day of the year as it also indicates the birth of Shi'a. Further divisions in Shi'a In the first centuries after the death of Husayn, Shi'a continued to exist mainly as an underground movement. Sunni Muslims regarded the Shi'ites as preachers of heresy and a threat to the Sunni caliphate and often cruelly persecuted them. With the passage of time, different divisions took place in Shi'a itself of which some continue to exist today as smaller groups. The Kharijis broke away in 658 because of dissatisfaction because Ali laid down his office as caliph. In the eleventh century, the Druse was founded in Egypt and in the nineteenth century, Baha'i-religion also originated from Shi'a.
The largest division under the Shi'a happened in the eighth century due to differences regarding the number and identity of the true imams. The "Twelvers" or Imamis, recognise twelve imams whereas the "Seveners" or Isma'ilis, only recognise seven imams. Political role Possibly because of their earlier culture of opposition and resistance against the Sunni majority, the Shi'a often played the role of political catalyst over the centuries. Shi'a for instance played an important role in the termination of the Umayyad-dynasty in 750 and for more than hundred years exercised control behind the scenes over the Sunni Abbasid caliphate. In the sixteenth century Shi'a became the official religion of the powerful Persian Empire. In 1921 Shah Reza Khan came into power in Iran through a coup d'etat ad changed the country into a secular state over a period of time. In 1979 Shi'a fundamentalists under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Komeini overthrew the Shah's government and replaced it with a theocratic Islamic republic. Basic doctrines In practice Shi'a differs very little from Sunni, or orthodox Islam. The Unity of God (Allah), the conviction that Muhammad was his final prophet and that the Qur'an contained his final and faultless message to humanity, forms the central doctrine of both groups (see Islam). Leadership As during the time of the great schism in Islam, the most important matter which separates the Shi'a from the Sunnis still today is their view that only Muhammad's family could be the rightful leaders of Islam. These leaders, who alone are worthy of the title of imam, are regarded as sinless and perfect political and spiritual heads of Islam. Shi'a all believe that Ali was the first imam. They differ however on who was the rightful seventh and twelfth imam (see Imamis and Isma'ilis). Interpretation of the Law Because Shi'a view their imams as faultless and by Allah inspired and chosen leaders, they believe that the imams have unique abilities which enable them to understand the Qur'an and Islamic Laws better than anyone else. They believe that the revelation of the Qur'an occurs on different levels. Except for the literal and obvious meaning of the message, there are also other hidden meanings, and only the imam can understand it and explain it to his followers. Some these explanations and judgments have
been written down in the Shi'ite Sunna, which is together with the Qur'an the most important source of the Islamic Law. Where Sunnis rely on the ability of their legal scholars to explain certain ambiguities in the Qur'an through analogical thought, the most Shi'a believe that only the imams have been enabled by Allah to do it. Some Shi'a groups of today also have legal scholars mujtahiduns and Ayatollahs who under certain circumstances as representatives of the imams are allowed to make interpretations and judgements regarding such matters (see Islamic Laws). A few other convictions An interesting compromise which is allowed in Shi'a and which developed during the early persecution by Sunnis, is the use of taqiyya, or "pragmatic hypocrisy". It simply means that a Shi'a can deny his or her faith in public if it is necessary, but continue practicing it in privacy. Shi'a also have a system of temporary marriages which are called mut'a, according to which a man can enter into a marriage contract with a woman for a set period of time of between one and 99 years. The marriage ends automatically after the termination of the time of the contract. Some Shi'a even believe that a man who contracts a mut'a four times in his lifetime, is assured of a place in Paradise. Contrasted to Sunnis who pay taxes (zakat) or gifts of charity to their respective Islamic governments, Shi'a pay zakat to their spiritual leaders. The result is that some Shi'a leaders in Iran and Iraq own immense material riches today. A different conviction which is unique to the Shi'a, is their expectation that the last imam, Mahdi or Ismail (see Imamis and Isma'ilis) who disappeared during his rule, will return before the Final Day of Judgment. Shi'a today The struggle between Shi'a and Sunnis which in the past often led to the shedding of blood, has cooled off mostly in the twentieth century. Leaders of both groups, including the Shi'a Ayatollah Ruhollah Komeini (1900-1989) of Iran, have pleaded for greater tolerance and unity in the two groups at various occasions. Today the Shi'a is still the majority in Iran (88%), and is also the largest single religious group in Iraq. There are also quite large Shi'a minorities in amongst others Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Pakistan and India. Also in South Africa, Shi'a is well represented under the country's Muslim population.
Kharijis The Khariji is the smallest of the three most important Islamic groups and has less than one million followers worldwide. The fact that they continue to exist after nearly fourteen centuries in the midst of much persecution and still remain a strong influence in the countries where they are found, makes the Khariji remarkable. Origin of the group The Khariji were originally followers of Ali, the fourth caliph and son-in-law of Muhammad. After Ali decided to abandon his office as caliph in 658 under pressure of his opponents, the Kharijis broke away from him and formed their own Islamic group. The majority Muslims considered the Kharijis to be "fanatic" due to their strict rules and unyielding attitude towards unbelievers and apostates and their rejection of the authority of the Sunni caliphs. The Khariji believed that apostates, who could even include the caliph, could be rejected and even killed by the Islamic community. According to tradition, a member of the Kharijis murdered Ali for this reason in 661. Basic doctrine The Kharijis believe just like the Sunnis and Shi'a that Allah is the only God and the true God. They believe that Muhammad was his last prophet and messenger to humanity and that the Qur'an contains the final and complete message of Allah to man. The Kharijis have a very purist approach towards their religion. Strict rules and instructions prescribe their moral and ethical behavior. They believe that a Muslim who sins seriously must be banned from the Islamic community. Kharijis consider all non-muslims, including Jews and Christians (see People of the Book), to be heathens and enemies of Islam. Their view of Islamic leadership differs from that of the Sunni and the Shi'a. They believe anyone, not only an Arab, as the Sunnis believe, or a descendant of Muhammad as the Shi'a believe, can become a caliph if he lives a morally and spiritually holy life. They also heavily emphasised equality of all races and cultures - a doctrine which made them especially popular during the early Islamic period with people of conquered areas who felt that the other Islamic groups looked down on Non-Arabs. Kharijis today The largest remaining Khariji group is that of the Ibadis. Different from the two larger Islamic groups which appear in nearly every country in the world today, they are mostly restricted to parts of North and East Africa, Oman, the island of Zanzibar and Syria.
Other Islamic groups As in the case of various other large and antique religions, there are, except for the three mainstream Islamic groups, various smaller splinter groups, which originated from Islam or have a strong relationship with Islam. See also Sophism, Druse, the Baha'i-religion and Black Muslims.