A Brief Family Tree for the Prophet Muhammad Abu Talib Muhammad’s Uncle Abu Bakr Friend/Early Convert 2nd Caliph Prophet Muhammad Khadija First Wife Aisha Fatima Ali Muhammad’s Cousin 4th Caliph/Ist Imam Hassan 2nd Imam Hussein 3rd Imam Zaynab Umm Al-Kalthum Ali Zain Al- Abideen 4th Imam All other Imams are descended from this line The family tree has been simplified and is designed to cover only the relevant filial relations that directly apply to the Sunni/Shia split within Islam.
The Rashidun ( ) The Rule of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs NameRuledDeathKnown For Abu Baker 1st Caliph Elected Natural causes, appointed his successor. Quelled rebellion and united Arabia Umar ibn al- Khattab 2nd Caliph Appointed Stabbed in a Median mosque by a Persian POW with a personal grudge. Wars of expansion (power not religion but religion followed) to the great Middle East. Uthman ibn Affan 3rd Caliph Elected Assassinated by those from the elite of Medina over the rise of status and power of the Umayyad clan. Expanded the empire to North Africa and Central Asia, but with much political cost. Standardized the Qu’ran. Ali ibn Abu Talib 4th Caliph/Ist Imam Elected Assassinated by Kharajities, a group of dissenters to Ali’s rule. Ruled fur the first Fitnah (civil war). His place in history is denoted more for who he was rahter than what he did.
The 12 Shia Imams NameRuleLife and Death 1Ali ibn Abu Talib Assassinated 2Hasan ibn Ali Poisoned 3Hussein ibn Ali Died at Battle of Karbala 4Ali Zain Al- Abideen Poisoned 5Mohammad Al-Baqir Poisoned 6Jaffar Al- Sadiq Poisoned 7Musa Al-Kathum Poisoned 8Ali Al-Reda Poisoned 9Muhammad al-Taqi Poisoned 10Ali al-Hadi Poisoned 11Hasan al-Askari Poisoned 12Mehdi Al-Muntadar874-?868-? Hidden
Sunni/Shia Belief Comparison Chart SunniShi’a Believers CalledSunnisShiites, Shi’I Meaning of Name“well-trodden path” or “tradition” “party” or “partisans” of Ali Estimated Followers940 million120 million % of Muslim population90%10% Primary locationsMost Muslim countriesIran, Iraq, Yemen Belief that Muhammad designated a successor? NoYes True Successor of the Prophet Abu BakrAli ibn Abu Talib Qualifications for ruleAny qualified leaderFamily of the Prophet Historical LeadersCaliphsImams Al MahdiWill come in the futureWas already on earth, is currently the “hidden Iman” who will return at the end of time Concealing Faith for Self- Protection (taqiya) Under special circumstances only Emphasized Temporary MarriageNot allowedStill Practiced Holy CitiesMecca, Medina, Jerusalem Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala Major HolidaysEid al-Adha, Eid al-FitrEid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura Frequency of PrayerFive Times a DayFive Times a Day although prayer is sometimes altered to 3 times a day by combining the morning and evening prayers together.