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 Shiite Sufi 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 10 th Century the 12 th 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 9 th Century, the 12 th 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 Prophets Angels God The Holy Books The Day of Judgment The 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. 13 That 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 Verse Psalm 86:15: ”But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”