1. ghulat
(exaggerators)
Muhammad
al-Baqir (d. 737)
Ja‘far al-Sadiq
(d. 765)
Imam (divinely-inspired leader): (1) designated
by predecessor, (2) has divinely-inspired
knowledge, (3) encouraged quietism
740 Failed revolt by Zayd.
However several Zaydi
states set up in late 8th c.
760 Death of Imam-
designate, Isma‘il
765 Death of Ja‘far

2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Imamis/ithna ‘asharis/“Twelvers” ‘Ali (d. 661)
al-Hasan (d. 669) al-Husayn (d. 680)
Zayn al-‘Abidin (d. 712/3)
Muhammad al-Baqir (d. 737)
Ja‘far al-Sadiq (d. 765)
Musa al-Kazim (d. 799) Isma‘il (d. 760)
Imami Imams Muhammad al-Mahdi
Imamis/ithna ‘asharis/“Twelvers” 2 3 4 5 6 7

3. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Imamis/ ithna ‘asharis/ “Twelvers” taqiyya
Ja‘far al-Sadiq (d. 765)
Musa al-Kazim (d. 799)
‘Ali al-Rida (d. 818)
Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad (d. 835)
‘Ali al-Hadi (d. 868)
al-Hasan al-‘Askari (d. 873/4)
Muhammad al-Muntazar
(al-Mahdi, in Greater Concealment since 941) 6
Imamis/
ithna ‘asharis/
“Twelvers” 7 8 9 10
taqiyya
(dissimulation)
‘Uthman al-‘Amri 11 12

4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Isma‘ilis/ “Seveners” ‘Ali (d. 661)
al-Hasan (d. 669) al-Husayn (d. 680)
Zayn al-‘Abidin (d. 712/3)
Muhammad al-Baqir (d. 737)
Ja‘far al-Sadiq (d. 765)
Musa al-Kazim (d. 799) Isma‘il (d. 760)
Imami Imams Muhammad al-Mahdi 1 2 3
Isma‘ilis/
“Seveners” 4 5 6 7

5. 9th c. Isma‘ilis
establish base in
Syria
902 ‘Abd Allah
(‘Ubayd Allah)
leaves Syria.
910 ‘Abd Allah takes
Qayrawan.
zahir = “outer”
batin = “inner”
hujja = “proof”
Fatimid caliphate

6. Sunnis, from sunna = “path”
hadith = stories of the Prophet
and his companions
arkan al-islam = “the pillars of Islam”

7. The “Pillars” of Islam Shahada (testimony) Salat (ritual prayer)
Zakat (alms tax)
Sawm (Ramadan fast)
Hajj (greater pilgrimage)
la ilaha illa Allah Muhammadun rasul Allah
(There is no god except God) (Muhammad is the messenger of God)
At dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening masjid (mosque)
mu’adhdhin (caller) khutba (sermon) minbar (pulpit)
mihrab (prayer niche)
‘id al-fitr (feast of the breaking of the fast)
‘id al-adha (feast of sacrifice)