A Brief Family Tree for the Prophet Muhammad

Abu TalibMuhammad’s Uncle

Abu BakrFriend/Early Convert

2nd Caliph

Prophet MuhammadKhadijaFirst Wife Aisha

FatimaAli

Muhammad’s Cousin4th Caliph/Ist Imam

Hassan2nd Imam

Hussein3rd Imam

ZaynabUmm

Al-Kalthum

Ali Zain Al- Abideen4th Imam

All other Imamsare descendedfrom this line

The family tree has been simplified and is designed to cover only the relevant filialrelations that directly apply to the Sunni/Shia split within Islam.

The Rashidun (632-661)The Rule of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs

Name Ruled Death Known For

Abu Baker

1st Caliph

632-634

Elected

Natural causes, appointed his successor.

Quelled rebellion and united Arabia

Umar ibn al-Khattab

2nd Caliph

634-644

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

644-656

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

656-661

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

Name Rule Life and Death

1 Ali ibn Abu Talib 656-661 660-661- Assassinated

2 Hasan ibn Ali 661-669 625-669- Poisoned

3 Hussein ibn Ali 669-680 626-680- Died at Battle of Karbala

4 Ali Zain Al- Abideen 680-713 658-713- Poisoned

5 Mohammad Al-Baqir 713-743 676-743- Poisoned

6 Jaffar Al- Sadiq 743-765 703-765- Poisoned

7 Musa Al-Kathum 765-799 745-799- Poisoned

8 Ali Al-Reda 799-818 765-818- Poisoned

9 Muhammad al-Taqi 818-835 810-835- Poisoned

10 Ali al-Hadi 835-868 827-868- Poisoned

11 Hasan al-Askari 868-874 846-874- Poisoned

12 Mehdi Al-Muntadar 874-? 868-? Hidden

Sunni/Shia Belief Comparison Chart

Sunni Shi’a

Believers Called Sunnis Shiites, Shi’I

Meaning of Name “well-trodden path” or “tradition”

“party” or “partisans” of Ali

Estimated Followers 940 million 120 million

% of Muslim population 90% 10%

Primary locations Most Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Yemen

Belief that Muhammad designated a successor?

No Yes

True Successor of the Prophet

Abu Bakr Ali ibn Abu Talib

Qualifications for rule Any qualified leader Family of the Prophet

Historical Leaders Caliphs Imams

Al Mahdi Will come in the future Was 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 Marriage Not allowed Still Practiced

Holy Cities Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem

Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala

Major Holidays Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura

Frequency of Prayer Five Times a Day Five Times a Day although prayer is sometimes altered to 3 times a day by combining the morning and evening prayers together.