Marshall BerkeleyRobbie MartinPaul Schmidt

Sunni Shi’ite Split

632 AD – Prophet Muhammad died632 AD – Prophet Muhammad died Abu Bakr named 1Abu Bakr named 1stst successor (Caliph) successor (Caliph)

– Most Muslims accepted decision, but some Most Muslims accepted decision, but some supported Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad’s cousin supported Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-lawand son-in-law

– Followers of Ali believed that the Prophet Followers of Ali believed that the Prophet Muhammad named Ali as his successorMuhammad named Ali as his successor

– Abu Bakr and his next two successors, Umar and Abu Bakr and his next two successors, Umar and Uthman, were considered illegitimate by Ali’s Uthman, were considered illegitimate by Ali’s followersfollowers

– 656 AD – Uthman was murdered by some of Ali’s 656 AD – Uthman was murdered by some of Ali’s followersfollowers

– Ali was named as the successorAli was named as the successor– 661 AD – Ali was assassinated by forces of 661 AD – Ali was assassinated by forces of

UthmanUthman

The 2 SidesThe 2 Sides

Disagreement over who should be the Disagreement over who should be the successor to the Prophet Muhammadsuccessor to the Prophet Muhammad– Some believed in succession based Some believed in succession based

political merits communal consensuspolitical merits communal consensus ““Sunni” – meaning “followers of customs”Sunni” – meaning “followers of customs”

– Others believed in succession through Others believed in succession through “bloodline” of the Prophet“bloodline” of the Prophet ““Shi’a” – meaning “supporters” or “helpers of Shi’a” – meaning “supporters” or “helpers of

Ali”Ali”

Distribution of MuslimsDistribution of Muslims

Green – SunniBlue – Shi’ite

Sunni IslamSunni Islam

Religious Practices and Religious Practices and BeliefsBeliefs

Majority of Muslims are SunnisMajority of Muslims are Sunnis Accepted first four Caliphs as Accepted first four Caliphs as

“Rightly Guided”“Rightly Guided” Less powerful religious hierarchyLess powerful religious hierarchy Lenient on who leads prayerLenient on who leads prayer Perform Salat 5 times dailyPerform Salat 5 times daily

Interesting FactInteresting Fact

Osama Bin Laden was a SunniOsama Bin Laden was a Sunni– Extreme SectExtreme Sect

Sunni LawSunni Law

Based on Based on – Qu’ranQu’ran– HadithsHadiths– SunnaSunna

The four legal schoolsThe four legal schools– HanafiHanafi– MalikiMaliki– Shaf’IShaf’I– HanbaliHanbali

Sectarian DivisionsSectarian Divisions

Ibadi SectIbadi Sect– Has been misrepresented as a Sunni Has been misrepresented as a Sunni

SectSect

Shi’ite IslamShi’ite Islam

Religious Practices and Religious Practices and BeliefsBeliefs

Centers around Ali’s younger sonCenters around Ali’s younger son– HusseinHussein

Shi’ites permit Muttah Shi’ites permit Muttah Salat – can pray twice consecutively Salat – can pray twice consecutively

(1+2+2)(1+2+2) Three Schools of Law:Three Schools of Law:

– Twelver ShiismTwelver Shiism– Ismaili (Sevener) ShiismIsmaili (Sevener) Shiism– Zaydis (Fiver) Shiism Zaydis (Fiver) Shiism

Core Fundamentals between Core Fundamentals between Sunnis and Shi’itesSunnis and Shi’ites

Share common doctrines and beliefsShare common doctrines and beliefs– Qu’ranQu’ran– Muhammed is the messengerMuhammed is the messenger– Hadiths somewhat differHadiths somewhat differ– Qiyas (Analogy)Qiyas (Analogy)– Ijma (Consensus)Ijma (Consensus)– Ijtihad (Individual Reasoning)Ijtihad (Individual Reasoning)

Both recognize the Five Pillars Both recognize the Five Pillars Recognize each other as MuslimsRecognize each other as Muslims

Interesting/Crazy StuffInteresting/Crazy Stuff

Shi’ite Muslims – Ashoura DayShi’ite Muslims – Ashoura Day– Ritual in which they cut their scalps to Ritual in which they cut their scalps to

remember the death of Imam Husseinremember the death of Imam Hussein– Shows the Shi’ite suffering from SunnisShows the Shi’ite suffering from Sunnis

- During the Islamic holy month of Moharram- Some of the demonstrators flagellate themselves