What are the various sects of Muslims?

(i) Origin of Islam

(ii) Divide of Islamic World – Shia-Sunni

(iii) Shia-Sunni – Generally

(i) Origin of Islam

According to Quran, Islam is a religion, which has existed since the beginning of mankind. It is, however, corrupted from time to time, as people forget the true faith. God, in His infinite mercy, sends to people Rasul (lit. messenger) so that he points out the way and warn people. Such Rasuls (messengers), earlier to Mohammed, were many including Abraham, Ismail, Moses and Jesus, the son of Mother Mary. So also was Mohammed, the son of Abdullah, the messenger of God, came to revive the true faith – submission to the Will of God.

(ii) Divide of Islamic World Shia-Sunni

The question of leadership came up immediately on demise of the Prophet of Islam, as it was necessary to have a leader (Iman-Caliph) or successor of the Prophet to assume leadership (Imamat-Caliphate) of Muslim Common Wealth. Hashamis, kinsmen of the Prophet always maintained that the Prophet had indicated Ali (son-in-law and also his kinsman) as his successor and by right also he could be the spiritual head. Thus, according to them, Ali was the only rightful and legitimate Iman (leader) of Muslim Common Wealth. Whereas, Koreshies say that the Prophet had not nominated any one as his successor and hence the leader (Caliph) will have to be appointed by proceeding to election for the leader of Muslim Common Wealth.

The faction, which adhered to Ali, is known as Shia, a term derived from the phrase, Shiat-E-Ali (faction or adherent to Ali). Whereas the faction, which believed in appointing the leader of Muslim Common Wealth, by election is called as Sunni, a term derived from the phrases, Ahlus Sunn-at Wal Jamat (people of tradition and assembly), the unhappy events then divided the Islamic world into two, Shia and Sunni. Abu Bakar was elected to the office of Caliph by votes of Koreshies to become the First Caliph of Muslim Common World.

Abu Bakar after two years nominated Omar as his successor and thus Omar became the Second Caliph. Omar reigned successfully for more than 10 years and died of a wound he received from a Persian slave. After Omar, Usman became the bird Caliph and finally, after about 24 years, Ali became the Fourth Caliph. However, Shias do not give recognition to first three caliphs and always maintain that Ali is the only legitimate leader after the demise of the Prophet of Islam. In any case, it is worth noting that Sunnis too accept Ali as their Caliph and it is not that they do not pay reverence to Ali. Be it as it is the fact remains that today the Islamic world is divided into two, Shia and Sunni.

(iii) Shia and Sunni in General

Before entering into the thicket of Shia-Sunni, it may clearly be noted that Shia use the term ‘Imam’ whereas Sunni use the term Kalipha (Caliph) for the English Word Leader – Khilaf = Imamat = Leadership. What is necessary for the present is to notice that the term “Imam” has to be understood in broader percept to denote the phenomenon when it had become necessary to have a successor or the leader, a ‘Temporal Ruler’ or a ‘Religious Chief or a Leader by Divine Right.’ The divergence in constructing the term “Imam” has divided Muslims into two, Shia and Sunni. Shia (Adherents of Ali) takes the meaning of the term “Imam” as ‘leader by divine right’ and takes Imamat (leadership) as hereditary.

Therefore, according to Shias, since Ali is from the ‘House of Mohammed’, he alone has the divine right to be their “Imam” and so his successors too are the “Imams.” Shia are thus the adherents of Ali and, therefore, they are identified as “Shiat-e Ali” – Turning to Sunni, it may be stated that Sunnis (Ahuls Sunnat wal Jamat – People of Assembly) take the meaning of the term “Imam” as ‘the temporal leader’ and hence they believe that whenever it is so necessary, they can elect or select, their “Imam” from amongst them. Shias and Sunnis, as such, are so sharply divided that it is essential that we notice the differences in them.

The followers of Ali or the Shiat-e-Ali (Faction of Ali) then came to be called as Shias. Shias accept only those traditions which come through Ali, Sunnis accept in entirety, the traditions and perceptions of Prophet, which supplement the Qur’anic injunctions and treat them almost equal in authority in them.

Imam is the leader by divine right because he is the successor of the Prophet or rather the descendant of Ali. Therefore, he is the final interpreter of Law on the earth. In appropriate cases, Imam can even legislate; Imam is more of a temporal ruler than a religious chief is. As such, in religious matters, he has to simply follow the path of Shariat.

Shias repudiate entirely the authority of “Jamat” or the universality of people. As such, the Jamat cannot elect the spiritual Chief. If he is found unfit, he may be deprived of his Imamat.

According to Shias, the oral precepts of the Prophet are supplementary to the Qur’anic injunctions and their binding effect depends upon the degree of harmony between the Qur’anic ordinances and oral precepts of the Prophet. After Turkish Revolution in 1924, the system of Caliphate is abolished.

Shias reject not only the decisions but also the traditions, which do not come through Ali or the immediate successors of Ali who had seen the Prophet. Accept the authority of the Quran.

Imam is the descendant of Ali. According to Zaydis, a human being. According to Khojas, he is Hazir Imam. After 4th century of Hijara, there is no Mujtahid and hence the doctrine of Ijtehad is strictly constrained. Taqlid has come to be accepted by not the Qiyas and Ijmas, Taqlid (Law of Precedent), Qiyas (Law of Analogical deductions) and Ijma (agreement of jurisconsults) are widely accepted.