In Muslim world there are two major sects. The Sunnis and Shi’as. Some refer to Muslim mystics, the Sufis, as a sect of Islam. They are, however, considered as Sunnis. A study in 2010 and 2011 showed that there are 1.62 billion Muslims around the world, and it is estimated that the Sunni population is between 75% and 90%.

The Sunnis

The word “sunni” comes from the Arabic word sunnah which means way and is referred to, the way of the prophet or the tradition (actions and sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad (s). The Sunni Islam is sometimes referred to as Orthodox Islam.

Among the Sunni sect there are four major schools of thought or sub-sects each follow a particular Islamic law. They are:

• Hanafism: The founder is the Persian scholar Imam Abu Hanifah al-Nu’manibnThabit (AD: 699-767). His school of thought is practiced widely in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and Turkey. The majority of Sunni Muslims practice the Hanfi jurisprudence.

Beliefs:

1. Prayer (al-Salat) in another language is permitted.
2. Asking for money for teaching Qur’an and saying Athan is permitted.
3. Friday prayer in more than one mosque in one city/town is correct.
4. Making wudu with wine is permitted.
5. Junub passing through a mosque is not permitted.
6. Polytheists entering mosques is permitted.
7. Giving Zakat al-Fitrah and Kaffareh to Jews and Christians is permitted.
8. Neither does faith increase nor decrease.
9. Compulsory divorce is permitted.
10. Using tricks to attaingMubah is permitted.
11. One time feeding by breast even one drop is Haraam.
12. Female is permitted to be judge.

• Shafi’ism: The founder is Abu Abdullah Muhammad IbnIdris al-Shafi’i known as Imam Al-Shafi’i (AD: 767-820). Imam al-Shafi’i is also known as the “First Among Equals” for his exhaustive knowledge and systematic methodology to religious science. Adherents of this sect are mainly from the Middle East.

Beliefs:

1. Discarding scholastic theology.
2. Qur’an is God’s words and old, but not created.
3. Narrations are sufficient reason after Qur’an.
4. Imamah belongs to Quraysh only.
5. Belief in Qiyas and refusing Ijtihad.
6. Semen is not najis/ tahir.
7. Polytheists are allowed to enter mosques save Masjid al-Harram.
8. Saying Asr prayer before Zuhr prayer in al-Jam’ bayn al-Salatayn.
9. Mayyit prayer over martyr’s body is not allowed.
10. It is obligatory for kid to pay Zakat.
11. Murtad (blasphemous)’s I’tikaf is not ivalid.
12. Man is allowed to marry his daughter out of adultery.
13. Ruler is allowed to divorce one’s wife.
14. Slaughtered animal purposely bismillahalrahmanalrahim not mentioned over it when slaughtering is allowed to be eaten.
15. Singing is not Haraam, its doer not Faaseq and his testimony is not refused.

• Malikism: The founder is Malik Bin Anas (AD: 711-795). Its adherents are mostly from North Africa, United Arab Emirates, and parts of Saudi Arabia.

Beliefs:

1. Qur’an is God’s words not created.
2. Generally committed major sins is believer.
3. The companions’ sayings and fataawa are of the Prophet’s conduct.
4. Dog is taaher.
5. One is allowed to pray Qasr on committing sin trip.
6. Friday prayer is only allowed at mosque.
7. Who forgetfully eats or drinks in Ramadan is not fasting and it is obligatory to do its Qadaa’.
8. Marrying the faithless is invalid.
9. The longest period of pregnancy is five years.

• Hanbalism: The founder is Imam Ahmad IbnHanbal (AD: 780–855). The Hanbali jurisprudence is considered very strict and conservative. The Hanbalischool of jurisprudence is practiced mainly in Saudi Arabia, Qatar as well as in parts of Syria and Iraq.

Beliefs:

1. One commits a major sin he is authorized to God.
2. Belief in God’s attributes as is mentioned in the Qur’an and the Prophet’s traditions.
3. Qur’an is not created.
4. Almighty God can be viewed in the hereafter.
5. Revolting against the ruler even he is tyrant and dissolute.
6. All companions are just.
7. Charity and evil are of God’s destiny.
8. Caliphate belongs to Quraysh.
9. Jihad with the ruler either he is pious or dissolute is correct.
10. He who has quitted his prayer is Kaafer, not allowed to pray on his dead body and bury him in the Muslim cemetery.

The Shi’a

The word “Shi’a” in Arabic literally means a sect or a faction. The followers of the Shi’a sect belong to the faction or followers of Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali who, according to the Shi’a sect should have been the direct successor of Muhammad and is considered divinely appointed and the first Imam. There are three main schools of thought or sub-sects within the Shi’a sect.

1) The Ithnaashariyya: the followers of this sect believe in the 12 divinely ordained leaders, knows as the Twelve Imams. Nearly 85% of the total Shi’a populationbelongs to this sect. They are scattered in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon, and Syria. A large minority group is found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

2) The Isma’ilis or as commonly known as the SevenImamis: Unlike the Twelvers, they believe in different number of Imams. They also differ in the role of the Imam. The Isma’ili minorities are found in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon and South Africa.

3) The Zaydi branch: This school of thought was named after its founder ZaydIbn Ali. They are mainly prevalent in Yemen. They have a unique approach within the Shi’a Islamic thought that is similar to the Sunnis. Adherents to this branch are called the Fivers.

The difference between Sunni and Shia sects

The difference between the Sunnis and Shi’a is more of a political nature than creed. There are no major differences between the two sects. Both, Sunnis and Shi’as, believe in the one God or Tawhid, in the angels, scriptures, prophets and messengers, the hereafter, and the divine decree, destiny. They share the same scripture, called the Qur’an. Although there may be a difference in the way Sunnis and Shi’as worship, nevertheless, both pray five times a day, fast the month of Ramadan, pay the zakah and go to Mecca for pilgrimage. During daily prayers, both Sunnis and Shi’as direct their faces toward Mecca.

After the demise of Muhammad (s), Muslims disputed over the prophet’s successor. The Prophet’s successors, Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman and Ali (‘a)respectively after him were accepted by Muslims as the rightful successors of the prophet. On the other hand, the Muslims who thought Ali Bin AbiTalib, the prophet’s cousin, is the legitimate successor of the prophet became to be known as Shi’a. The Shi’a believes that the prophet’s successor has to be from the family of the prophet Muhammad. Whereas Sunnis believe that the successor of the prophet must be from the tribe of Quraish, the prophet’s tribe. This political discord continued for centuries and the divide between the two sects remains to this day unresolved. Another major difference between Sunni and Shi’a is that Sunnis believe that no person after Muhammad is infallible while the Shi’a believes in the infallibility of the twelve Imams (leaders) who are descendants from the family of the Prophet Muhammad.

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Compiled, Summarized, and Translated by:

SayyidBaqirHusayni