A Brief History of Islam
We cannot understand the complicated divides within the Islam of today
without understanding the complications of the past. I will attempt to give a very
brief generalized overview of the differences between the Sunni and the Shi’ite and the birth and ideology of Wahhabism, although to thoroughly
examine these issues would require much more time and space than we have
here.
The religion of Islam is the second largest religion in the world with
approximately 1.5 billion followers and it is growing at a rate of about 20%
per year. The largest of the major religions is Christianity with
approximately 2.1 billion faithful.
Like the different churches within the Christian faith, Islam has two major
branches: the Sunnis, with approximately 940 million believers, and Shiites,
with about 120 million. Within these two divisions, or “sects,” there are
branches and divisions, including the well-known Wahhabi sect of the Sunnis.
The differences between the two major divisions – or sects – of Islam, the
Sunni and the Shi’ite, originate as a political divide revolving around the
death of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in 632 A.D. and who left no
instructions or wishes for his succession.
The Sunnis – who account for the overwhelming majority of Muslims then as
now – opted to choose the most appropriate among them to succeed Muhammad as
their political leader. The designee was not, however Muhammad’s spiritual
successor as Islamic doctrine states that Muhammad was the final prophet.
This process continued for the next three successors.
The Shi’ite believed that the successor to Muhammad should come from his
bloodline because they considered Muhammad and his family “blessed by god.”
Shiite’s believe that the rightful heir to Muhammad was his cousin and
son-in-law Ali ibn Abu Talib and therefore Shiites do not recognize the
first three caliphs – or successors – as legitimate. Ali was chosen the
fourth and the last of the righteous caliphs in 656. A.D.
Sustained tensions among Ali and his followers and the followers of Ali’s
predecessors culminated in civil war and Ali’s assassination in 661 A.D.
These events led to the great divide between the Sunnis and the Shiites that
exist to this day.
The theological differences between the Sunni and Shiites have to do with
the status of the leader of the Muslim community. With regard to the Shiites
it is the Imam. As stated earlier, the Shiites believe the Prophet's family
was blessed so the Imams are considered as having a special knowledge
because of a mystical connection with god. They also hold the belief that
the last Imam did not die but 'disappeared' only to reappear at the end of
times to announce the arrival of the Mahdi or Messiah.
The Sunnis reject this and, instead, believe their caliphs are, although
pious, only political figures.
Wahhabism, or Salafism, is a
fiercely fundamentalist form of orthodox Sunni Islam. It originated circa
1703 and is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabists believe
that any and all evolution of the Islamic faith after the 3rd century of the
Muslim era – after 950 A.D. – was specious and must be expunged.
Consequently, Wahhabism is the most radical form of Islam and the form of
Islam that Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahri (al Qaeda’s number one and
two) practice.
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