Unit 2: The Arab WorldIslam Splits

The caliph :The caliph is a successor of the prophet.The more general meaning of caliph refers to the successor of the prophet. Each caliph was a close friend or person close to the prophet in his prophet hood.

The Death of Muhammad

• 632 AD: After Muhammad died, Muslims had to choose a new leader.

• Muslims were split.• Abu Bakr – Muhammad’s father-in-law and first caliph

• Caliph – means "successor”• He was seen as the more capable leader.

• Ali – Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law• He was followed by Muslims who believed that their next leader

should be a blood relative of Muhammad – a member of the Family of the Prophet.

• The question was: Blood (Ali) or Capability (Abu Bakr)?• This question eventually caused Muslims to split into two

groups: Sunnis & Shiites• There has been great conflict between these two groups ever

since.

“Rightly Guided” Caliphs• Abu-Bakr and the next three elected caliphs—Umar,

Uthman, and Ali—all had known Muhammad and supported his mission.

• They used the Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions as guides to leadership.

• For this, they are known as the “rightly guided” caliphs. • The region ruled by a caliph was called a caliphate.

What did the “rightly guided” caliphs use as guides to leadership? The Qur’an and Muhammad’s actions in life.

What is the meaning of the word “caliph?”

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Caliph means “successor”

Sunni–Shi’a Split

• In the interest of peace, the majority of Muslims accepted the Umayyads’ rule.

• A minority did continue to resist, and around some of these groups an alternate view of the office of caliph developed.

• In this view, the caliph—the person most responsible for spreading Muhammad’s message—needed to be a relative of the Prophet.

Sunni–Shi’a Split

• This group was called Shi’a, meaning the “party” of Ali.

• Those who did not outwardly resist the rule of the Umayyads later became known as Sunni, meaning followers of Muhammad’s example.

• Another group, the Sufi (SOO•fee), reacted to the luxurious life of the Umayyads by pursuing a life of poverty and devotion to a spiritual path.

Differences Between Shia and Sunni

• Shiites • About 15% of all Muslims• Islam’s leader should be a

descendant of Mohammad• Qualified religious leaders have

the authority to interpret the sharia (Islamic law)

• Sunnis • About 85% of all Muslims• Leaders should be chosen through

ijma, or consensus• The sharia was codified and closed

by the 10th century

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

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

Concealing Faith for Self-Protection (taqiya)

Under special circumstances only

Emphasized

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.

Sunni & Shiites Today

Sunni

Sunnis believe the true Caliph should be chosen by those close to Muhammad; did not have to be a relative of Muhammad. Most Muslims (85%) are Sunni.

About 85-90% of today’s Islamic population of 1.5 billion is Sunni. Most of the controversial publicity that Sunni-Islam is receiving in

today’s world is because of the Sunni-Shia split that exists in the Middle East.

Since the American invasion of Iraq in the 21st century, the Sunni-Shiite conflict has been aggravated in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of split mosques, arguments over the population, discrimination against the Sunni in politics, economy, media and education.

Both groups have been launching terrorist attacks against one another and this poses the biggest threat to the Islamic religion today.

Sunni Islam Today

Shiite

Shiites:•The supporters of 'Ali, became known as the Shiites, which means "the supporters of 'Ali.“ Shiites started to loose political power so they started looking for religious power. Also started to look for support from people from de Islamic Empire.

Sufi

Sufi’s

The term comes from the Islam’s word, suf -the coarse wool garment that is worn by Sufis.

Sufism strives to experience Allah as immanent - dwelling within each worshipper.

The Sufi experiences oneness with Allah and gains spiritual fortitude.

Sufis are not necessarily popular among Muslims.

Sufis live monastic lives with a shaykh as their head.

The Sufi

• They tried to achieve direct personal contact with God through mystical means, such as meditation and chanting.

• In some ways they were similar to Christian and Buddhist monks.

• The Sufis played an important role in keeping Muslims focused on the Qur’an and tradition.

The Sufi

• Later, they became very active as missionaries in newly conquered lands.

• Another religious development was the growth of scholarship in various branches of Islamic learning and law.

• The study of the traditions of Muhammad, Arabic language, and the development of schools of shari’a established standards of Islamic conduct.

Despite the differences between the Sunni & Shiites, Islam spread very quickly . . .

. . . so that this is what the region looks like today. What issues/conflicts might occur as a result of this map?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNK_Uk0fw5A

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