Download Sunni

The Death of Muhammad
 Abu Bakr: “O
people, if anyone
worships
Muhammad,
Muhammad is dead.
If anyone worships
God, God is alive,
immortal!”
Sharia
 After the death of Muhammad, the sharia,
Islamic holy law, emerged to give detailed
guidance on proper behavior in almost every
aspect of daily life
 Drew its inspiration from the Quran and
historical accounts of Muhammad’s life and
teachings
 Through the sharia, Islam became more than
a religious doctrine

It developed into a way of life complete with social
and ethical values derived from Islamic religious
doctrine.
Application of Shari’a
Individual
Family
Society
Sources of Shari’a
1. Qur’an
2. Hadiths (the Example of the Prophet)
Historical Example
 Theocracy
 Every aspect of life regulated
 Moral police inspecting homes
 Unsupportive books banned
 No freedom of religion; heretics and false
believers burned.
Laws and Processes in Muslim
Lands
Goal: to be guided by God
Practice: Qur’an, Hadiths, Islamic Traditions,
local customs, geo-political realities, etc…
Shari’a is NOT just Taliban and Wahhabi Islam
(Saudi Arabia)
Two challenging aspects of Shari’a
1. No division traditionally between “religious”
and “secular” matters.
2. The Scope of Shari’a-based laws and
processes
Expansion of Islam
 Muhammad made no provisions for a
successor after his death

Serious divisions arose
 Within a short time however, the Islamic
community launched a series of military
campaigns that extended its influence far
beyond the boundaries of Arabia
Caliphs
 Since Muhammad was “the seal of the
prophets,” no one could succeed him as
another prophet
 Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad’s closest
friend’s and disciples followed him as caliph
(“deputy”)
 Caliphs would lead the umma as lieutenants
or substitutes for Muhammad, rather than as
prophets
Who should lead the Muslims?
The Two Candidates
Abu Bakr
Daughter
Aisha
Wife
Muhammad
Cousin
Daughter
Fatima
Wife
Ali
Shia
 Shia (“party”) are the most important
alternative to the majority Muslim group, the
Sunni (“traditionalists”)
 Shiites favored Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and
son in law, as caliph instead of Abu Bakr
 Ali did become the fourth caliph (656-661) but
was assassinated and his killers imposed
their own caliph
 Shiites vigorously resisted and struggled to
return the caliphate to the line of Ali
Shia
 Shiites strengthened their identity by adopting
doctrines and rituals distinct from the Sunnis


Observed holy days in honor of their leaders
and martyrs
Taught that the descendants of Ali were
infallible, sinless, and divinely appointed to
rule
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
Schism over Leadership
Sunni
Shi’a Ali
Most Qualified Individual
Blood Relation
Caliph
Imam
Abu Bakr
Ali
~85% today
~15% today
The Shi’a Line
Cousin
Muhammad
Daughter
Wife
Fatima
Husayn
Ali
Shi’a v. Sunni World
Sufism: Islamic Mysticism
 An intimate, deep encounter with God: God is
“closer to you than your jugular vein.” (Sūra
50:16)
 Sufism: the Path of Love: “He loves them and
they love him.” Sūra 5:59
Sufi Statement of Faith
 “There is no deity but Love; and Muhammad
is his messenger.”
Sufi
 Sufi is a third Muslim group




Encourages a personal,
emotional, devotional approach
to Islam; has a very mystical
and spiritual component
Do not insist on fine points of
doctrine or formal religious
teachings; instead work to
deepen spiritual awareness
Most lead pious and ascetic
lives
Very effective as missionaries,
brought Islam to India
Representation of Sufi
theologian al-Ghazali
(1058-1111)