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Sunni v. Shi’a
Muhammad did not designate a successor, or someone to replace him, when he died. This caused
much conflict in the Muslim world. A conflict arose over who should be the caliph, or successor of
Muhammad and leader of the Islamic community. Because of Muhammad’s failure to choose a
replacement, there are now two basic groups of Muslims: the Sunnis and the Shi’as. Although they
share the same basic beliefs, they disagree on who is the rightful leader of Islam after Muhammad's
death.
In traditional Arab culture, leaders were usually from the same
family tree as the deceased leader, but they were not necessarily.
Talented men who would lead well were preferred over a weak
heir. This is also the argument advanced by Sunni Muslims, who
believe that Muhammad's lieutenant Abu Bakr was chosen by the
community and that this was the proper procedure. They further
argue that a caliph is ideally chosen by election or community
agreement.
Shi'a Muslims disagree. They believe that Muhammad had given
many indications, or hints, that he considered Ali, his cousin and
son-in-law (married to Muhammad’s beloved daughter Fatima), as
his chosen successor, regardless of democracy. According to Shi’a
tradition, Ali and his descendants are believed to have been the
only proper Muslim leaders in the Shi'a's point of view.
SUNNI
community should
choose/elect leader
SHI’A (SHI’ITE)
leader should be
descendent of
Muhammad
Islam after the Death of Muhammad
After the death of Muhammad, the Muslim community elected Abu Bakr, a close associate of
Muhammad, to be their leader. He was given the title of caliph, which means "the successor." The
caliph was Muhammad's successor only as the leader of the faithful, however, not as a prophet, or
messenger of God like Muhammad. Muslims considered Muhammad to be the last of the prophets.
The faith of some Muslims was badly shaken with the death of the Prophet Muhammad. A number
of tribes even abandoned Islam. However, Abu Bakr was able to restore the supremacy and power
of the religion in the Arabian world.
After Abu Bakr's death in 634, Muslim leaders selected a new caliph, Umar. Under Umar's
leadership, the Muslims of Arabia invaded Syria and North Africa, which were part of the Christian
Byzantine Empire. The Muslims defeated the Byzantine armies there and continued their advance
northward until they were stopped in southern Anatolia (the country of Turkey today). Muslim
armies also went east and defeated the Persians (centered in modern-day Iran) and took over their
empire. These invasions and conquests were part of a Muslim jihad, or holy war, to expand the
influence of Islam.
Disagreements about Choosing a Caliph
In 656 Umar was assassinated. This time, Muslim leaders disagreed about the selection of a
successor. Some wanted Uthman, an elderly Muslim from a wealthy and influential family, to
become caliph. Others preferred Ali, a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
Although Ali was smart, strict, and a devout Muslim, many influential Muslim leaders did not favor
him as caliph. They chose Uthman instead. Ali accepted this decision, but some of his followers did
not. One of these followers killed Uthman twelve years later.
After the death of Uthman, Ali was chosen to succeed him as caliph. Uthman's relatives and
supporters, however, tried to stir up opposition to Ali. The most powerful person to oppose him
was Mu'awiyah, the governor of Damascus, a city located in present day Syria. Mu'awiyah tried to
defeat Ali in battle, but failed. Ali ruled for five years before he too was assassinated.
After Ali's death, Mu'awiyah quickly gathered enough support to declare himself the new caliph. As
caliph, he made Damascus the capital of the Muslim empire and suppressed all opposition. When he
died in 680, his son Yazid was named caliph. From then on, the position of caliph became
hereditary. When a position is hereditary, it is passed from one ruler to the next of kin, usually a
son. Mu'awiyah's family, the Umayyads, became the ruling dynasty, or family of rulers.
A Major Split Develops
When Mu’awiyah’s son Yazid was made caliph, a major split began to develop in Islam. A group
called the Shi’as refused to accept Yazid as caliph. Instead, they wanted Ali's son Husayn to be
made caliph. But Husayn and a small group of relatives and followers were killed by members of an
Umayyad army.
The Sunnis and Shi’as. The division that formed between the Shi’as and a group called the
Sunnites remains to this day. The Shi’as believe that Muslim leadership should be only granted to
descendants of Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. The Sunnis believe that Muslim leadership
could be passed to elected members of the Muslim community.
The Shi’as have a special place for Ali and his descendants in their faith. They consider Ali to be
the first imam, or leader in prayer. The Shi’as believe that Ali and eleven imams who followed
were especially suited to interpret Muhammad's revelations and lead the Muslim community since
they were descendants of the Prophet. According to Shi’as, the twelfth imam disappeared around
the year 873. They believe that God hid him from humans, and that someday he will return to lead
the Muslim community and the world. In short, Shi'as consider Muhammad's descendants as the true
source of guidance while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and
not something attached to faith.
Today’s’ Sunnis and Shi’as
Today the Shi’as account for about 10-15% percent of all Muslims, and they are spread throughout
the Islamic world. The largest concentration is in Iran, where they form a majority. The Shi’as rank
their religious leaders, or mullahs, according to religious learning, faithfulness, and leadership.
The highest rank is that of ayatollah. Shi’a leaders have great standing in the Muslim community,
and their judgments have the status of law.
The Sunnis represent the great majority of Muslims in the world today. They accept the historical
order of caliphs and other elected successors as the true and rightful line of authority. Although
the position of caliph no longer exists, the King of Saudi Arabia is responsible for guarding and
preserving the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Sunni religious leaders have less authority than
Shi’a leaders, and some Sunni and Shi’a laws are different. Despite their differences, however,
Shi’as and Sunnites agree on most major matters of faith and worship.
Muhammad (Prophet)
CALIPHATE
(successors of Muhammad the Prophet)
Abu Bakr (1st Caliph 32-634 A.D.)
Umar (2nd Caliph 34-644 A.D.)
Uthman (3rd Caliph 644-656 A.D)
Ali (4th Caliph 656-661 A.D.)
SUNNI
Umayyads, 660-750AD
Mu'awiyah starts Umayyad dynasty in 660 AD, and
then passed his position onto his son, Yazid in 680
AD
Abbasids,750-1258 AD
Shadow Caliphate, 1258-1517 AD
Mongol and foreign rule
Ottomans, 1517 – 1924 AD
Center of caliphate shifts to Ottoman Empire
(modern-day Turkey)
End of the Caliphate, 1924 AD
Mustafa Kemal officially abolished the last
Caliphate, the Ottoman Empire, and founded the
Republic of Turkey
SHI’A (SHI’ITE)
11 Imams, 660-872 AD
1. Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law)
2. Hassan (Ali’s son, early 600s)
3. Husayn (Ali’s son, mid- 600s)
4. Ali ibn al-Hussein (late 600s)
5. Muhammad ibn Ali (early 700s)
6. Ja'far ibn Muhammad (mid-700s)
7. Musa ibn Ja'far (late 700s)
8. Ali ibn Musa (early 800s)
9. Muhammad ibn Ali (mid 800s)
10. Hassan ibn Ali (mid 800s)
11. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan (late 800s)
12th Imam , ? TBA
According to Shi'a doctrine, he has been living in
hiding since 872 and will continue as long as God
wills it. He is the current Imam and the promised
Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with
Jesus. He will reestablish the rightful governance of
Islam and refill the earth with justice and peace