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A Brief Family Tree for the Prophet Muhammad
Abu Bakr
Abu Talib
Muhammad’s Uncle
Friend/Early Convert
2nd Caliph
Khadija
First Wife
Prophet Muhammad
Ali
Aisha
Fatima
Muhammad’s Cousin
4th Caliph/Ist Imam
Hassan
Hussein
2nd Imam
3rd Imam
Zaynab
Umm
Al-Kalthum
Ali Zain Al- Abideen
4th Imam
All other Imams
are descended
from this line
The family tree has been simplified and is designed to cover only the relevant filial
relations that directly apply to the Sunni/Shia split within Islam.
The Rashidun (632-661)
The Rule of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs
Name
Ruled
Death
Known For
Abu Baker
1st Caliph
632-634
Elected
Natural causes,
appointed his
successor.
Quelled
rebellion and
united Arabia
Umar ibn alKhattab
2nd Caliph
634-644
Appointed
Stabbed in a
Median mosque
by a Persian
POW with a
personal
grudge.
Wars of
expansion
(power not
religion but
religion
followed) to the
great Middle
East.
Uthman ibn
Affan
3rd Caliph
644-656
Elected
Assassinated
by those from
the elite of
Medina over the
rise of status
and power of
the Umayyad
clan.
Expanded the
empire to North
Africa and
Central Asia,
but with much
political cost.
Standardized
the Qu’ran.
Ali ibn Abu Talib
4th Caliph/Ist
Imam
656-661
Elected
Assassinated
by Kharajities, a
group of
dissenters to
Ali’s rule.
Ruled fur the
first Fitnah (civil
war). His place
in history is
denoted more
for who he was
rahter than what
he did.
The 12 Shia Imams
Name
Rule
Life and Death
1
Ali ibn Abu Talib
656-661
660-661- Assassinated
2
Hasan ibn Ali
661-669
625-669- Poisoned
3
Hussein ibn Ali
669-680
626-680- Died at Battle of Karbala
4
Ali Zain Al- Abideen
680-713
658-713- Poisoned
5
Mohammad Al-Baqir
713-743
676-743- Poisoned
6
Jaffar Al- Sadiq
743-765
703-765- Poisoned
7
Musa Al-Kathum
765-799
745-799- Poisoned
8
Ali Al-Reda
799-818
765-818- Poisoned
9
Muhammad al-Taqi
818-835
810-835- Poisoned
10
Ali al-Hadi
835-868
827-868- Poisoned
11
Hasan al-Askari
868-874
846-874- Poisoned
12
Mehdi Al-Muntadar
874-?
868-? Hidden
Sunni/Shia Belief Comparison Chart
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
Belief that Muhammad
designated a successor?
No
Yes
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
Al Mahdi
Will come in the future
Was already on earth, is
currently the “hidden
Iman” who will return at
the end of time
Concealing Faith for SelfProtection (taqiya)
Under special
circumstances only
Emphasized
Temporary Marriage
Not allowed
Still Practiced
Holy Cities
Mecca, Medina,
Jerusalem
Mecca, Medina,
Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala
Major Holidays
Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr,
Ashura
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.