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Islamic schools and branches
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Tree of divisions
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Islam
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Muslims are basically divided in two major factions, Sunnis and Shias, that are further
divided into various Schools of Jurisprudence and orders of Imamate. All other
movements within such as Salafi, Modernists, the Mystical Sufi Orders, Deobandi and
Barelvi are either Sunni or Shia or both. The division occurred during the early phase of
the Caliphate over the question of who should succeed Muhammad after his death. The
third faction called the Kharijites who also came forth of the same question are now
extinct although some Muslims believe that the Ibadiyya community which is dominant in
the modern day state of Oman and Zanzibar have descended from them despite the fact
that Ibadiyya do not consider themselves Kharijites. There are also divisions on the
philosophical basis of theology but it overlaps with different factions. However, the
central text of Islam, the Qur'an, and the core tenets of faith called the Aqeedah largely
remain the same all over Muslim World across all of these branches.
Sunni Islam
Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam and are known as Ahl as-Sunnah
wa’l-Jamā‘h or simply as Ahl as-Sunnah. The word Sunni comes from the word sunnah,
which means the teachings and actions or examples of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.
Therefore, the term "Sunni" refers to those who follow or maintain the sunnah of the
prophet Muhammad.
The Sunnis believe that Muhammad did not specifically appoint a successor to lead the
Muslim ummah (community) before his death, and after an initial period of confusion, a
group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique,
Muhammad's close friend and a father-in-law, as the first caliph of Islam. Sunni Muslims
regard the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, `Umar ibn al-Khattāb, Uthman Ibn Affan and Ali
ibn Abu Talib) as "al-Khulafā’ur-Rāshidūn" or "The Rightly Guided Caliphs." Sunnis also
believe that the position of caliph may be attained democratically, on gaining majority
votes, but after the Rashidun, the position turned into a hereditary dynastic rule because
of the divisions that started by the Shias and others. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire
in 1923, there has never been another caliph as widely recognized in the Muslim world.
Schools of law
Madh'hab
Madhhab is an Islamic term that refers to a school of thought or religious jurisprudence,
or fiqh, within Sunni Islam. Each of the Sahaba had a unique school of jurisprudence, but
these schools were gradually consolidated or discarded so that there are currently four
recognized schools. The differences between these schools of thought manifest in minor
practical differences, as most Sunni Muslims consider them all fundamentally the same.
Sunnis generally do not identify themselves with a particular school of thought — simply
calling themselves "Sunnis".
Part of a series on
Sunni Islam
‫السنة أهل‬
Beliefs
Monotheism
Prophethood / Messengership
Holy Books · Angels
Judgement Day · Predestination
Five Pillars
Declaration of Faith · Prayer
Charity · Fasting · Pilgrimage
Rightly guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr · Umar ibn al-Khattab
Uthman ibn Affan · Ali ibn Abi Talib
Schools of Law (Shariah)
Hanafi · Maliki
Shafi`i · Hanbali
Schools of Theology
Athari · Maturidi · Ash'ari
Movements
Barelvi · Deobandi · Salafi · Sufi
Hadith collections
Sahih al-Bukhari · Sahih Muslim
Al-Sunan al-Sughra
Sunan Abu Dawood
Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Sunan ibn Majah · Al-Muwatta
Sunan al-Darimi
v·d·e
Hanafi
The Hanafi school was founded by Imam Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man; it is the largest school
of thought followed by most Muslims around the world. It is predominant among Sunni
Muslims in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, northern Egypt, Iraq,
Turkey, Balkans and in many western countries. There are movements within this
madhab such as Barelvi and Deobandi.
Shafi`i
Shafi`i was founded by Imam Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, is the second largest
school of thought in terms of followers. It is practiced throughout the Muslim world, but
is most prevalent in Egypt, Somalia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Yemen,
among Kurds, Kerala (Mappilas) and is officially followed by the governments of Brunei
and Malaysia.
Maliki
The Maliki school derives from the work of Imam Malik ibn Anas. It is practiced in North
and West Africa. It is the third-largest of the four schools.
Hanbali
Hanbali is considered to be the most conservative of the four schools and the one that
relies on hadith the most. Hanbalis reject the use of philosophical argument in matters of
religious belief. The school was started by the students of Imam Ahmad. Hanbali
jurisprudence is predominant among Muslims in Saudi Arabia.
Movements
Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimun
The Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimun – Translated as The Muslim Brotherhood, this organisation
was founded by Egyptian scholar Hassan al-Banna who graduated from Dar al-Ulum.
With its various branches it is the largest Sunni movement in the Arab world, with an
affiliate usually being the largest opposition party in many Arab nations. The Muslim
Brotherhood is not concerned with theological differences, accepting Muslims of any of
the four Sunni schools of thought, it is the world's oldest and largest Islamist group. Its
aims are to re-establish the Caliphate and in the mean time push for more Islamisation of
society. The Brotherhood's stated goal is to instill the Qur'an and sunnah as the "sole
reference point for... ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community... and
state."
Jamaat-e-Islami
The Jamaat-e-Islami is an Islamist political party in the Indian Subcontinent. It was
founded in Lahore, India, by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi in 1941 and is the oldest religious
party in Pakistan and India. Today, sister organizations with similar objectives and
ideological approaches exist in India, (Jamaat-e-Islami Hind), Bangladesh (Jamaat-eIslami Bangladesh), Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, and there are "close brotherly
relations" with the Islamist movements and missions "working in different continents and
countries", particularly those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood or Akhwan-alMuslimeen. The JI envisions an Islamic government in Pakistan, Bangladesh and
Afghanistan governing by Islamic law. It opposes Westernization--including capitalism,
socialism, or such practices as bank interest, and favours an Islamic economic order and
Caliphate.
Jamaat-al-Muslimeen
The Jamaat ul-Muslimeen is a movement in Sunni Islam revived by the Imam Syed
Masood Ahmad in the 1960s. The present leader of this group is Muhammad Ishtiaq.
Salafi/Ahl al-Hadith
The Salafi movement was revived by the 18th century teacher Sheikh Muhammad ibn
Abd-al-Wahhab in the Arabian peninsula, and was instrumental in the rise of the House
of Saud to power. Salafism is a puritanical and legalistic Islamic movement under the
Sunni umbrella, and is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia. The terms
"Wahhabism" and "Salafism" are often used interchangeably, although the word
"Wahhabi" is a specific for followers of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab who are the far
right wing of Salafi Islam.
In addition to the Qur'an and hadith, and the works of earlier scholars like Ibn Taymiyya,
Ibn Al Qayyim and Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab are used for religious guidance.
Salafism is, in general, opposed to Sufism and Shi'a Islam, which they regard as
heresies. They see their role as a movement to restore Islam from what they perceive to
be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries.
The methodology predominates mainly in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the other
Arabian Peninsula states and elsewhere. It has significant numbers of adherents in India
and Pakistan, where the movement is known as Ahl al-Hadith ("People of Hadith"). It is
also growing in popularity in countries in the western world; in particular the United
Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Salafis view the first three generations of Muslims, Muhammad's companions and the two
succeeding generations after them, the Tabi‘un and the Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in, and those who
followed in their path as being the best sources in order to understand the foundational
principles of Islam.
Schools of belief
Aqidah
Aqidah is an Islamic term meaning creed or belief. Any religious belief system, or creed,
can be considered an example of aqidah. However this term has taken a significant
technical usage in Muslim history and theology, denoting those matters over which
Muslims hold conviction. The term is usually translated as "theology". Such traditions are
divisions orthogonal to sectarian divisions of Islam, and a Mu'tazili may for example,
belong to Jafari, Zaidi, or even a Hanafi sect/jurisprudence school, though the latter is
usually a rare occurrence.
Ash'ari
Ash'ari is a school of early Islamic philosophy founded in the 10th century by Abu alHasan al-Ash'ari. It was instrumental in drastically changing the direction of Islam and
laid the groundwork to "shut the door of ijtihad" centuries later in the Ottoman Empire.
The Asharite view was that comprehension of the unique nature and characteristics of
God were beyond human capability.
Maturidi
A Maturidi is one who follows Abu Mansur Al Maturidi's theology, which is a close variant
of the Ash'ari school. Points which differ are the nature of belief and the place of human
reason. The Maturidis state that belief (iman) does not increase nor decrease but
remains static; it is piety (taqwa) which increases and decreases. The Ash'aris say that
belief does in fact increase and decrease. The Maturidis say that the unaided human
mind is able to find out that some of the more major sins such as alcohol or murder are
evil without the help of revelation. The Ash'aris say that the unaided human mind is
unable to know if something is good or evil, lawful or unlawful, without divine revelation.
Murji'ah
Murji'ah (Arabic ‫ )المرجئة‬is an early Islamic school, whose followers are known in English
as Murjites or Murji'ites (Arabic ‫)المرجئون‬. During the early centuries of Islam, Muslim
thought encountered a multitude of influences from various ethnic and philosophical
groups that it absorbed. Murji'ah emerged as a theological school that was opposed to
the Kharijites on questions related to early controversies regarding sin and definitions of
what is a true Muslim.
They advocated the idea of "delayed judgement". Only God can judge who is a true
Muslim and who is not, and no one else can judge another as an infidel (kafir).
Therefore, all Muslims should consider all other Muslims as true and faithful believers,
and look to Allah to judge everyone during the last judgment. This theology promoted
tolerance of Umayyads and converts to Islam who appeared half-hearted in their
obedience. The Murjite opinion would eventually dominate that of the Kharijites.
The Murjites exited the way of the Sunnis when they declared that no Muslim would
enter the hellfire, no matter what his sins. This contradicts the traditional Sunni belief
that some Muslims will enter the hellfire temporarily. Therefore the Murjites are classified
as Ahlul Bid'ah or "People of Innovation" by the majority of other Muslims.
Mu'tazili
Mu'tazili theology originated in the 8th century in al-Basrah when Wasil ibn Ata left the
teaching lessons of Hasan al-Basri after a theological dispute. He and his followers
expanded on the logic and rationalism of Greek philosophy, seeking to combine them
with Islamic doctrines and show that the two were inherently compatible. The Mu'tazili
debated philosophical questions such as whether the Qur'an was created or eternal,
whether evil was created by God, the issue of predestination versus free will, whether
God's attributes in the Qur'an were to be interpreted allegorically or literally, and whether
sinning believers would have eternal punishment in hell.
Athari
The Athari school derives its name from the Arabic word "Athar", meaning "narrations".
The Athari methodology is to avoid delving into extensive theological speculation. They
use the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and sayings of the Sahaba. Athari is generally synonymous
with Salafi.
Zahiri
Zahiri– A school of thought which literally translates as "literalist", who were regarded as
heterodox among many Muslim for rejecting qiyas, though classically they are regarded
as the fifth main school of Sunni Islam.
There are a number of groups, mainly named after the founder of the group, which
follow much of the teachings of the schools and theologies. Some, such as the Salafis,
disagree with the teachings to some extent.
Shia Islam
[hide]
Part of a series on
Shī‘ah Islam
Beliefs and practices
Succession of Ali
Imamate of the Family
Mourning of Muharram
Intercession · Ismah
The Occultation · Clergy
Views
The Qur'an · Sahaba
Mu'awiya I · Abu Bakr
Umar · Ghulat
Holy days
Ashura · Arba'een · Mawlid
Eid ul-Fitr · Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Ghadeer
Eid al-Mubahila
History
Twelver · Ismāʿīlī · Zaidi
The verse of purification
Mubahala · Two things
Khumm · Fatimah's house
First Fitna · Second Fitna
The Battle of Karbala
Persecution
Ahl al-Kisa
Muhammad · Ali · Fatimah
Hasan · Hussein
Some companions
Salman the Persian
Miqdad ibn Aswad
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari
Ammar ibn Yasir
Bilal ibn Rabah
v·d·e
Shia Islam (‫ شيعة‬Shī‘ah, sometimes Shi'a or Shi'ite), is the second-largest denomination
of Islam, comprising anywhere between 10 to 20% of the total Muslim population in the
world. Shia Muslims—though a minority in the Muslim world—constitute the majority of
the populations in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran, and Iraq, as well as a plurality in Lebanon
and Yemen.
Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq, where Ali the first Shī‘ah Imam is buried.
In addition to believing in the authority of the Qur'an and teachings of the Muhammad,
Shia believe that his family, the Ahl al-Bayt (the "People of the House"), including his
descendants known as Imams, have special spiritual and political rule over the
community and believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, was
the first of these Imams and was the rightful successor to Muhammad, and thus reject
the legitimacy of the first three Rashidun caliphs.
The Shi'a Islamic faith is vast and includes many different groups. There are various Shi'a
theological beliefs, schools of jurisprudence, philosophical beliefs, and spiritual
movements. The Shia identity emerged soon after the death of 'Umar Ibnil-Khattab (the
second caliph) and Shi'a theology was formulated in the second century and the first
Shi'a governments and societies were established by the end of the ninth century.
An estimate of approximately 10–13% of the world's Muslims are Shi'a, which
corresponds to about 130–190 million Shi'a Muslims worldwide. Shi'a Muslims also
constitute over 30% of the population in Lebanon, over 45% of the population in Yemen,
over 35% of the population in Kuwait, 20–25% of the population (primarily Alevi) in
Turkey, 20% (primarily Bektashi) of the population in Albania, 15% of the population in
Pakistan and 3% of population in Afghanistan. They also make up at least 25%-31% of
the Muslim populations in India, 15-20% in the United Arab Emirates, Syria and Saudi
Arabia, although the total number is difficult to estimate due to the intermingling
between the two groups and practice of taqiyya by Shiites.
Significant Shi'a communities exist on the coastal regions of West Sumatra and Aceh in
Indonesia (see Tabuik). The Shi'a presence is negligible elsewhere in Southeast Asia,
where Muslims are predominantly Shafi'i Sunnis.
A significant syncretic Shi'a minority is present in Nigeria, centered around the state of
Kano (see Shia in Nigeria). East Africa holds several populations of Ismaili Shia, primarily
descendants of immigrants from South Asia during the colonial period, such as the Khoja.
According to Shi'a Muslims community, one of the lingering problems in estimating Shi'a
population is that unless Shi'a form a significant minority in a Muslim country, the entire
population is often listed as Sunni. The reverse, however, has not held true, which may
contribute to imprecise estimates of the size of each sect. For example, the 1926 rise of
the House of Saud in Arabia brought official discrimination against Shi'a.
Shi'a Islam is divided into three branches. The largest and best known are the Twelver
(‫ اثنا عشرية‬iṯnāʿašariyya), named after their adherence to the Twelve Imams. They form
a majority of the population in Iran, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Iraq. Other smaller
branches include the Ismaili and Zaidi, who dispute the Twelver lineage of Imams and
beliefs.
The Twelver Shi'a faith is predominantly found in Iran (90%), Azerbaijan (85%), Bahrain
(75%), Iraq (65%), Lebanon (35%), Kuwait (35%), Albania (20%), Pakistan (15%),
Afghanistan (3%). and India (25%-31%) of its Muslim population.
The Zaidi dispute the succession of the fifth Twelver Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir,
because he did not stage a revolution against the corrupt government, unlike Zaid ibn
Ali. They do not believe in a normal lineage, but rather that any descendant of Hasan ibn
Ali or Husayn ibn Ali who stages a revolution against a corrupt government is an imam.
The Zaidi are mainly found in Yemen.
The Ismaili dispute the succession of the seventh Twelver Imam, Musa al-Kadhim,
believing his older brother Isma'il ibn Jafar actually succeeded their father Ja'far al-Sadiq,
and did not predecease him like Twelver Shi'a believe. Ismaili form small communities in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, India, Syria, United Kingdom, Canada,
Uganda, Portugal, Yemen, mainland China, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and have
several subbranches.
Twelver
[hide]
Part of a series on
Shī‘ah Islam
Twelvers
The Fourteen
Infallibles
Muhammad · Fatimah ·
and
The Twelve Imams:
Ali · Hasan · Husayn
al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · alSadiq
al-Kadhim · al-Rida · alTaqi
al-Naqi · al-Askari · alMahdi
Concepts
Fourteen Infallibles
Occultation (Minor ·
Major)
Akhbar · Usul · Ijtihad
Taqleed · 'Aql · Irfan
Mahdaviat
Principles
Monotheism
Judgement Day · Justice
Prophethood · Imamate
Practices
Prayer · Fasting ·
Pilgrimage
Charity · Taxes · Jihad
Command Justice ·
Forbid Evil
Love the family of
Muhammad
Dissociate from their
Enemies
Holy cities
Mecca · Medina
Najaf · Karbala ·
Mashhad
Samarra · Kadhimayn
Groups
Usuli · Akhbari · Shaykhi
Nimatullahi · Safaviya
Qizilbash · Alevism ·
Alawism
Bektashi · Tabarie
Scholarship
Marja · Hawza ·
Ayatollah · Allamah
Hojatoleslam · Mujtahid
List of marjas · List of
Ayatollahs
Hadith collections
Peak of Eloquence · The
Psalms of Islam · Book
of Fundamentals · The
Book in Scholar's Lieu ·
Civilization of Laws ·
The Certainty · Book of
Sulaym ibn Qays ·
Oceans of Light ·
Wasael ush-Shia ·
Reality of Certainty ·
Keys of Paradise
Related topics
Criticism
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Twelvers believe in twelve Imams. The twelfth Imam is believed to be in occultation, and
will appear again just before the Qiyamah (Islamic view of the Last Judgment). The
Shi`a hadiths include the sayings of the Imams. Many Muslims criticise the Shia for
certain beliefs and practices, including practices such as the Mourning of Muharram
(Mätam). They are the largest Shi'a school of thought (85%), predominant in Azerbaijan,
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain and have a significant population in Pakistan, Kuwait
and the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The Twelver Shi'a are followers of the Jaf'ari
madh'hab. Followers of the madh'hab are divided into the following sub-divisions,
although these are not considered different sects:
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
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Usulism – The Usuli form the overwhelming majority within the Twelver Shia
denomination. They follow a Marja-i Taqlid on the subject of taqlid and fiqh. They
are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Akhbarism – Akhbari, similar to Usulis, however reject ijtihad in favor of hadith.
Concentrated in Bahrain.
Shaykhism – Shaykhism is an Islamic religious movement founded by Shaykh
Ahmad in the early 19th century Qajar dynasty, Iran, now retaining a minority
following in Iran and Iraq. It began from a combination of Sufi and Shi‘a and Akhbari
doctrines. In the mid 19th-century many Shaykhis converted to the Bábí and Bahá'í
religions, which regard Shaykh Ahmad highly.
Ismailism
The Ismailis and Twelvers both accept the same initial Imams from the descendants of
Muhammad through his daughter Fatima Zahra and therefore share much of their early
history. However, a dispute arose on the succession of the Sixth Imam, Ja'far al-Sadiq.
The Ismailis are those who accepted Ja'far's eldest son Ismail as the next Imam,
whereas the Twelvers accepted a younger son, Musa al-Kazim. Today, Ismailis are
concentrated in Pakistan and other parts of South Asia. The Nizari Ismailis, however, are
also concentrated in Central Asia, Russia, China, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Papua New
Guinea, Syria, Australia, North America (including Canada), the United Kingdom,
Bangladesh and in Africa as well.








Nizari – The Nizāriyya are the largest branch (90%) of Ismaili, they are the only
Shia group to be have their absolute temporal leader in the rank of Imamate, which
is currently invested in Aga Khan IV. Their present living Imam is Mawlānā Shah
Karim Al-Husayni who is the 49th Imam. The Nizāriyya believe that the successorImām to the Fatimid caliph al-Mustansir was his elder son al-Nizār.
Mustaali – The Mustaali group of Ismaili Muslims differ from the Nizāriyya in that
they believe that the successor-Imām to the Fatimid caliph, al-Mustansir, was his
younger son al-Mustaʻlī, who was made Caliph by the Fatimad Regent Al-Afdal
Shahanshah. In contrast to the Nizaris, they accept the younger brother al-Mustaʻlī
over Nizar as their Imam. The Bohras are an offshoot of the Taiyabi, which itself was
an offshoot of the Mustaali. The Taiyabi, supporting another offshoot of the Mustaali,
the Hafizi branch, split with the Mustaali Fatimid, who recognized Al-Amir as their
last Imam. The split was due to the Taiyabi believing that At-Tayyib Abi l-Qasim was
the next rightful Imam after Al-Amir. The Hafizi themselves however considered AlHafiz as the next rightful Imam after Al-Amir. The Bohras believe that their 21st
Imam, Taiyab abi al-Qasim, went into seclusion and established the offices of the
Da'i al-Mutlaq (‫)الداعي المطلق‬, Ma'zoon (‫ )مأذون‬and Mukasir (‫)مكاسر‬. The Bohras
are the only surviving branch of the Mustaali and themselves have split into the
Dawoodi Bohra, Sulaimani Bohra, and Alavi Bohra.
Dawoodi Bohra – The Dawoodi Bohras are a denomination of the Bohras. After
offshooting from the Taiyabi the Bohras split into two, the Dawoodi Bohra and the
Sulaimani Bohra, over who would be the correct dai of the community. Concentrated
mainly in Pakistan and India.
Sulaimani Bohra – The Sulaimani Bohra named after their 27th Da'i al-Mutlaq,
Sulayman ibn Hassan, are a denomination of the Bohras. After offshooting from the
Taiyabi the Bohras split into two, the Sulaimani Bohra and the Dawoodi Bohra, over
who would be the correct dai of the community. Concentrated mainly in Yemen.
Alavi Bohra – Split from the Dawoodi Bohra over who would be the correct dai of
the community. The smallest branch of the Bohras.
Hebtiahs Bohra – The Hebtiahs Bohra are a branch of Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam
that broke off from the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra after the death of the 39th Da'i
al-Mutlaq in 1754.
Atba-i-Malak – The Abta-i Malak jamaat (community) are a branch of Mustaali
Ismaili Shi'a Islam that broke off from the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra after the
death of the 46th Da'i al-Mutlaq, under the leadership of Abdul Hussain Jivaji. They
have further split into two more branches, the Atba-i-Malak Badra and Atba-i-Malak
Vakil.
Druze – The Druze are a small distinct traditional religion that developed in the
11th century. It began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its
incorporation of Gnostic, neo-Platonic and other philosophies. Druze are considered
heretical and non-Muslims by most other Muslims because they are believed to
address prayers to the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the third Fatimid caliph
of Egypt, whom they regard as "a manifestation of God in His unity." The Druze
believe that he had been hidden away by God and will return as the Mahdi on
Judgement Day. Like Alawis, most Druze keep the tenets of their Faith secret, and
very few details are known. They neither accept converts nor recognize conversion
from their religion to another. They are located primarily in the Levant. Druze in
different states can have radically different lifestyles. Some claim to be Muslim, some
do not, though the Druze faith itself abides by Islamic principles.
Zaidiyyah
Zaidiyyahs historically come from the followers of Zayd ibn Ali, the great-Grandson of 'Ali
b. Abi Talib. They follow any knowledgeable and upright descendant of al-Hasan and alHusayn, and are less esoteric in focus than Twelverism or Ismailism.
Alawi
Alawites are also called Nusayris, Nusairis, Namiriya or Ansariyya. Slightly over one
million of them live in Syria and Lebanon.
Alevi
Alevis are sometimes categorized as part of Twelver Shi'a Islam, and sometimes as its
own religious tradition, as it has markedly different philosophy, customs, and rituals.
They have many Sufi characteristics and express belief in the Qur'an and the Shi'a
Imams, but reject polygamy and accept religious traditions predating Islam, like Turkish
shamanism. They are significant in East-Central Turkey. They are sometimes considered
a Sufi sect, and have an untraditional form of religious leadership that is not scholarship
oriented like other Sunni and Shia groups. They number around 25 million worldwide, of
which 22 million are in Turkey, with the rest in the Balkans, Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Iran and Syria.
Sufism
Sufism is a mystical-ascetic form of Islam. By focusing on the more spiritual aspects of
religion, Sufis strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of "intuitive and
emotional faculties" that one must be trained to use. Sufis usually considered Sufism to
be complementary to orthodox Islam, however it has often been accused of being an
unjustified Bid‘ah or religious innovation by the Salafi. One starts with sharia (Islamic
law), the exoteric or mundane practice of Islam and then is initiated into the mystical
(esoteric path of a Tariqah (Sufi Order). Some Sufi followers consider themselves as
Sunni or Shi'a, while others consider themselves as simply 'Sufi' or Sufi-influenced.
Qadiri
The Qadiri Order is one of the oldest Sufi Orders. It derives its name from Abdul-Qadir
Gilani (1077-1166), a native of the Iranian province of Gīlān. The order is one of the
most widespread of the Sufi orders in the Islamic world, and can be found in
Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkey and the Balkans and much of East and West Africa.
The Qadiriyyah have not developed any distinctive doctrines or teachings outside of
mainstream Islam. They believe in the fundamental principles of Islam, but interpreted
through mystical experience.
Bektashi
The Bektashi Order was founded in the 13th century by the Islamic saint Haji Bektash
Veli, and greatly influenced during its fomulative period by the Hurufi Ali al-'Ala in the
15th century and reorganized by Balim Sultan in the 16th century. Because of its
adherence to the Twelve Imams it is classified under Twelver Shi'a Islam. Bektashi are
concentrated in Turkey and Albania and their headquarters are in Albania.
Chishti
The Chishti Order (Persian: ‫ )چشتيہ‬was founded by (Khawaja) Abu Ishaq Shami ("the
Syrian") (d. 941) who brought Sufism to the town of Chisht, some 95 miles east of Herat
in present-day Afghanistan. Before returning to the Levant, Shami initiated, trained and
deputized the son of the local Emir, (Khwaja) Abu Ahmad Abdal (d. 966). Under the
leadership of Abu Ahmad’s descendants, the Chishtiyya as they are also known,
flourished as a regional mystical order.
Naqshbandi
The Naqshbandi order is one of the major Sufi orders of Islam. Formed in 1380, the
order is considered by some to be a "sober" order known for its silent dhikr
(remembrance of God) rather than the vocalized forms of dhikr common in other orders.
The word Naqshbandi ‫ نقشبندی‬is Persian, taken from the name of the founder of the
order, Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Some have said that the translation means
"related to the image-maker," some also consider it to mean "Pattern Maker" rather than
"image maker", and interpret "Naqshbandi" to mean "Reformer of Patterns", and others
consider it to mean "Way of the Chain" or "Golden Chain".
Oveyssi
The Oveyssi Order claim to be founded 1,400 years ago by Uwais al-Qarni from Yemen.
Uways received the teachings of Islam inwardly through his heart and lived by the
principles taught by him, although he had never physically met Muhammad. At times
Muhammad would say of him, "I feel the breath of the Merciful, coming to me from
Yemen." Shortly before Muhammad died, he directed Umar (second Caliph) and Ali (the
first Imam of the Shi'a) to take his cloak to Uwais. According to Ali Hujwiri, Farid ad-Din
Attar of Nishapur and Sheikh Muhammad Ghader Bagheri, the first recipient of
Muhammad's cloak was Oveys.
The Oveyssi order is still in existence today. The present Pir—Molana Salaheddin Ali
Nader Shah Angha—was officially appointed as the forty-second Sufi master in the
unbroken chain of transmission on September 4, 1970, when the cloak of Muhammad
was bestowed upon him by his father Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha.
Suhrawardiyya
The Suhrawardiyya order (Arabic: ‫ )سهروردية‬is a Sufi order founded by Abu al-Najib alSuhrawardi (1097–1168).
Other Sufis
Mouride is a large Islamic Sufi order most prominent in Senegal and The Gambia, with
headquarters in the holy city of Touba, Senegal. The Tijaniyyah order attach a large
importance to culture and education, and emphasize the individual adhesion of the
disciple (murīd). The Shadhili is a Sufi order founded by Abu-l-Hassan ash-Shadhili.
Followers (murids Arabic: seekers) of the Shadhiliya are often known as Shadhilis. The
Mevlevi Order is better known in the West as the "whirling dervishes".
Kharijite Islam
Kharijite (lit. "those who seceded") is a general term embracing a variety of Muslim sects
which, while originally supporting the Caliphate of Ali, eventually seceded after his son
Imam Hasan negotiated with Mu'awiya during the 7th Century Islamic civil war (First
Fitna). Their complaint was that the Imam must be spiritually pure, and that Hasan's
compromise with Mu'awiya was a compromise of his spiritual purity, and therefore of his
legitimacy as Imam or Caliph. While there are few remaining Kharijite or Kharijite-related
groups, the term is sometimes used to denote Muslims who refuse to compromise with
those with whom they disagree.
Ibadi
The only surviving Kharijite sect is the Ibadi. The sect developed out of the 7th century
Islamic sect of the Kharijites. Nonetheless, Ibadis see themselves as quite different from
the Kharijite. Believed to be one of the earliest schools, it is said to have been founded
less than 50 years after the death of Muhammad.
It is the dominant form of Islam in Oman, but small numbers of Ibadi followers may also
be found in countries in Northern and Eastern Africa. The early medieval Rustamid
dynasty in Algeria was Ibadi.
Ibadis usually consider non-Ibadi Muslims as unbelievers, though nowadays this attitude
has highly relaxed. They approve of the caliphates of Abū Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab,
whom they regard as the "Two Rightly Guided Caliphs". Specific beliefs include: walāyahfriendship and unity with the practicing true believers and the Ibadi Imams, barā'ahdissociation and hostility towards the unbelievers and sinners, and wuqūf- reservation
towards those whose status is unclear. While Ibadi Muslims maintain most of the beliefs
of the original Kharijites, they have rejected the more aggressive methods.
The Sufris (Arabic: ‫ )سفريين‬were a sect of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries, and a part
of the Kharijites. They believe Sura 12 (Yusuf) of the Qur'an is not an authentic Sura.
Other groups and movements
Ahl-e Haqq
From the Ahl-e Haqq point of view, the universe is composed of two distinct yet
interrelated worlds: the internal (batini) and the external (zahiri), each having its own
order and rules. Although humans are only aware of the outer world, their lives are
governed according to the rules of the inner world. Among other important pillars of their
belief system are that the Divine Essence has successive manifestations in human form
(mazhariyyat, derived from zahir) and the belief in transmigration of the soul (or
dunaduni in Kurdish). The Ahl-e Haqq do not observe Muslim rites and rituals.
Mahdavism
Mahdavia and Zikri
Mahdavi Islam (Arabic: ‫ )اسالم مهدوي‬is a sect within Islam, founded by Muhammad
Jaunpuri in India in the 15th century CE. Jaunpuri declared himself to be the Imam
Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer in Islam, and the denomination takes its name from the
term mahdi ("guided"). Mahdavis follow the doctrine of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat. The
Mahdavi regard Jaunpuri as the Imam Mahdi, the Caliph of Allah and the second most
important figure after the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Both the prophet and imam are
considered to be masum (‫معصوم‬, "infallible")
Zikri is claimed to be based around the teachings of Muhammad Jaunpuri. In religious
practice, the Zikris differ greatly from mainstream Muslims and the Mahdavis. A main
misconception that Zikris perform prayers called dhikr five times a day is a major one, in
which sacred verses are recited, as compared to the orthodox practice of salah. Most
Zikris live in Balochistan, but a large number also live in Karachi, the Sindh interior,
Oman and Iran.
Messiah Foundation International
Messiah Foundation International is a Pakistani Islamic sect.
Moorish Science
Moorish Science Temple of America
The Moorish Science Temple of America is an American organization founded in the early
20th century by Timothy Drew. He claimed it was a sect of Islam but he also drew
inspiration from Buddhism, Christianity, Freemasonry, Gnosticism and Taoism.
Its primary tenet was the belief that there was a Negroid-looking population of aboriginal
paleo-Americans which existed prior to the transatlantic slave trade that was
subsequently confused with African people. Although often criticised as lacking scientific
merit, adherents of the Moorish Science Temple of America believe that the Negroid
Asiatic was the first human inhabitant of the Western Hemisphere. In their religious
texts, adherents refer to themselves as "Asiatics", presumably referring to the nonMongoloid Paleoamericans (see Luzia Woman). These adherents also call themselves
"indigenous Moors", "American Moors" or "Moorish Americans" in contradistinction to
"African Moors" or "African Americans".
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam was founded by Wallace Fard Muhammad in Detroit in 1930, with a
declared aim of "resurrecting" the spiritual, mental, social and economic condition of the
black man and woman of America and the world. It is viewed by almost all Muslims as a
heretical cult. The group believes Fard Muhammad was God on earth, a belief viewed as
shirk by mainstream Muslims. It does not see Muhammad as the final prophet, but Elijah
Muhammad as the "Messenger of Truth" and only allows people of black ethnicity and
believes they are the original race on earth.
In 1975, the teachings were abandoned and the group was renamed the American
Society of Muslims by Warith Deen Mohammed, the son of Elijah Muhammad. He
brought the group into mainstream Sunni Islam, establishing mosques instead of temples
and promoting the Five pillars of Islam. Thousands (estimated 2 million) of African
Americans joined Imam Muhammad in mainstream Islam. Some members were
dissatisfied, including Louis Farrakhan, who revived the group again in 1978 with the
same teachings of the previous leaders. It currently has from 30,000 to 70,000 members.
Submitters
United Submitters International
The United Submitters International (USI) is a religious group, founded by Dr. Rashad
Khalifa. Submitters considers themselves to be adhering to "true Islam", but prefer not to
use the terms "Muslim" or "Islam", instead using the English equivalents: "Submitter" or
"Submission". Submitters consider Khalifa to be a Messenger of God. Specific beliefs of
the USI include: the dedication of all worship practices to God alone, upholding the
Qur'an alone with the exception of two rejected Qur'an verses, and rejecting the Islamic
traditions of hadith and sunnah attributed to Muhammad. The main group attends
"Masjid Tucson" in Arizona, US.
Zikri
Zikris are minority Islamic religious sect in Pakistan. Zikri sect has similarities with
Mahdavi sect.
Related concepts
Islamism
Islamism is a term that refers to a set of political ideologies derived from various
fundamentalist views, which hold that Islam is not only a religion, but a political system
governing the legal, economic and social imperatives of the state. Many Islamists do not
refer to themselves as such and it is not a single particular movement. Religious views
and ideologies of its adherents vary, and they may be Sunni Islamists or Shia Islamists
depending upon their beliefs. Islamist groups include groups such as Al-Qaeda, the
organizer of the September 11, 2001 attacks and perhaps the most prominent; and the
Muslim Brotherhood, perhaps the oldest, which also forms the largest opposition
grouping in Egypt. Although violence is often employed by some organizations, not all
Islamist movements are violent.
Liberals
Liberal movements within Islam and Ijtihad
Liberal and progressive movements have in common a religious outlook which depends
mainly on Ijtihad or re-interpretations of scriptures. Liberal Muslims believe in greater
autonomy of the individual in interpretation of scripture, a critical examination of
religious texts, gender equality, human rights, LGBT rights and a modern view of culture,
tradition, and other ritualistic practices in Islam.
Quran alone
Qur'an-Aloners, or Qur'anists, refers to those who follow the Quran alone without
additional details or hadiths. There are multiple "Qur'an-Alone" groups and movements.
Related faiths
Bábism
In 1844 a young man from Shiraz, Iran proclaimed to be the Mahdi and took on the title
of "The Báb". The religion he began officially broke away from Islam, and gained a
significant following in Iran. His followers were called heretics by the state, and in 1850
the Báb was publicly executed. Most Babis accepted the claims of Bahá'u'lláh, henceforth
considering themselves Bahá'ís.
Bahá'í Faith
Following the death of the Báb almost all Bábís turned to Bahá'u'lláh, as the fulfillment of
the Báb's prophecy of man yazhiruhu'lláh, "He Whom God shall make manifest."
Baha'u'llah was a respected leader of the Bábís community. The Bábís eventually called
themselves Bahá'ís. Bahá'ís believe that the Bábí and Islamic prophecies of the end times
and the return of the Mahdi and Jesus were fulfilled. As does the Shaykhi school of
Islamic interpretation, to which this group is historically connected, Bahá'ís interpret
Islamic (and other) eschatology symbolically and metaphorically. Bahá'ís believe
Bahá'u'lláh to be a Manifestation of God, a messenger on par with Muhammad. Due to its
background and history, it is sometimes categorized as a sect of Islam, which is denied
by its adherents and the Muslim mainstream. Bahá'ís have been persecuted as apostates
in some Islamic countries, especially Iran.
Druze
The Druze conception of the deity is declared by them to be one of strict and
uncompromising unity. The main Druze doctrine states that God is both transcendent
and immanent, in which He is above all attributes but at the same time He is
omnipresent.
Sikhism
Sikhism has had strong influence from both Islam and Hinduism but more from the
latter.
Guru Nanak visited Hijaz to learn Holy Scriptures of Islam - Qur'an and Hadees. He was
disillusioned with what he saw as discrimination in Islam and Hinduism and the essence
of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher
than all else. Higher still is truthful living". Sikhism believes in equality of all humans and
rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and sex. Sikhism also does not attach
any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of
leading life as a householder.
Five Percenters
The Nation of Gods and Earths
An offshoot of the Nation of Islam, this group was formed in Harlem, New York City in
the 1960s by Clarence 13X, who proclaimed himself to be Allah (God). The group
believes God is black and focuses on bringing justice to African-American youth. They
have little relation to mainstream Islam, except that they use the expression Allahu
Akbar.
Meivazhi
Meivazhi is a South Indian religious faith which is related with Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism as well as Judaism.
Nuwaubu
Nuwaubianism
At various times known as the Ansaaru Allah Community, Nubian Islamic Hebrews, and
Nuwaubians, this group no longer claims to be Muslim. Its founder and leader, Malachi Z.
York, was known as As Sayyid Al Imaam Issa Al Haadi Al Mahdi and other similar names
when he was claiming to be a Muslim and the successor to Elijah Muhammad. The
Nuwaubian teachings are now based on ancient Sumerian and Egyptian texts with
extraterrestrial revelations from the alien spirit said to be inhabiting York.
Subud
Subud is a faith which is originated in Indonesia and related to Islam.
Geographical distribution
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Schools of law
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Schools of law
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Muslim states
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Muslim officiality
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Percentage of muslims
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Percentage of muslims