THE SUNNI-SHIAH SPLIT IN

ISLAM

THE SUNNI-SHIAH SPLIT IN

ISLAM

BEGINS WITH PASSING OF

MUHAMMAD IN 632 CE

BEGINS WITH PASSING OF

MUHAMMAD IN 632 CE

ACCORDING to a Shi'ite tradition, while Muhammad was enroute back from Mecca to Medina after His 'farewell

pilgrimage', He stopped at a watering place and called 'Ali to Him. 'Then it was that he took Ali's hands and raised them' saying, ''Whoever has me as his master has Ali as his master. Be a friend to his friends, O Lord, and be an enemy to his enemies. Help those who assist him and

frustrate those who oppose him.''

ACCORDING to a Shi'ite tradition, while Muhammad was enroute back from Mecca to Medina after His 'farewell

pilgrimage', He stopped at a watering place and called 'Ali to Him. 'Then it was that he took Ali's hands and raised them' saying, ''Whoever has me as his master has Ali as his master. Be a friend to his friends, O Lord, and be an enemy to his enemies. Help those who assist him and

frustrate those who oppose him.''

The Shi'ite Religion by Dwight M. Donaldson, London: Luzac & Company, 1933, p. 5.

ACCORDING to some traditional accounts Muhammad called for

writing materials and ink to record His will and testament. In one account 'Umar—who was to become Islam's third Caliph—

refused Muhammad's request. See The Life of Mahomet by Emile Dermenghem, translated by

Arabella Yorke, New York: The Dial Press, MCMXXX

ACCORDING to some traditional accounts Muhammad called for

writing materials and ink to record His will and testament. In one account 'Umar—who was to become Islam's third Caliph—

refused Muhammad's request. See The Life of Mahomet by Emile Dermenghem, translated by

Arabella Yorke, New York: The Dial Press, MCMXXX

Muhammad bequeaths to Muslims His family and the

Qur’an

"Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family.“

–Kitab-i-Iqan, 201

Muhammad bequeaths to Muslims His family and the

Qur’an

"Verily, I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and My Family.“

–Kitab-i-Iqan, 201

SHORTLY before His death Muhammad found that He was too ill to lead the now traditional Friday congregational prayer in the mosque. A

widely respected tradition states that Muhammad deputized Abu-Bakr to lead the

prayers on His behalf. If true, this did much to strengthen Abu-Bakr's claim to be

Muhammad's successor. Another incident … has Abu-Bakr making the public announcement

of Muhammad's death, saying: 'Whoever worshipped the person of

Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad hath died; and whoever worshipped God, let him know that

God doth not die.'

SHORTLY before His death Muhammad found that He was too ill to lead the now traditional Friday congregational prayer in the mosque. A

widely respected tradition states that Muhammad deputized Abu-Bakr to lead the

prayers on His behalf. If true, this did much to strengthen Abu-Bakr's claim to be

Muhammad's successor. Another incident … has Abu-Bakr making the public announcement

of Muhammad's death, saying: 'Whoever worshipped the person of

Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad hath died; and whoever worshipped God, let him know that

God doth not die.'Muhammad and The Course of Islam, p. 165.

Mourning for the

Passing of Muhammad

Mourning for the

Passing of Muhammad

The word 'Caliph' is the English form of the Arabic

word 'Khalifa,' which is short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah. The

latter expression means Successor to the Messenger

of God

The word 'Caliph' is the English form of the Arabic

word 'Khalifa,' which is short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah. The

latter expression means Successor to the Messenger

of God

ABU BAKRABU BAKR

‘UMAR‘UMAR

11

CALIPHS (SUCCESSORS)CALIPHS (SUCCESSORS)

632-634 CE632-634 CE

634-644 CE634-644 CE22

‘UTHMAN‘UTHMAN 644-656 CE644-656 CE33

‘ALI‘ALI44 656-661 CE656-661 CE

FIRST FOUR CALLED

‘RIGHTLY GUIDED’ CALIPHS

FIRST FOUR CALLED

‘RIGHTLY GUIDED’ CALIPHS

THESE FOUR WERE ELECTED — AS ARE ALL THE CALIPHS

OF SUNNI ISLAM

THESE FOUR WERE ELECTED — AS ARE ALL THE CALIPHS

OF SUNNI ISLAM

Sunnites regard the first Caliphs as legitimate

successors of Muhammad and accept the 'six authentic' books of

tradition. They believe the Caliph must be elected

and must be a member of the Quraysh—the Prophet's tribe.

Sunnites regard the first Caliphs as legitimate

successors of Muhammad and accept the 'six authentic' books of

tradition. They believe the Caliph must be elected

and must be a member of the Quraysh—the Prophet's tribe.

Shi’ites – on the other hand – believe that the

successor must be a descendant of Muhammad

through Fatima and ‘Ali and be designated an

Imam by the Imam that immediately preceeded

him

Shi’ites – on the other hand – believe that the

successor must be a descendant of Muhammad

through Fatima and ‘Ali and be designated an

Imam by the Imam that immediately preceeded

him

The infallibility assigned to the 12

Shite Imams closely parallels that

proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1870

The infallibility assigned to the 12

Shite Imams closely parallels that

proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1870

Shi’ites —‘partisans of ‘Ali —maintain that ‘Ali

should have been appointed Caliph after Muhammad. They do

not recognize any of the Caliphs except for ‘Ali,

the 4th Caliph.

Shi’ites —‘partisans of ‘Ali —maintain that ‘Ali

should have been appointed Caliph after Muhammad. They do

not recognize any of the Caliphs except for ‘Ali,

the 4th Caliph.

Thirteen hundred years had to elapse from the death of the Prophet Muhammad ere the

illegitimacy of the institution of the Caliphate, the founders of

which had usurped the authority of the lawful successors of the

Apostle of God, would be fully and publicly demonstrated.

-Shoghi Effendi, World Order of Baha’u’llah, 178

Shi’ites followed a series of Imams who

appointed successors. There were 12 of these

altogether.

Shi’ites followed a series of Imams who

appointed successors. There were 12 of these

altogether.

Shi’ahs & Bahá’ís Believe in the 12 ImamsShi’ahs & Bahá’ís Believe in the 12 Imams

12 Imams

To the five pillars Shi’ahs add the belief in the 12 Imams.

12 Imams

To the five pillars Shi’ahs add the belief in the 12 Imams.

‘Ali‘Ali11

HUSAYNHUSAYN33

22 HASSANHASSAN

‘Ali‘Ali44

ABU-BAKRABU-BAKR55

66 JA’FAR-I-SADIQJA’FAR-I-SADIQ

77 MUSA KAZIMMUSA KAZIM

88 IMAM RIDAIMAM RIDA

99 MUHAMMAD TAQIMUHAMMAD TAQI

1010

‘ALI-NAQI‘ALI-NAQI

1111

HASAN-I-ASKARI HASAN-I-ASKARI

1212

MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD

‘Ali‘Ali

MUHAMMADMUHAMMAD KHADIJIH KHADIJIH

FATIMIHFATIMIH

HASSANHASSAN HUSAYNHUSAYN

11

22 33

‘Ali‘Ali

ABU BAKRABU BAKR

JA’FAR-I-SADIQJA’FAR-I-SADIQ

44

55

66

656 CE656 CE

THE TWELVE IMAMS OF SHIAH ISLAMTHE TWELVE IMAMS OF SHIAH ISLAM

874 CE874 CE

THE first 11 Imams

were murdered. The 12th

Imam disappear-ed in AH 260 / 874

CE.

THE first 11 Imams

were murdered. The 12th

Imam disappear-ed in AH 260 / 874

CE.

228228

DIED 661 CEDIED

661 CE

MUSA KAZIM

IMAM RIDA

MUHAMMAD-TAQI

ALI-NAQI

HASAN-I-ASKARIHASAN-I-ASKARI

77

88

99

1010

1111

MUHAMMADMUHAMMAD 1212

SHIAH ‘TWELVERS’ – THE MAJORITY OF SHIAHS – BELIEVE THE 12TH IMAM LIVES & WILL REAPPEAR

SHIAH ‘TWELVERS’ – THE MAJORITY OF SHIAHS – BELIEVE THE 12TH IMAM LIVES & WILL REAPPEAR

THE TWELVE IMAMS OF SHIAH ISLAMTHE TWELVE IMAMS OF SHIAH ISLAM

656 CE656 CE

874 CE874 CE

874 CE874 CE

AH 260AH 260

228228

Yazid I – the second Umayyad Caliph -- attacked Husayn at Karbila, Iraq at midday

on Friday, the tenth of Muharram. The tragic circumstances of Husayn's martyrdom have

become the most passionately commemorated event in all of Shi'ah Islam.

Yazid I – the second Umayyad Caliph -- attacked Husayn at Karbila, Iraq at midday

on Friday, the tenth of Muharram. The tragic circumstances of Husayn's martyrdom have

become the most passionately commemorated event in all of Shi'ah Islam.

THE MARTYRDOM OF HUSAYNTHE MARTYRDOM OF HUSAYN

The line of Imams lasted only 228 years, (656 AD-874 AD. The 12th

Imam, Abu'l-Qasim Muhammad ibn Hasan, disappeared in AH 260/874

AD. Shi'ah Muslims believe he didn't die but went into 'Occultation', a

mystical state in which he continued to guide the faithful until

his promised 'return'. Another description of this state is that of

the 'Hidden Imam.'

The line of Imams lasted only 228 years, (656 AD-874 AD. The 12th

Imam, Abu'l-Qasim Muhammad ibn Hasan, disappeared in AH 260/874

AD. Shi'ah Muslims believe he didn't die but went into 'Occultation', a

mystical state in which he continued to guide the faithful until

his promised 'return'. Another description of this state is that of

the 'Hidden Imam.'

THESE Imams, or descendants of the

Prophet, came in time to be regarded by Shiah Islam as saints and

martyrs. Although Shiah Islam began among the

Arabs, it reached its greatest influence in

Persia.

THESE Imams, or descendants of the

Prophet, came in time to be regarded by Shiah Islam as saints and

martyrs. Although Shiah Islam began among the

Arabs, it reached its greatest influence in

Persia.

TODAY the Islamic Republic of Iran is the

only government in which Shiah Islam is the

state religion.

TODAY the Islamic Republic of Iran is the

only government in which Shiah Islam is the

state religion.

The first two Sunni dynasties, the

Umayyads and the Abbasids, saw the

Imams as a challenge to their own legitimacy.

The first two Sunni dynasties, the

Umayyads and the Abbasids, saw the

Imams as a challenge to their own legitimacy.

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

661-744

UMAYYAD CALIPHATE

661-744

CALIPHATE MOVED FROM DAMASCUS TO SPAIN IN 724

CALIPHATE MOVED FROM DAMASCUS TO SPAIN IN 724

DAMASCUSDAMASCUS

SPAINSPAIN

MIUAWIYA 661-680

YAZID I* 680-683

MUAWIYA II 683-684

MARWAN I 684-685

ABD AL-MALIK 685-705

AL-WALID I 705-715

SULAIMAN 715-717

UMAR II 717-720

YAZID II 720-724

HISHAM 724-743

AL-WALID II 743-744

YAZID III 744

MARWAN II 744-750

MIUAWIYA 661-680

YAZID I* 680-683

MUAWIYA II 683-684

MARWAN I 684-685

ABD AL-MALIK 685-705

AL-WALID I 705-715

SULAIMAN 715-717

UMAR II 717-720

YAZID II 720-724

HISHAM 724-743

AL-WALID II 743-744

YAZID III 744

MARWAN II 744-750

UMAYYAD CALIPHSUMAYYAD CALIPHS

* HAD THE IMAM HUSAYN KILLED* HAD THE IMAM

HUSAYN KILLED

661 - 750661 - 750

DOME OF THE ROCK

COMPLETED BY CALIPH

ABD AL-MALIK 685-705

IN 691 CE

UMAYYAD PALACES

EARLIEST MUSLIM SITES IN THE HOLY

LAND

ABBASID PERIOD

WOODEN DOORS

ABBASID PERIOD

WOODEN DOORS

BAGHDADBAGHDAD

AS-SAFFAH 749-756

AL-MANSUR 754-775

AL-MAHDI 775-785

AL-MADI 785-786

HARUN AR-RASHID

786-809

AL-AMIN 809-813

AL-MAMUN 813-833

AL-MUTASIM833-842

AL-WATHUQ 842-847

AL-MUTTAWWAKKIL

847-861

AS-SAFFAH 749-756

AL-MANSUR 754-775

AL-MAHDI 775-785

AL-MADI 785-786

HARUN AR-RASHID

786-809

AL-AMIN 809-813

AL-MAMUN 813-833

AL-MUTASIM833-842

AL-WATHUQ 842-847

AL-MUTTAWWAKKIL

847-861

ABBASID CALIPHSABBASID CALIPHS749 - 1258749 - 1258

MONGOLS SACKED BAGHDAD IN 1258

AND THE ABBASIDS ESCAPED TO EGYPT

MONGOLS SACKED BAGHDAD IN 1258

AND THE ABBASIDS ESCAPED TO EGYPT

The Abbasids in Cairo (1261-1517) under the

Mameluke Sultans

The Abbasids in Cairo (1261-1517) under the

Mameluke Sultans

TWO RIVAL CALIPHATESTWO RIVAL

CALIPHATES

FATIMID (Shiites) 909-1172 Overthrown

by Saladin

FATIMID (Shiites) 909-1172 Overthrown

by Saladin

UMAYYAD SPAIN 929-1301

UMAYYAD SPAIN 929-1301

OTTOMAN TURKS

1300-1922

OTTOMAN TURKS

1300-1922

CALIPHATE FORMALLY ABOLISHED BY THE TURKISH NATIONAL

ASSEMBLY IN MARCH, 1924

CALIPHATE FORMALLY ABOLISHED BY THE TURKISH NATIONAL

ASSEMBLY IN MARCH, 1924

I- THE MAHDI “the divinely Guided One” – a savior to the Sunni – He is to be a descendant of Muhammad and will establish peace and justice in the world.

II- HADHRAT ISA “Jesus Christ” is also to appear shortly after the Mahdi

I- THE MAHDI “the divinely Guided One” – a savior to the Sunni – He is to be a descendant of Muhammad and will establish peace and justice in the world.

II- HADHRAT ISA “Jesus Christ” is also to appear shortly after the Mahdi

THE SUNNI EXPECT TWO FIGURESTHE SUNNI EXPECT TWO FIGURES

These two Figures are to appear before the promised “Day of Judgement”

(Not all Sunnis believe in the Mahdi.)

These two Figures are to appear before the promised “Day of Judgement”

(Not all Sunnis believe in the Mahdi.)

I- THE TWELFTH IMAM

He is also called the Qa'im (caw-'em). He is the ‘Hidden Imam’ who went into Occultation in AH 260.

II- THE THIRD IMAM

I- THE TWELFTH IMAM

He is also called the Qa'im (caw-'em). He is the ‘Hidden Imam’ who went into Occultation in AH 260.

II- THE THIRD IMAM

THE SHI’AH EXPECT TWO FIGURESTHE SHI’AH EXPECT TWO FIGURES

Third Imam (eh-mom), the Imam Husayn (ho-sane).

An international Muslim congress held in Cairo in 1926 to choose an

acceptable successor to the caliphate proved abortive, resulting only in an appeal to the Muslims of

the world to work together to reestablish a caliphate. Ever since

World War II, however, the preoccupation of Muslim nations

has been with national independence and economic

problems. Recently the restoration of the caliphate is again under

discussion.

An international Muslim congress held in Cairo in 1926 to choose an

acceptable successor to the caliphate proved abortive, resulting only in an appeal to the Muslims of

the world to work together to reestablish a caliphate. Ever since

World War II, however, the preoccupation of Muslim nations

has been with national independence and economic

problems. Recently the restoration of the caliphate is again under

discussion.

This program was researched, designed and produced by

Dr. Duane K. Troxel of

www.digital-transformations.com

www.DuanesWorldTravel.com

THE ENDS THE SHI’AH – SUNNI SPLIT PROGRAM

THE ENDS THE SHI’AH – SUNNI SPLIT PROGRAM

This program was created by Dr. Duane K. TroxelThis program was created by Dr. Duane K. Troxel