Islam’s Division into Sunni and Shia Branches
Islam, with over 1.5 billion followers worldwide, is not a unified religion and has different branches with varying interpretations of the Quran and Islamic history. The two main denominations are Sunnism and Shiism, with Sunnis making up 85-90% of Muslims.
Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Emergence of Sunni and Shia Islam
Ali, a cousin of Prophet Muhammad, played a significant role in the emergence of Sunni and Shia Islam. He was raised by Muhammad, one of the first to accept Islam, and became a trusted companion of the Prophet. After Muhammad’s migration to Medina, Ali joined him and married his daughter Fatimah Zahra. Known for his wisdom, fairness, and military bravery, Ali earned the nickname “Lion of God.”
The Succession Dispute and the Split in Islam
The succession dispute between Sunni and Shia theologies is linked to the “Pen and Paper episode,” a hadith accepted by both groups but interpreted differently. Shia claim Muhammad wanted to designate Ali as his successor, while Sunnis believe he left the decision to the Islamic community. Following Muhammad’s death, a meeting was held to decide on a new leader, but Ali was absent, and Abu Bakr and Umar took charge, leading to the succession dispute that has persisted to this day.
The Events Surrounding the Succession Dispute
Umar, a close companion of Muhammad and father-in-law, played a crucial role in choosing Abu Bakr as the first Caliph after Muhammad’s death. Although Ali, another strong contender, initially refused to accept the decision, Umar persuaded or forced him to recognize Abu Bakr’s Caliphate. The events surrounding this are disputed, with Sunni sources claiming a peaceful persuasion and Shia sources alleging force and violence.
The First Muslim Civil War and the Emergence of the Khariji Movement
Ali eventually accepted Abu Bakr and Umar as caliphs, and even gave his daughter to Umar in marriage. After Umar’s death, Ali was considered for the position but lost to Uthman, whom he also recognized as caliph, despite growing discontent and opposition. Ali refused to support the rebels who sought to overthrow Uthman, and instead sent his sons to protect him, but Uthman was eventually assassinated. Ali then became the fourth Rashidun Caliph, but his election was met with opposition from Aisha and the Banu Umayyah clan, who demanded he punish Uthman’s killers.
The Battle of Karbala and the Martyrdom of Husain
Husain, grandson of the Prophet, was called to Kufa to lead a revolt against Yazid, but upon arrival, he discovered that the revolt had been defeated and his cousin Muslim ibn Aqil had been killed. Despite this, Husain continued towards Kufa with his small group of men and family, but was confronted by Yazid’s forces, who blocked their access to the Euphrates river. After a week of negotiations, during which Husain refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, the Umayyad army attacked, and Husain and his companions were massacred on October 10, 680.
The Schism in the Islamic World and the Emergence of Shia Islam
The killing of Husain, his family, and companions at the Battle of Karbala was a pivotal event that completed the schism in the Islamic world, dividing it into Sunni and Shia branches. The tragedy led to the Shia movement, which venerates the Prophet’s direct descendants, the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt), as righteous successors and offers alternative interpretations of Quran and Hadiths. In contrast, Sunni Islam, the majority branch, respects the Ahl al-Bayt but rejects the idea of Islamic rule by them.
The Legacy of the Shia Movement
The martyrdom of Ali and Husain became powerful symbols of Shia Islam, with the first month of the Muslim calendar, Muharram, dedicated to mourning and commemoration, particularly on the 10th day, Ashura, the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. The Shia defeat in the Battle of Karbala did not deter supporters of the Ahl al-Bayt from opposing the existing Islamic state of affairs. Instead, they continued to challenge the Caliphate, leading to the emergence of powerful Shia states and dynasties, such as the Fatimids, Buyids, Nizaris, and Safavids, throughout the Islamic world.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnism | A branch of Islam that makes up 85-90% of Muslims, accepting the first three caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman) as the rightful successors of the Prophet Muhammad. | Sunnis believe that the decision of who would succeed the Prophet was left to the Islamic community, and that Abu Bakr was chosen as the first caliph. |
| Shiism | A branch of Islam that venerates the Prophet’s direct descendants, the People of the House (Ahl al-Bayt), as righteous successors and offers alternative interpretations of Quran and Hadiths. | Shias believe that the Prophet designated Ali as his successor, and that his family should have ruled the Islamic world. |
| Ahl al-Bayt | The direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, including his wife Fatimah Zahra and their children, who are revered by Shia Muslims as righteous successors. | The Shia movement emphasizes the importance of the Ahl al-Bayt in Islamic history and offers alternative interpretations of Quran and Hadiths. |
| Rashidun Caliph | A title given to the first four caliphs of Islam, who are considered to be the righteous and just successors of the Prophet Muhammad. | The Rashidun Caliphate is considered the golden age of Islam, during which the Islamic community experienced rapid growth and expansion. |
| Khariji Movement | A radical Islamic movement that emerged in the 7th century, seeking to purge Islam of what they considered to be corruption and heresy. | The Khariji movement was characterized by its extreme views and violent tactics, leading to its rejection by both Sunni and Shia Muslims. |
| Pen and Paper Episode | A hadith accepted by both Sunni and Shia Muslims, but interpreted differently, which is linked to the succession dispute between Sunni and Shia theologies. | The Pen and Paper episode is a key hadith that is used to support the claims of both Sunni and Shia Muslims regarding the succession of the Prophet Muhammad. |
| Caliphate | The system of government established in the Islamic world after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, in which the caliph (leader) is considered the successor of the Prophet. | The Caliphate is considered a key institution in Islamic history, and its development and evolution have had a significant impact on the Islamic world. |
| Muharram | The first month of the Muslim calendar, dedicated to mourning and commemoration, particularly on the 10th day, Ashura, the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. | Muharram is a significant month in the Shia calendar, during which Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Husain and his companions at the Battle of Karbala. |
| Ashura | The 10th day of the month of Muharram, which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of Husain and his companions. | Ashura is a significant day in the Shia calendar, during which Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Husain and his companions and commemorate their sacrifice. |
Islam’s Division into Sunni and Shia Branches
- What is the approximate number of followers of Islam worldwide?
- What is the nickname of Ali ibn Abi Talib?
- What is the name of the event where Husain and his companions were massacred?
- What is the name of the month dedicated to mourning and commemoration in Shia Islam?
- What is the name of the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala?
Answers:
1. b) 1.5 billion
2. a) Lion of God
3. a) Battle of Karbala
4. b) Muharram
5. a) Ashura
The Use of the Past Perfect Simple and Past Perfect Continuous in Narrating Historical Events
| Explanation |
|---|
| When narrating historical events, it is essential to use the correct verb tenses to convey the sequence of events accurately. The past perfect simple and past perfect continuous tenses are commonly used to describe completed actions before a specific point in the past. The past perfect simple is used to describe a completed action before another action in the past, whereas the past perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of the action leading up to a specific point in the past. For example, in the sentence “Ali had been raised by Muhammad before he joined him in Medina,” the past perfect continuous “had been raised” indicates that Ali’s upbringing by Muhammad started before he joined him in Medina. In contrast, the sentence “Ali had accepted Abu Bakr as the first Caliph before Umar took charge” uses the past perfect simple “had accepted” to show that Ali’s acceptance of Abu Bakr occurred before Umar took charge. |
Quiz
| Choose the correct verb tense to complete the sentences. |
|---|
| 1. By the time Muhammad died, Ali ____________________ (raise) by him for many years. a) had been raised b) was raised c) has been raised d) is raised |
| 2. Before Umar took charge, Ali ____________________ (accept) Abu Bakr as the first Caliph. a) had accepted b) was accepting c) has accepted d) accepts |
| 3. By the time Husain arrived in Kufa, the revolt ____________________ (defeat) by the Umayyad forces. a) had been defeated b) was defeated c) has been defeated d) is defeated |
| 4. The Shia movement ____________________ (venerate) the Prophet’s direct descendants for centuries. a) had venerated b) was venerating c) has venerated d) venerates |
| 5. By the time the Battle of Karbala took place, the schism in the Islamic world ____________________ (complete) for decades. a) had been completed b) was completed c) has been completed d) is completed |
Answer Key
| Answer Key |
|---|
| 1. a) had been raised 2. a) had accepted 3. a) had been defeated 4. c) has venerated 5. a) had been completed |
