Sunni and Shi’a
Lesson Objective
To understand the theological and
practiial differences between
Sunni and Shi’a Muslims
To understand the differences
between the Shi’a groups of
Twelvers and Seveners
Exam Board
• Candidates should be able to
demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of:
– the split between Sunni and Shi’a Islam;
– the different Shi’a groups of Seveners
and Twelvers;
• Candidates should be able to discuss
these areas critically.
The origins and features of
Sunni and Shi’a Islam
• The central issue is whether there
should be a family line of rulers or
whether Muhammed intended
elections to take place to ensure that
the most suitable and devout person
led the Ummah.
Theological Differences and Attempts
at promoting Unity
• The line of Mohammed (pbuh) through Ali and
Hussein became extinct in 873CE when the last
Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who had no
brothers disappeared within days of inheriting the
title at the age of four.
• The Shias refused, however, to accept that he had
died, preferring to believe that he was merely
"hidden" and would return.
• When after several centuries this failed to happen,
spiritual power passed to the ulema, a council of
twelve scholars who elected a supreme Imam.
Structure
• The best known modern example of the Shia
supreme Imam is the late Ayyatollah Khomeni,
whose portrait hangs in many Shia homes.
• The Shia Imam has come to be viewed with Popelike infallibility and the Shia religious hierarchy is
not dissimilar in structure and religious power to
that of the Catholic Church within Christianity.
• Sunni Islam, in contrast, more closely resembles
the myriad independent churches of American
Protestantism. Sunnis do not have a formal clergy,
just scholars and jurists, who may offer non-binding
opinions.
Shia Imams
• Shias believe that their supreme Imam is a fully spiritual
guide, inheriting some of Muhammad's inspiration
("light") .
• Their imams are believed to be inerrant interpreters of
law and tradition. Shia theology is distinguished by its
glorification of Ali.
• In Shia Islam there is a strong theme of martyrdom and
suffering, focusing on deaths of Ali and, particularly,
Hussein plus other important figures in the Shia
succession.
• Shi`ism attracted other dissenting groups, especially
representatives of older non-Arab (Mawali) civilizations
(Persian, Indian, etc.) that felt they had not been treated
fairly by the Arab Muslims.
Practical Differences
• On a practical daily level, Shias have a different call
to prayer, they perform wudu and salat differently
including placing the forehead onto a piece of
hardened clay from Karbala, not directly onto the
prayer mat when prostrating. As they believe it is
important to prostrate on the earth as M* did.
–
–
Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri: I saw Allah's Apostle prostrating in mud and water
and saw the mark of mud on his forehead. [Al-Bukhari, Sahih (English translation),
vol. 1, book 12, no. 798; vol. 3, book 33, no. 244]
Narrated Anas bin Malik: We used to pray with the Prophet in scorching heat, and if
someone of us could not put his face on the earth (because of the heat) then he
would spread his clothes and prostrate over them. [Al-Bukhari, Sahih (English
translation), vol. 2, book 22, no. 299]
• Shi’ites also have a different shahadah, they add
‘wa ‘Ali wali Allah’, and ‘Ali is God’s friend’.
Practical Differences Prayers
• They also tend to combine prayers, sometimes
worshipping three times per day instead of five.
They combine Duhr and Asr prayers and Maghrib
and Isha prayers.
• “Establish prayer (regularly) from the
declension of the sun till the darkness of the
night, and the recital at the morn; verily the
recital at the morn is witnessed” (Alisra’, 78)
• Narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Holy Prophet (S)
prayed Duhr and Asr in Madeenah not in time of
fear or travel. He was asked: why did you do that?
he replied “I did not want to burden my
followers.” (Sahih Muslim, Jam’ Bain Alsalatain)
Practical Differences
• The fast of sawm is longer for Shi’ites
because they wait until the sun has
completely set before they close the fast.
They also spend three days mourning the
death of Ali because he was martyred on
the 20th of Ramadan.
• In Sunni countries zakat is paid to the state
but Shi’ah Muslims pay it to their religious
leaders.
The Qur’an
• Shia Muslims believe that there is a secret
knowledge hidden within the Qur’an which
was told to ‘Ali by Muhammed (pbuh) and
that this has been passed down through the
Imams.
• The Shi’ites also have some different
ahadith and prefer those narrated by Ali and
Fatima to those related by other
companions of the Prophet (pbuh). Because
of her opposition to Ali, those narrated by
Aisha count among the least favoured.
Shias Today
• Iran is overwhelmingly Shia - 89%.
• Shias also form a majority of the population in Yemen
and Azerbaijan, Bahrain and 60% of the population of
Iraq. There are also sizeable Shia communities along
the east coast of Saudi Arabia and in the Lebanon.
• The well known guerilla organization Hizbollah, which
forced the Israelis out of southern Lebanon in 2000, is
Shia.
• Worldwide, Shias constitute ten to fifteen percent of the
overall Muslim population.
• Within Shia Islam there are different sects. Most Shias
are "Twelvers", i.e. they recognize the 12 Imams. There
are also Sevener and Fiver Shias who don't recognize
the later Imams.
Seveners and Twelvers
• The two main branches of Shi’a Islam
are divided on whether they accept 12
or 7 Imams.
• Both groups claim that the last Imam
disappeared and did not die and is
hidden to return in the future. The
Hidden Imam is know as the Mahdi.
• Isma’ilis = Seveners. They follow
Isma’il as the rightful 7th Imam.
• Imamis = Twelvers
Isma’ilis
• At height of power during 10th and 12th
century
• The Isma’ilis recognize Jafar the sixth
Imam and his eldest son Isma’il as the
seventh. However Isma;il
predeceased Jaf’ar.
• Some refuse to accept his death and
claim he went into occultation and
would return at the end of time as the
Mahdi.
Imamis
• Last group of Shi’ias to develop a clear identity
• They recognize a different son of Ja’far, Musa alKazim as the seventh Imam and his son, Ali al-Rida
as the eighth.
• Hasan al-Askari the eleventh Imam has a young
son Muhammad who immediately went into hiding,
called the Minor Occultation (ghayba) and
communicated with his followers only through four
successive deputies.
• In 939 this communication ended and it was
announced he had entered the Major Occultation
and would no longer communicate with humanity
until he reappears as the Mahdi.
Homework
• Complete the comparison table of
Sunni and Shi’a beliefs and practices
Exam Question
• To what extent are the origins of Shi’a
Islam reflected in Shi’a belief and
practices? [35 marks]