History of Shia Islam

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Main article: Shia Islam

See also: Muslim history

Part of a series on Shī‘a Islam
Branches
Twelver · Ismaili · Zaidi
People of the House
Muhammad Ali ibn Abu Talib Fatima Zahra Hasan • Husayn
Beliefs
Light of Aql Succession of Ali Straying of the Sahaba View of the Qur'an Imamate of the Family Ghadir Khumm • Karbala
See Also
Views on Shia Islam History of Shia Islam Theology of Shia
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Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism ( is the second largest denomination based on the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family (who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendents known as Shi'a Imams. Muhammad's bloodline continues only through his daughter Fatima Zahra and cousin Ali which alongside Muhammad's grandsons are the Ahl al-Bayt. Thus, Shi'as consider Muhammad's descendents as the true source of guidance while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and not something attached to faith. Shia Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches; however, only three of these currently have a significant number of followers and each of them has a separate trajectory.

Contents 1 From Saqifa to Karbala 2 Division into branches 3 Twelvers history 3.1 Imams era 3.2 Occultation era 4 Esmaili history 4.1 Setr 4.2 Old Da'vat 4.3 New Da'vat 5 Zaidiyya history 6 Other sects 6.1 Qarmatians 6.2 Alevis 6.3 Alawism 7 Notes 8 References 9 See also 10 External links

[edit] From Saqifa to Karbala

Main article: Succession to Muhammad

See also: saqifah, Rashidun, First Fitna, Second Fitna, and Battle of Karbala

Muhammad began preaching Islam at Mecca before migrating to Medina, from where he united the tribes of Arabia into a singular Arab Muslim religious polity. With Muhammad's death in 632, disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. While [Ali ibn Abi Talib]], his cousin and son-in-law, and the rest of Muhammad's close family were washing his body for burial, at a gathering attended by a small group of Muslims at Saqifah, Umar ibn al-Khattab, a prominent companion of Muhammad, nominated Abu Bakr, who was Muhammad's intimate friend and collaborator. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first caliph. This choice was disputed by some of Muhammad's companions, who held that Ali ibn Abi Talib had been designated his successor. According to Sunni accounts, Muhammad died without having appointed a successor, and with a need for leadership, they gathered and voted for the position of caliph. Shi'a accounts differ by asserting that Muhammad had designated Ali as his successor on a number of occasions, including on his death bed. Ali had many friends, followers and supporters who believed that he should have succeeded Muhammad. This did not create an immediate division, however, because Ali did not fight against the elected caliphs.^{[1] [2]}

The succession to Muhammad is an extremely contentious issue. Muslims ultimately divided into two branches based on their political attitude towards this issue, which forms the primary theological barrier between the two major divisions of Muslims: Sunni and Shi'a, with the latter following Ali as the successor to Muhammad. The two groups also disagree on Ali's attitude towards Abu Bakr, and the two caliphs who succeeded him: Umar (or `Umar ibn al-Khattāb) and Uthman or (‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān). Sunnis tend to stress Ali's acceptance and support of their rule, while the Shi'a claims that he distanced himself from them, and that he was being kept from fulfilling the religious duty that Muhammad had appointed to him. The Sunni Muslims say that if Ali was the rightful successor as ordained by God Himself, then it would have been his duty as the leader of the Muslim nation to make war with these people (Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman) until Ali established the decree. Shia claim, however, that Ali did not fight Abu Bakr, Umar or Uthman, because firstly he did not have the military strength and if he decided to, it would have caused a civil war amongst the Muslims, which was still a nascent community throughout the Arab world.^[3]

[edit] Division into branches

[edit] Twelvers history

Main article: Twelvers

[edit] Imams era

[edit] Occultation era

[edit] Esmaili history

Main article: Ismaili

See also: Mustaali, Nizari, and Alavi Bohra

[edit] Setr

[edit] Old Da'vat

See also: Fatimid Empire

[edit] New Da'vat

See also: Hashashin

[edit] Zaidiyya history

Main article: Zaidiyyah

See also: Alavids, Buyids, Ukhaidhirids, and Rassids

[edit] Other sects

[edit] Qarmatians

Main article: Qarmatians

[edit] Alevis

Main article: Alevi

[edit] Alawism

Main article: Alawism

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Chirri, Mohamad (1982). The Brother of the Prophet Mohammad. Islamic Center of America, Detroit, MI. Alibris ID 8126171834. 
2. ^ See:
   • Holt (1977a), p.57
   • Lapidus (2002), p.32
   • Madelung (1996), p.43
   • Tabatabaei (1979), p.30–50
3. ^ Sahih Bukhari 5.57.50

[edit] References

• Holt, P. M.; Bernard Lewis (1977a). Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521291364. 
• Lapidus, Ira (2002). A History of Islamic Societies, 2nd, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521779333. 
• Madelung, Wilferd (1996). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521646960. 
• Tabatabae, Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn; Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) (1979). Shi'ite Islam. Suny press. ISBN 0-87395-272-3. 

[edit] See also

• Historical Shi'a-Sunni relations

[edit] External links

• Four Centuries of Influence of Iraqî Shî‘ism on Pre-Safavid Iran