Introduction to Shi’i Islam

Mohammed M. Hafez, Ph.D.National Security Affairs Department

Naval Postgraduate SchoolNS3330 Middle East

2009

Islam – Demographics

85-90% of Muslims are Sunnis

10-15% are Shiites

After Muhammad’s death, he was succeeded by four leaders:

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Umar Ibn al-Khattab Uthman Bin `Afan Ali Bin Abi Talib

Sunnis consider these to be Al-Khulafa al-Rashidun (Rightly-Guided Caliphs)

Majority of Shiites (Twelver) only see Ali as the legitimate leader

Origins of Islam - Successors

Sunni-Shiite Divide

Shiite comes from Shia of Ali … “Followers of Ali”…”Partisans of Ali”

Shiites are a minority in Islam, but majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain 10-15% of Muslims worldwide

Origins of the Sunni – Shiite Divide Origins is a political dispute over

who should lead the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad – Who has the legitimate authority to rule?

Should rule go to any Muslim?

Should it go only to the companions of the Prophet?

Should it go only to Prophet’s family and blood descendants?

Origins of the Sunni – Shiite Divide Shiite view is that only those who

are from the Prophet’s family and their direct male descendants

should rule

After death of the Prophet, Shiite view is that Ali should have been chosen as leader

Sunni view is that Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was correctly chosen

Origins of the Sunni – Shiite Divide Uthman, the third Caliph, was killed in a dispute by dissidents from Egypt and Iraq Ali succeeded Uthman and becomes Caliph in Kufa (Iraq) Uthman’s relatives, Mu`awiyya and the Prophet’s wife,

`Aisha, demanded that Ali avenge Uthman’s death Community splits between those who see Uthman’s

killing as legitimate: Followers of Ali felt that his death was justified and Ali should now rule Followers of Mu`awiyya and `Aisha felt that Ali does not deserve

to rule because he did not avenge Uthman’s death

Origins of the Sunni – Shiite Divide First civil war (fitna) breaks out between Ali and Mu`awiyya Ali has the upper hand and is about to win, but Mu`awiyya calls for arbitration Ali accepts calls for arbitration, resulting in another split in

the community: Those who accept arbitration, see Ali as wise and just Those who reject arbitration, see Ali as violating God’s

command … they are known as the kharijites (those who seceded)

Origins of the Sunni – Shiite Divide Kharijites end up killing Ali Mu`awiyya becomes the ruler

of Muslims and moves the caliphate to Damascus

Few years later, Ali’s son, Hussein, decides to

reclaim the Caliphate from Mu`awiyya’s son, Yazid Hussein is surrounded in

Karbala, killed, decapitated

These political events form the basis of a new religious sect in Islam, developed at the end of the Umayyad Empire (661-750) and beginning of Abbasid Empire (750-1258)

Twelvers (Imamis) Beliefs Theology developed in 8th

and 9th centuries, but took its present form in 10th and 11th centuries

Imamis say that before he died, the Prophet Muhammad declared his wish that Ali be his successor

Imam is mortal, but infallible being touched with divine grace, wisdom

Twelvers (Imamis) Beliefs Imam is necessary for

communal salvation and personal guidance (Imam is like Pope in Catholicism)

Those who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad after his death, except Ali, are usurpers of power and, therefore, illegitimate

The legitimate leaders are twelve, the last of which, the Mahdi, entered into occultation in 9th century

ProphetMuhamm

adFatima married

to…2. Hassan (d.

669)3. Hussein (d.

680)4. Ali Zayn al-Abidin (d. 714)

5. Muhammad al-Baqir (d. 731)

Zayd (d. 740)6. Jafar al-Sidiq (d.

765)7. Musa al-Kazim

(d. 799)8. Ali al-Rida (d. 818)9. Muhammad al-Jawad

(d. 835)

1. Ali (d. 661)

Isma`il (d. 760)

10. Ali al-Hadi (d. 868)11. Hasan al-Askari (d.

874)12. Muhammad al-Mahdi (occultation)

Shiite Divisions

Twelvers Zaydi

Isma`ili Druze

Alawites

Twelvers (Imamis) Largest Shiite sect; largest

number of Muslims after Sunnis

Iran (90%) Iraq (60%) Lebanon

(South and Beirut, 35%) Bahrain (80%) Kuwait (35%) Saudi Arabia

(Eastern province 10-15%)