Explain Islamic Denominations to Me

So, I'm still a bit lost on denominations/sects in Islam.

Can anybody give me a sentence or two guide for some of them, along with what beliefs make them different from another group?

Kelcin said:

So, I'm still a bit lost on denominations/sects in Islam.

Can anybody give me a sentence or two guide for some of them, along with what beliefs make them different from another group?

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The basic argument stems from who should have been boss after Muhammad died because he never named a successor.

Sunni say the leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and Muhammad's friend and adviser, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph.

Shia believe that leadership should have stayed within the Muhammad's family and should have passed to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib.

Kelcin said:

So, I'm still a bit lost on denominations/sects in Islam.

Can anybody give me a sentence or two guide for some of them, along with what beliefs make them different from another group?

Click to expand...

hi Kelcin

There are two main denominations in Islam,Sunnism and shii'ism. Within those two main denominations there are different sects.
The majority of the muslim world around 85-90% are sunnis and around 10-15% are shias.

- Sunni means “tradition,” Sunnis regard themselves as those who emphasize following the traditions of Muhammad(peace be upon him) and of the first two generations of the community of Muslims that followed Muhammad. Sunni Islam is also often referred to as Orthodox Islam.

Eventhough majority of sunnis follow mainstream orthodox Islam there are different sunni sects such as suffism,salafism/wahabism deobandis etc. They are all considered sunnis because they adhere to the Quran and the sunnah/hadiths(traditions of the prophet muhammad) so they share the same fundamental theological beliefs but have some differences in regards to theology and methodology.

- Shi`ites call themselves the “party of `Ali,” who believe that Muhammad’s son-in-law `Ali was his successor and that the Muslim community should be headed by a designated descendent of Muhammad.
Three main subgroups of Shi`ites are Twelvers (ithna'ashar), Isma'iliis,Zaydis. They also have some differences in methodology,theology and jurisprudence.

There are quite a few differences between the sunnis and shias such as juridical and theological differences but the main one is the Imamah( leadership after the prophet).The Sunni muslims have the opinion that the first four Caliphate were the rightly guided successors to Prophet Muhammad phub. Sunnis generally believe that Allah did not specify who the next leader should be, and that the four were elected justly by the rest of the companions.
Shia muslims believe that Ali was the first legitimate leader, and some of them reject the previous three Caliphs.

It's true that Muslims are divided into several sects but there is no disagreement on the fundamental pillars of Islam, among the majority of Muslims.
The ethics of disagreement are a part of the Islamic tradition. Muslims have traditionally accepted the existence of a difference of opinions on different aspects of their religion. One can believe that a certain opinion is more correct compared to others, but there is nothing in the Islamic sources that encourages a Muslim to belittle the views of others.

Kelcin said:

So, I'm still a bit lost on denominations/sects in Islam.

Can anybody give me a sentence or two guide for some of them, along with what beliefs make them different from another group?

Click to expand...

Hi,
I as a Shia Muslim, want to help you on this matter.
First of all, I wanna notify that all Sunni and Shia Muslims are brothers and sisters and are among the comunity of belivers. we have got friends from different sects, we marry different sects, we are classmates with them and basically share the main pillars of Islam with them.

There are two main issues raised by Shia Muslims.
1- Prophet(pbuh) did specify a successor before his death. He(pbuh) specified Ali(a.s), as his first sucessor and said that there would be 12 rulers after him(pbuh).
Allamei-Amini devoted decades of his life to write his book, Al-ghadir, and prove that prophet(pbuh) specified Ali(a.s.) as sucessor.
Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Al-ghadir are top and prominant Islamic reference books written by Iranians.
The problem is that the names of those 12 rulers were not specified in the books of some sects.
Sunnis left it as a matter of agreement as no specific names were found. However, Shia followed the specified successors.
To notify one point, almost all sects, know the name of the last successor, Mahdi(a.s.) and are waiting for his arrival.

2- lets suppose that prophet(pbuh) had not specified a successor and had left it as a matter of agreement between Muslim comunity. who should be the successor?
Again Ali. becasue he was superior to all the companions, even by the testimony of some Sunni scholars,in any field.
Knowledge, braveness, honisty, cleverness, had both reasons by which first and second Caliphs persuaded people to accept their Caliphate[from Muhajirin(imigirants), from Quraish(same blood line with prophet(pbuh))] and etc.

firstly, one should adhere to common things:
God, Muhammadg(pbuh) as His messenger, Quran as His book and Mahdi(pbuh) as His prophet's last sucessor who has been preserved for future generation.
Peace be upon Mahdi and Jesus(pbuh) when they appear on Earth.

For the rest items, one can do research and find out the truth.

As-Salamo Alaykum wa Rahmatullah.

Sister Sakeenah, if you don't mind, I want to write some notes and ask some questions regarding your sayings.

Sakeenah said:

hi Kelcin

There are two main denominations in Islam,Sunnism and shii'ism. Within those two main denominations there are different sects.
The majority of the muslim world around 85-90% are sunnis and around 10-15% are shias.

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Allah (Sobhanahoo wa Ta'ala) says in Al-Qur'an Al-Karim Al-Hakim:

34:13
And few of My servants are grateful.

6:116
And if you [,O Muhammad] obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah.

12:103
And [O Muhammad] most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers.

Prophet Muhammad (s) said:
"Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange. so good tidings for the strangers".
(Sahih Muslim/ Sunan At-Tirmidhi/ Sunan Ibn Majah)

Prophet Muhammad (s) said:
"Indeed, Islam started as something strange and it would again revert (to its old position) of being strange just as it started, and it would recede between the two mosques just as the serpent crawls back into its hole".
(Sahih Muslim)

Sakeenah said:

- Sunni means “tradition,” Sunnis regard themselves as those who emphasize following the traditions of Muhammad(peace be upon him) and of the first two generations of the community of Muslims that followed Muhammad. Sunni Islam is also often referred to as Orthodox Islam.

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Dear sister, Sahih and Mutiwater Sunna of Prophet says that we must follow Quran and his progeny.
Can you say me that who has said that we must follow Sahaba and Tabein (may Allah be pleased with them) [i.e., first two generations of the community of Muslims that followed Muhammad]?

Prophet (s) said that he has left for us the Book of Allah and his progeny. He said that we must follow them both to be guided. He (s) never said that he (s) has left the Book of Allah, and Sahaba and Tabein (ra).

He (s) said that only his progeny (infallible ones of them) never separate from Quran. But, he (s) never said that Sahaba and Tabein (may Allah be pleased with them) never separate from Quran.

So, why do you instead of following Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them) whom Allah has cleaned completely, follow Sahaba and Tabein (may Allah be pleased with them)???
What is your proof for this doing of yours?

Allah Ta'ala says about two wives of Prophet:
"If you two [wives] repent to Allah, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him [i.e., Prophet] - then indeed Allah is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous among the faithful and, thereafter, the angels."[66:4]

If such this is the status of the wives of Prophet (s), who are the mothers of the believers, so what would be the status of the Sahaba and Tabein (ra)???

Allah Ta'ala says:
Muhammad is but an apostle; there have been Messengers before him; so if he dies or is slain, will you turn back on your heels [i.e., going out of religion]?! Anyone who turns back on his heels, will not harm Allah in the least, and soon Allah will reward the grateful.[3:144]

I never mean that all the Sahaba or majority of them went out of Islam. No, by Allah I never believe in this odd thing. I mean that they could not be our leaders and Proofs.

Sakeenah said:

- Shi`ites call themselves the “party of `Ali,” who believe that Muhammad’s son-in-law `Ali was his successor and that the Muslim community should be headed by a designated descendent of Muhammad.

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Shia means the follower of Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon thm).
And you can see this belief of us in the authentic Hadiths which are in your authentic books: Quran And The Progeny of Prophet, Two Complete Successors of Him

Best wishes!

In Islam we have Sunni branche and Shia Zaydi branche.
Shia Zaydis believes Ali r.a should have been the caliph.
Sunnis believe Abu Bakr r.a should be caliph.

Also there is Quranist sect, they believe in quran alone, not hadiths(sayings of prophet pbuh).

Kelcin said:

So, I'm still a bit lost on denominations/sects in Islam.

Can anybody give me a sentence or two guide for some of them, along with what beliefs make them different from another group?

Click to expand...

hi.
also both shia and sunni believe in hadith of thaqalayn which is authentic between all of us.
we should resort to both Quran and sayings and narrations of his ahlulbayt after prophet for our salvation and prosperity.
please read this book which indicates authenticity of this hadith from prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) between both shia and sunni muslims.

Hadith al-Thaqalayn