islam and the branches

Islam and the branches

MuhammadO Born around 570 ADO 610 – Gabriel enters

Muhammad’s lifeO 613 – Preaches publicly in

Mecca – faced with hostility. People still believe in many gods.

O 622 – Decides to leave Mecca for Medina (Hijrah)

O 633 – returns to Mecca with 10,000 followers

O 635 – Muhammad dies

O Many pledged loyalty to Muhammad and many converted

O Unfortunately – he did not name a successor to take over!

O Didn’t teach his followers how to chose one

O Relying on ancient custom – Abu Bakr became first caliph – successor or deputy

3 more after AbuO Umar, Uthman and AliO All knew MuhammadO Used the Quran to guide

them!

O Known as “rightly guided” caliphs

O Abu promised to uphold what Muhammad stood for

JihadO Many denounced Islam nowO Abu invoked Jihad – “strive” – armed

struggle against unbelieversO All four caliphs expanded Muslim

territory

O People never forced to convert – However, Christians and Jews were not allowed to spread religion

O Uthman – murderedO Ali – right to rule challenged also

killed

Umayyad's

O Elective system of choosing a caliph died too!O Umayyad's – moved capital city to DamascusO Gave up on how caliphs ran gov’t – focused themselves on money and greedO Many people divided now

Foot soldier

Sunni-Shi’a SplitO Most accepted their

rule – minority resistedO Those who resisted

believed whoever would be next caliph HAD to be a descendent of Muhammad!

O Called Shi’a or Shi’ites

O Those who followed Umayyad - Sunni

Main differencesSunni Shi’a

The first 4 caliphs were rightly Believe Ali (Muhammad's son-in- guided law) should have succeeded

Muslim Rulers should follow All Muslim rulers should beMuhammad’s examples descendants of Muhammad

Claim Shi’a have a distorted Claim Sunni have distorted meaningmeaning of the Qur’an of Qur’an