Sects Related to Islam.  Protect your Faith.  Bibliography

 

The Sunni branch, claiming approximately 90% of all Muslims, argued that the Caliph should belong to Muhammad's tribe, the Quraysh, and that the community should choose him by the process of consensus (ijma). Since Muhammad was the ''Seal of the Prophets,'' the Sunnis considered the responsibilities of the Caliph merely to guard--not continue--the prophetic legacy, and to provide ''for the administration of community affairs in obedience to the Qur'an and prophetic precedent''. Within thirty years of Muhammad's death, four Caliphs were appointed in succession: Abu Bakr (632-634), `Umar (634-644), `Uthman (644-656), and `Ali (656-661). Sunnis regard these first Islamic leaders as ''the four rightly-guided Caliphs,'' since they lived so close to Muhammad. Because of their chronological proximity to Muhammad, Sunnis believe that the sunna (behavior or practice) of these four Caliphs, together with the Prophet's, is authoritative for all Muslims. The Sunnis derive their name from this emphasis on the sunna. While there are subdivisions of this group, distinguished by specific points of interpretation, they all call themselves Sunni.

 

Shia’ claims about 10% of the Muslim population and exists primarily in Iraq and Iran.  The Shi'ites, as those comprising the Shi'a sect are called, splintered from the Sunnis primarily over the question of the Caliphate.  The Shi'ites place more rigid genealogical restrictions on the Caliph than do the Sunnis. The Shi'ites argued that the Caliph should descend specifically from `Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law. In fact, the word Shi'ite means ''partisan'' and indicates that Shi'ites are ''partisans of `Ali''.  The Shi'ite Muslims believe that the Islamic leader, whom they call the imam, is more than merely a guardian of Muhammad's prophetic legacy. Rather, Muhammad bequeathed `Ali with his wilaya (i.e., his ''spiritual abilities''), enabling him to interpret the Qur'an and to lead the Islamic community infallibly. Though there are various interpretations, Shi'ites generally, believed that the wilaya has been passed down through the subsequent generations of `Ali's descendants. They further believe that this ''cycle of the wilaya'' will continue until the last day when humankind will be resurrected and judged.  Imamis, the majority faction within the Shi'a branch, believe that the completion of the wilaya cycle will end with the messianic return of the twelfth imam. According to this sect, the twelfth imam has been in ''occultation'' (the state of hiding) since the third century of Islam. They believe, however, that the ayatollahs (senior experts in Islamic law) have access to the hidden imam, and thus, have the right to interpret Islamic law and make religious rulings. The late Ayatollah Khomeini, perhaps the most widely-remembered Shi'ite leader among contemporary Westerners, was considered to be the spokesman for the hidden imam.

 

Sects A B D E F G H I J K M N P Q R S Shafiyyah Shiites Sufis Sunnis W Z

 

Misconcepts within Sects

 

Continuity of Imamate

 

Through descendents of

1)       Ismail ibn-Ja'far. Ismailiyah.  Sub-sects include Agakhani, 'Aliviyah / Ajariyah, Bohras.  Bohras were divided into Dawoodi Bohras - Their supreme leader has characteristics and attributes similar to those of Allah,

and Nizaris, Khojas. 

2)       Muhammad ibn-Ismail ibn-Ja'far Mubarikiyah. 

3)       Shabib ibn-Yazid al-Shaibani believed in woman Imam, Ghazalah. Shabibiyah / Salihiyah X

4)       Hafs ibn-abi-l-Mikdam - Hafsiyah -. They believe that only knowing Allah frees one from polytheism. X

5)       Abdullah ibn-Ibad - Ibadiyah / Af'aliyah -. They believe in doing good deeds without the intention of pleasing Allah. X

6)       Shah Hasan-al-Zaktiya as 23rd Imam. Assassins X

 

Prophet (pbuh) designated Ali (ra) as the Imam by his characteristics but not by name. Jarudiyah - Followers of Abu'l-Jarud, X

 

The true Imam must publicly assert his claim to the title.  Zaidis - Zaid a grandson of Husain

 

 

Belief in Mahdi (Guided-one)

 

1)       abu Haashim - Bayaaniyyah - X

 

Imam in Occultation

 

1)       Muhammad ibn-'Ali al-Baqir. Baqiriyah X

2)       Muhammad ibn-al-Hanifah Karibiyah - X

3)       Twelfth Imam among the descendants of 'Ali ibn-abi-Talib. Kathiyah / Ithn 'Ashariya (the Twelvers) - X

4)       Musa ibn-Ja'far - Musawiyah / Mamturah -  X

5)       Muhammad ibn-'Abdullah ibn-al-Hassan. X Muhammadiyyah / Mughairiyah

6)       Sulaimaniah / Jaririyah - Followers of Sulaiman ibn-Jarir al-Zaidi, They believed Imamate was a matter of conference and could be confirmed by two best Muslims. X

 

Allah's Matters

 

1)       Allah did not live nor had any attributes till He created for Himself life and His attributes. Zarariyah.

2)       Allah has power to oppress children and madmen but not those who have their full senses. Iskafiyah - Followers of Muhammad ibn-Abdallah al-Iskafi.

3)       Allah is borne by bearers of His Throne, though He is stronger than they - Younasiyah - Followers of Younas ibn-'Abd-al-Rahman al-Kummi.

4)       Allah loves men of all faiths even if one has been disbeliever most of his life.  Khazimiyah

5)       Allah may forgive a man his sins and may change His mind about this forgiveness and punish him if he is disobedient again. Bashriyah - Followers of Bashr ibn-al-Mu'tamir.

6)       Allah might have had a beginning - Hanafiyah - Followers of the Imamate of Muhammad ibn-al-Hanifah.

7)       Allah neither creates life nor death but it is an act of the nature of living body. Mu'ammariyah

8)       Allah obeys His servants when He fulfills their wish. Jubbaiyah - Followers of abu-'Ali al-Jubbai.

9)       Allah resembles His creatures. Shaibaniyah / Mashbiyah - Followers of Shaiban ibn-Salamah al-Khariji.

10)   Do not believe in the acceptance of repentance. Satbiriyah

11)   Do not believe in the punishment of grave. Qabariyya

12)   God has no control over His creations. Muhkamiyah

13)   Negate Divine Attributes - Jabriyya and Jahmiyyah

14)   Predicate a body to Allah - Hashamiya / Taraqibiyah - Allege Prophet (pbuh) of disobedience to Allah. X

15)   There was a god before Allah - Habashis - Followers of Abdullah Al-Harawi Al-Habashi.

16)   They believe that Allah neither sees Himself nor anyone else except in the sense that He knows Himself and others.  Ka'biyah - Followers of abu-Qasim Abdullah ibn-Ahmad ibn-Mahmud al-Banahi known as al-Ka'bi.

17)   They believe that Allah is able to create a thing but unable to annihilate it - Jahiziayh - Followers of 'Amr ibn-Bahr al-Jahiz.

18)   They believe that both Hell and Paradise will perish and that preordination of Allah can cease, at which time Allah will no longer be omnipotent - Hudhailiyah / Faniya - Followers of abu-al-Hudhail Muhammad ibn-al-Hudhail.

19)   They believe that he whom Allah does not compel to know Him, is not compelled to know and is classed with animals who are not responsible - Thamamiyah - Followers of Thamamah ibn-Ashras al-Numairi.

20)   What Allah desires does happen no matter what and what does not happen it means Allah desires it not.  Shuaibiyah / Hujjatiyah

 

Matters regarding Ghullat

 

1)       'Ali is God - Albaaiyyah, IsHaaqiyyah, Druze, Fatimids. X

 

Matters regarding Ruj'at (Imams returning to take revenge)

 

1)       Ali ibn-abi-Talib will return to this world, Kesaaniyyah, Raji'yah - X

2)       Satan is right in preferring fire to clay. Kamiliyah - abu-Kamil. X

3)       They believed companions to be heretic because they forsook their allegiance to Ali and condemn Ali for ceasing to fight them. Kamiliyah - abu-Kamil. X

 

Matters regarding Reincarnation

 

Tanasikhiya, IsHaaqiyyahs , Kesaaniyyah - and its sub-groups Bayaaniyyah, Haashimiyyah, Rawaandiyyah, Harabiyyah

 

Matters regarding Prophethood

 

1)       Ahmadiyya -

2)       'Ali shares prophethood with Muhammad. 'Aliviyah / Ajariyah, IsHaaqiyyah

3)       Believe that Allah can send a prophet without giving him any sign to prove his prophecy.  Ashab Ta'ah

4)       Imams are prophets.  Khattaabiyyah - This sect later developed into Muamariyyah, Bazeeiyyah, Saa'diyyah, and Basheeriyyah

5)       Muhammad (pbuh) was a wise man but not a prophet. Ibriyah

 

Matters Regarding Qur'an

 

1)       Deny miraculous nature of the Holy Quran.  Disbelieve the miracles of Holy Prophet (pbuh) like splitting the moon.  Nazzamiyah - Followers of abu-Ishaq Ibrahim ibn-Saiyar.

2)       Believe in esoteric meaning of Qur'an - Deobandiyah - Abu Mansoor al_Maatreedi.  Later developed into Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiya, Qaadiriyyah, and Suharwardiyyah.  Batiniyyah

3)       Believe that qur'an is not the word of God but only its meaning and essence is the word of God.  The words of quran are just the words of narrator.  Lafziyah

 

Matters regarding Beliefs

 

1)       Abolished the Punishment of Drinking Wine.  Khawaarijiyyah include al-Mahkamah al-Oolaa, ath-Thu'aalabah; al-'Ajaaridah; al-Abaadhiyyah; as-Safriyyah. al-Ibaathiyyah; ash-Shamraakhiyyah; as-Salaydiyyah; as-Sirriyyah; al-'Azriyyah; al-'Ajradiyyah; ash-Shakkiyyah; al-Fadhaliyyah; al-Bayhasiyyah; al-'Atwiyyah; al-Fadeekiyyah; al-Ja'diyyah; ash-Shaybiyyah; al-Hurooriyyah; al-Khamariyyah; and ash-Sharaah.  X

2)       Accepted the Khilafat of Abu Bakr and Umar, but did not reject those who rejected these Khulafaa. Yaqubiyya

3)       Barelwiyah -

4)       Believe faith for one is what he/she sincerely practices.  Ammaliyah

5)       Believe in conversion of adults only and if father has converted to Islam children were considered disbeliever till they reach maturity. Saltiyah - Followers of Salt ibn-Uthman. X

6)       Believe that a child should be called to Islam after it has attained maturity. Ajaridah X

7)       Believe that ability precedes the deeds. Harithiya - Followers of Harith ibn-Mazid al-Ibadi.

8)       Believe that all forms of revelation has ended. Khawaarijiyyah

9)       Believe that Allah enmity or friendship depends upon the state of a person’s belief at his death.  Mukarramiyah / Tehmiyah - Followers of abu-Mukarram.

10)   Believe that booty of war to be unlawful till the owner is killed.  Ajaridah - Followers of Abd-al-Karim ibn-Ajrad.

11)   Believe that children of polythiests are condemned to hell.  Hamziyah - Followers of Hamza ibn-Akrak.

12)   Believe that deeds of servants of Allah are substances; and a servant of Allah can really produce a substance. Shaitaniyah / Shireekiyah X

13)   Believe that doing Dhikr and Fikr (Remembering and thinking about Allah) is better than worship.  Fikriyya X

14)   Believe that everything determined is determined by two determiners, one the Creator and the other acquirer.  Shahhamiyah / Sifatiyah - Followers of abu-Yaqub al-Shahham.

15)   Believe that everything non-existent is a body before it appears, like man before it is born is a body in non-existence. Also that every attribute becomes existent when it makes its appearance.  Khaiyatiyah / Makhluqiyah - Followers of abu-al-Husain al-Khaiyat.

16)   Believe that if a Muslim community comes to consensus it needs an Imam.  And if it rebels and kills its Imam, no one should be chosen an Imam during a rebellion. Hishamiyah - Followers of Hisham ibn-'Amr al-Futi.

17)   Believe that ignorance constitutes as disbelief. Mukarramiyah / Tehmiyah

18)   Believe that land watered by springs, canals or flowing rivers should pay half the Zakat (Tithe), while land watered by rain only should pay the full Zakat. Rashidiyah

19)   Believe that Muslim committers of Major sins will be in hell fire forever.  Yaqubiyya

20)   Believe that obedience to Ameer is obligatory no matter what he commands.  Bada'iyah

21)   Believe that one who desires to do a bad deed though may not do it, commits infidelity and deserves punishment.  Bahshamiyah - Followers of abu-Hashim.

22)   Believe that parents remain guardian over their children of any age until children make it clear to parents that they are turning away from truth.  Tha'libiyah - Followers of Tha'labah ibn-Mashkan.

23)   Believe that punishment of hell could be inferred by a mental process.  Ja'friyah - Followers of Ja'far ibn-Harb and Ja'far ibn-Mubashshir.

24)   Believe that Qiyas (taking a guess) is wrong and amounts to disbelief. Ashariyah

25)   Believe that sinners are in fact polytheists.  Sufriyah - Followers of Ziyad ibn-al-Asfar.

26)   Believe that sinners of this sect would not be treated in hellfire but some other place before allowed in paradise. Khawaarijiyyah - Najadat - Followers of Najdah ibn-'Amir al-Hanafi. Azraqiah - Followers of Nafi ibn-al-Azraq.

27)   Believe that staying in close communication with the Sultan (ruler) makes one unbeliever.  Murdariyah - Followers of Isa ibn-Sabih

28)   Believe that the one who has recited La Ilaha Il-Allah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah), whatever she or he does, will never be punished.  Sha'iyah

29)   Believe that this world will live forever. Radeediyah

30)   Believe that those who commit major sins will be punished in hell but still remain believers.  Wasiliyah - Followers of Wasil ibn-'Ata al-Ghazza.

31)   Believe that those who consider themselves better than anyone else are Kafirs (disbelievers).  Nadisiyah

32)   Believe that whoever did not recognize Allah by all His names was ignorant of Him and anyone ignorant of Him was a disbeliever.  Ma'lumiyah / Majhuliyah

33)   Deny belief in Punishment of Grave - Hizb ut-Tahreer X

34)   Did not dispute the Khilafat of Uthman, neither they attack him nor praise him. Butriyah / Hurariyah

35)   Do no believe in taking or giving alms from or to slaves. Ma'badiyah

36)   Do no believe the punishment for deeds on the grounds that because everything is determined so whatever one does s/he is not responsible for it. Hujjatiya - X

37)   Do not believe in fighting except under the leadership of an Imam.  Khalafiyah - Followers of Khalaf.

38)   Do not believe in sunnah. Ahadiyah

39)   Do not believe in the good dreams and vision - Khawaarijiyyah

40)   Do not believe in waging a war except in defense or when the opponent is known personally.  Akhnasiyah

41)   Drinking raw wine is not punishable.  Ja'friyah

42)   Matters regarding Dajjal

43)   Reject the legal testimony of people from supporters of either side of the battle of Camel.  'Amriyah - Followers of 'Amr ibn-Ubaid ibn-Bab.

44)   Wahhabism:  Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab could be considered the first modern Islamic fundamentalist.  He believed that

1.       Any idea added to Islam after the third century of the Muslim era was false and should be eliminated.

2.       Sought to eliminate non-Muslim elements that have corrupted Muslim's beliefs. 

3.       They justify the use of force to make fundamental changes.

45)   Zaahirists (Literalists) - This sect was started by Dawood ibn ‘Ali al-Zaahiri. 

1.       They follow the apparent meaning of the texts, and 

2.       They do not believe in making analogies.

3.       They do not pay attention to the basis and reasons behind these rulings and do not pay attention to shari'ah bases, wisdom and analogies which are indicated by the Qur’an and Sunnah.