Sunni vs Shi`ia, and other Quick Facts about Muslims
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Sunni |
Shi`ia |
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Arab, Turkic, Pakistani, southeast Asia; and the Maghreb (northern Africa) |
Iran (as well as souther Iraq; parts of Saudi Arabia) |
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Al Qaeda, Taliban |
Persian |
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Hamas (via Muslim Brotherhood) – Iran & Saudi funded |
Hezbollah, Lebanon (Iranian funded) |
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Iraq, centered in Tikrit (Ba`ath party is secular Sunni) |
Iraq (anti-Saddam) |
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Libya |
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Syria (Ba`ath) |
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Sudan (Darfur) |
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Somalia (“Black Hawk Down”) |
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Bosnia/Kosovo (Iranian funded) |
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Involved in planning and executing 9/11 |
Threat of nuclear holocaust |
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Bali suicide bombing, 2002 (202 killed) |
Attempted takeover of the Kaaba in Mecca on Islamic New Year (1980) |
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Madrid 3/11 Bombing (191 killed, 2050 injured) [Local Al Qaeda cells] |
Suicide attack on US Marine barracks, Beirut Lebanon, 1983 (241 killed) |
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London Underground, 7/7/2005 (52 killed, 700 inj.) [Local Al Qaeda cells] |
Jewish Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1994 (87 killed) |
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Kurds - Majority (mostly of the Shafi school, others of the Hanafi school) |
Kurds -Minority ("Al-Fayliah" Kurds) |
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Caliphate (leadership is by merit or by seizure) |
Sultanate (leadership is hereditary) |
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Immams - anyone whose faith is strong enough can be Immam |
Only descendants of Mohammed can speak "for the faith" |
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Pashtun (Tribal group living in Eastern Afghanistan & Pakistan) primary ethnic group of the Taliban |
Hazara (Iranian speaking ethnic group of Mongolian origin who reside mainly in the central Afghanistan mountain region |
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Founded by Abu Bakr, father of Muhammad's wife Aisha; first of the "Four Caliphs" |
Founded by Muhammad's cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of Muhammed's daughter Fatima Zahra |
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Ali ibn Abi Talib is 4th Caliph |
Ali ibn Abi Talib is first Immam |
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Generally feel superior to other Muslims which can be seen in the Wahabbi (Salafi) perspective that they are holier than other Islamic believers. |
Messianic believers who feel that their founder was wrongly displaced and will be redeemed mystically on "judgment day" |
The four schools (madhabi)
of Sunni Islamic jurisprudance:
All schools base their legal opinions on the traditional four sources, the Usul al-fiqh:
There is little or no animosity among the four
schools of religious law within Sunni Islam. Instead there is a cross-pollination
of ideas and debate that serves to refine each school's understanding of Islam.
It is not uncommon, or disallowed, for an individual to follow one school but
take the point of view of another school for a certain issue.
Hanafi largest of the four schools (~45% of Muslims world-wide); most open to modern ideas, but have strict interpretation of Muslim law. The Constitution of Afghanistan allows Afghan judges to use Hanafi jurisprudence in situations where the Constitution lacks provisions.
Maliki 25% of Muslims, mostly in North Africa and West Africas. Adds the practice of the people of Medina (amal ahl al-medina) as a source for jurisprudance in addition to the Usul al-fiqh
Shafi'i 15% of Muslims - refers to the opinions of the Prophet's companions in addition to the Usul al-fiqh. Places emphasis on proper derivation of law, through systematic reasoning without relying on personal deduction. The official madhab of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
Hanbali most conservative, "Textualists" - do not add any other sources; - 5% of Muslims. Saudi Arabia.
Salafi (Arabic: "predecessors" or "early generations"), adherents of a contemporary movement in Sunni Islam ascribing understanding and practice of Islam to the 'Salaf', the first three generations after Muhammed. Salafism is derogatorily named by outsiders as Wahhabism. Salafis insist that their beliefs are simply pure Islam and not a sect. Ultra-conservative in practice, many see violent Jihad as the only valid path. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Osama bin-Laden, and the leadership of Saudi Arabia are well-known Salafis.
Sufi a mystic tradition of Islam encompassing a diverse range of beliefs and practices dedicated to the love and service of one's fellow men and Allah/God. Sort of Zen Islam. Believe that love is a projection of the essence of God to the universe. Practices include meditation, music, dance. Tariqas (Sufi orders) may be associated with Shi'a Islam, Sunni Islam, other currents of Islam, or a combination of multiple traditions.