How many branches of Muslim are there?

Answer 1

It was after the sorrowful death of the third Rightful Caliph Hazrat Usman RAU by the rebels that the Muslims split occurred. The two groups are now known as Sunni (almost 85%) and Shias (10%). The rebels killed the third Rightful Caliph and forced Hazrat Ali RAU to become the caliph. It was rumored about that Hazrat Ali RAU didn't want to save Hazrat Usman RAU from the rebels. While the fact was that Hazrat Ali RAU had deputed two of his sons -Hazrat Hassan RAU and Hazrat Hussain RAU to watch the house of the Caliph and try to defend him. This misunderstanding resulted into bloodshed of thousands of Muslims fighting against one another. Those who favored Ali were called Shiyan-i-Ali and those who opposed and demanded that the rebels and killers of the caliph should be brought to book were the other group. A third group-Khawarjis- also appeared out from this split.

The present day Shiaism was evolved much later. There are many conspiracy theories behind this. Some point their fingers on the hypocrites and Iranians who had been defeated by the Muslims during the reign of the second Rightly Guided Caliph Harat Umar RAU.

As the belief held by many groups of Shias are Not acceptable to many other Shia groups. Many of these beliefs are in utter contrast to the basic teachings of the holy Qur'an.

The Qur'an declares the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) highly respectable and Allah's favorites while the Shias blame that they had turned away from Islam.

The Shias claim that Hazrat Ali RAU was nominated Caliph by the prophet SAW at Khum-i-Gadir but history does not approve it. It was Hazrat Abu Bakr rau whom the Prophet saw ordered to lead the prayer in his place during the last illness from which he never recovered. It was a clear indication of his being the most honored person after him. Not a single Companion rau pointed out that Hazrat Ali rau had been appointed Caliph when the Companions chose Hazrat Abu Bakr rau the Caliph. Hazrat Ali rau himself remained an important advisor to the first three Rashidoon Caliphs. Was he as a coward to remain silent and not fight for his right?

The qualities attributed to the Imams by the Shias are not only in contrast to Islam, rather they are self contradictory. According to Shias, the Imam is infallible, he can't make mistake, he know everything present, past and future

What happened practically to the Fist Imam Hazrat Ali rau? He was killed, and he didn't know.

In the Battle of Jamal where more than ten thousand Muslims lost their lives, Hazrat Ali rau repented and wished that he had not taken birth to see that day.

The second Imam Hassan rau made peace with Hazrat Muawia rau and was later poisoned to death, and he didn't know.

The third Imam Hussain rau rose against Yazid but had his whole family killed at Karbala, and he didn't know what was going to happen to him. The life of most of the Shia Imams bear witness that they are not blessed with those qualities which the Shias attribute to them.

The split is Not Religious, it is political. It was later on attributed to religion by inventing certain religious doctrines. A detailed answer has been given by Elosry.

Answer 2

The Islamic religion was founded by Muhammed in the seventh century. In 622 he founded the first Islamic state, a theocracy in Medina, a city in western Saudi Arabia located north of Mecca.

There are two major branches of the religion he founded.

The largest group, called the Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs--Muhammed's successors--rightfully took his place as the leaders of Islam. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War.

The smaller of the major groups are the Shi'ites. There are a number of subdivisions under the 'umbrella' of 'Shi'a' and although they differ in the details all of them believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Muhammed.

The Shi'ites call these successors Imams. Shi'ites do not accept that the Imam is to be only a political leader but they believe that they are literally 'manifestations of God', they are sinless, infallible and the bringers of true understanding to all humanity. They are referred to within the Shi'ite tradition as being masum, that is, free from error or sin.

The last Imam, the Mahdi, is believed not to have died but to be in hiding and Shi'ites believe that he will appear at the end of time in order to bring about the victory of the Shi'a faith (see third paragraph below).

The main groups under the Shi'ite umbrella are the Zaydiyyah or Fivers, the Isma'iliyyah or Seveners and the Imamiyyah or Twelvers. The numbers five, seven and twelve refer to the last authorised interpreter of the law or Imam that each group accepts. Of the three the Twelvers are the biggest & it was in 931 that the Twelfth Imam disappeared.

This was a seminal event in the history of these Shi'ite Muslims. According to R. Scott Appleby, a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, "Shi'ite Muslims, who are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, [believe they] had suffered the loss of divinely guided political leadership" at the time of the Imam's disappearance. Not "until the ascendancy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1978" did they believe that they had once again begun to live under the authority of a legitimate religious figure.

The other important concept in Shi'ite Islam concerning the Imam (regardless of whether he was the Fifth, the Seventh or the Twelfth) is that he will return. He is called the Mahdi and will bring about the Kingdom of God on earth after an apocalyptic battle between the forces of Islam and the rest of the world. [Note that other groups descended from Shi'ia Islam such as the Babis and Baha'is define the 'battle at the end of time' as a symbolic or metaphysical one rather than an actual battle.]

A useful site for information on the various groups is the Overview of World Religions site hosted by St Martin's College in the UK.

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html

Answer 3

Answer 1

it is more accurate in religious sciences if we apply sect instead of branches.therefore we have to say in Islam religion we have two sects,shiite as minority and Sunni as majority.Sunni and shiism are two main sects of islam religion.

Answer 2

The two sects of Sunni and Shiite Islam account for around 99% of Muslim religious adherents. The remaining 1% is divided between numerous different sects including: Ahmadis, Ibadis, Kharijis, Mu'tazilites, etc. There is also a debate as to whether the Post-Islamic Religions (Alawites, Azali, Babism, Baha'i, Druze, Yarsan, Yezidi, etc.) count as sects of Islam or are distinct faiths.

Answer 4

It is never a real division. It is just different two schools that coincide in the main Islam faiths, pillars and principles and differ only on minor details. Refer to question below for more details.

Technically speaking Islam is indivisible. You have to accept Islam as a whole. Disbelief in a single pillar of Islam, a single verse of the Holy Qur'an is disbelief in Islam. Allah Almighty ordains the Muslims: "O' You who believe! Enter Islam as a whole." There is a famous saying of the holy Prophet (SAW) which contains this prophesy that the Muslim Ummah will be divided into 73 sects. Only One of them will go to Paradise. On asking by the companions as to which sect will it be, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said: The Sect that will follow the path of my Companions and the Rightful Caliphs.

Answer 5

The major divisions are based on whether or not Hadiths (later commentary on Muhammed's writings by friends and family) are authoritative.