It is not realy a "split". That would imply two relatively large groups. The fact is that at least 85% of those who call themselves Muslim are all from one group. They are the people who follow the Qur'an and the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They are called 'sunni' Muslims, by some people. In fact, they are simply true Muslims.
The other 15% are all deviant sects that have corrupted the true, original teachings. Anyone who studies Islam can see how the other groups have changed the original message.
Shiites, Ahmadiyyah, Alawi, Ismaili, Druze are some names of deviant groups.
In fact, Muhammad said that there would be such deviants; and he condemned their teachings as leading away from God. He said that the only rightly-guided group would be the one that stuck to the Qur'an and to his example. We thank God that it is the clear majority.
For an understanding of why the Shiite sect developed, you can go to Wikipedia for a detailed explanation. For examples of how they have gone astray from the healthy and true religion, you can go to You Tube and search: Real Shiah Faces.
Sunni:Follows the Sunnah and Teachings of Islam Shia: Does New Ideas that Sunni Muslims believe are not in Islam Sufi: they also bring new ideas in Islam that are Not Allowed in Sunni Islam
Islam is the religion preached by Prophet Mohamed (SAW), and does not have any sects. The followers of this religion are called Muslims, and they, unfortunately do have different sects.
There is many Sects in Islam, there is also diffrent types of Sunnis with different beliefs, sub sects within.
Islam is a religion - therefore the answer is Islam.
It was a saying from Prophet Mohamed (peace upon him) that it will come the time in future when Muslims will be segregated in seventy three different sects and only one of them will be on the right path of Islam. So, these 73 sects are not yet a physical reality.
They are Muslims. It is irrelevant to think about which sect they belong to. No sects in Islam with same meaning as in Christianity. The sects in Islam are more or less different schools or different groups that differ only on minor historical issues.
There are more than two factions! Just as there is a multiplicity of different sects and denominations in Christianity, Islam is practiced differently in different countries and by different groups. Although I think the answer you are looking for is Shi'a and Sunni.
There is only one version of Islam . If you means sects , than there are many sects but basic two are Sunni and Shia .
Many religions, including most sects of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe that God created the earth. Many other polytheistic religions also have creation myths involving gods.
Sects of Islam
Sunni Islam and Shia Islam
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.