Islam, Sunnis and Shi'ites

Islam, Sunnis and Shi'ites

Sunni
Main branch of Islam.
accepts separation of political and religious powers
Caliph is political leader, delegates religious task to Ulemas.
Caliph is the ultimate "defender" of the faith.
Ulemas decisions are revokable, but only by a council of ulemas

Shi'ites
orthodox: "Ali followers", splits with mainstream Islam primarily regarding question of succession of The Prophet (according to them, it should be hereditary).
powers are inseparables: concept of Imam
Imamates: Word of Imam carries a weight and is almost as binding as writtings, decisions are not challengable

Example of conflicts within Sunni ideology during Abbassid Caliphate:
in certain periods of time, superceeding authorities of law-givers over others became a problem of state and confusions followed. During the Abbassid Caliphate, 3 successive Caliphs imposed one form of religious dogmas: Mu'tazilites dogma, upon scholastic issue of Qu'ran as created or uncreated. They took the former stand and imposed it as state doctrine and repressed opponents (inquisition-like).
This illustrates situations of theological interpretations by political authorities with political consequences. Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, founder of a legal school (hanbalism), is put to jail, trialed, and becomes a symbol of "resistance". Point is, within sunni belief there existed conflicts. This doctrine (creation of Qu'ran) lasted 3 decades, after which it was reversed completely, strict interpretation of law became state policy, persecutors became persecuted. Islam and islamic law should be the center of political and social life. Names of caliphs shows importance of justifying there positions in terms of religious foundation of power: "al-mansur": "the one made victorious by god";
"al-mahdi".

Shi'ites
In Shi'a Islam, no real oppenness to other communities, which had to hide their identities... Founding the Imamate institution, and of own hadith collection, in reaction to sunnism
Hadith: collection of everything that is related to Mohammed. Shi'ites only collected Hadith materials transmitted by members of prophets tribe, all other reports being eliminated.

Branches of Shi'ites

The Seveners
Ja'far al-Sadiq, important player in determining Shi'a ideology.
He's the Sixth Imam. dies 765. around central question of leadership of muslims, still unresolved today, Ja'far will start the following dogma: Imam should be named by predeccessor: designation of sucessor by predecessor, from line of Imams connecting all the way back to prophet muhammed through Ali. Each imam numbered. Ja'far son was Ismail, eldest son. Also had another son, youngest, Musa. Traditionally, Imam would name is eldest son, but story wants that Ismail was wether drunk or dead at time of naming successor, and Ja'far named Musa.
A minority group of dissident wanted Ismail to be Imam instead of the Musa. This "dissident" group still existing today, the Ismailites, or the Seveners Shi'as (Ismailiyya).

The Twelvers
The 11th Imam (Hasan), has no sons. He named a successor, but this one disappearred! Followers of this branch believes that he was elevated directly to heaven. He is reffered to as "Muhammad", the "waited for Imam", or "hidden Imam". Story wants that he'll come out at end of time with Jesus and establish justice. He's the 12th Imam. A Majority of Shi'a Islam still holds to that belief. Shia's did not displayed their beliefs and identity before 8th century, by fear of repression under Abbassids dynasty.

Divison exists between believers of seveners & twelvers. Primarily a political distinction within dogma of shi'ism.

Most of Central Asia, Iran, but also parts of Arab World is Shi'a.