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Shi'a Islam - key similarities and differences with Sunni Islam
Shi'a Islam - key similarities and differences with Sunni Islam
Shi’a Islam is the second largest religious tradition in the Islamic world today. It has been estimated that Shiʿa Muslims make up at least 10-15% of the global Muslim population.
In its literal form, the word Shi’a translates to a ‘supporter of’ or ‘party of’. The Qur’an mentions that “Abraham was amongst his (Noah’s) Shi’a” (Quran 37:83), and Moses finding “two men fighting, one being his Shi’a, the other his enemy” (Quran 28:15). Hence, the word can generally be used as a prefix to imply the support or partisanship of a person.
Origins
Shi’a Muslims believe that after the death of Prophet Muhammad, Allah chose Ali to lead Muslims. They believe only Allah can choose the leader and He chose the following 12 leaders.
The word Shi’a is refers to the Shi’a of Ali; those who hold to Ali being the rightful successor of Prophet Muhammad.
5 Roots of Religion
4 Al-Imamah (Divine Leadership)
There are overlaps with the Articles of Faith of Sunni Muslims.
For example, belief in Allah, the Prophets and the Hereafter are covered by three of the Shi’a ‘Usul ad-Din: Allah (Tawhid), Risalah and Akhirah.
This does not mean the Shi’a reject the Sunni Articles of Kutub (holy books), Malaikah(angels) and Al-Qadr (predestination).
Shia views on Kutub, Malaikah and Al-Qadr
The Sunni Shi’a split.
When Muhammad (pbuh) died there was a question over who would be the next Caliph (leader). Some Muslims thought it should be Abu Bakr- they are Sunni Muslims. Other Muslims thought Muhammad had named his cousin Ali- they are Shi’a Muslims.
The Battle of Karbala, led to a massacre that is commemorated by Shi’a Muslims during the ten-day mourning period known as Ashura. Some people argue this is the beginning of different religious practices (actions) for Shi’a Muslims. Shi’a Muslims commemorate that Hussein Martyred himself for Shi’a Islam. Sunni’s still have Ashura but for them it is to remember the prophets Noah and Moses.
Timeline of the Sunni and Shia Split
570: The Prophet Muhammad is born.
598: Ali, who will become the fourth caliph and the first Shiite Imam, is born.
610: The year Muslims cite as the beginning of Muhammad's mission and revelation of the Qur’an.
613: The public preaching of Islam begins.
630: The Muslims, led by Muhammad, conquer Mecca.
632: Muhammad dies. Abu Bakr is chosen as caliph, his successor. A minority favours Ali. They become known as Shiat Ali, or the partisans of Ali.
656: Ali becomes the fourth caliph after his predecessor is assassinated. Some among the Muslims rebel against him.
661: Violence and turmoil spread among the Muslims; Ali is assassinated.
680: Hussein, son of Ali, marches against the superior army of the caliph at Karbala in Iraq. He is defeated, his army massacred, and he is beheaded. The split between Shia and Sunnis deepens. Shia consider Ali as their first Imam, Hussein as the third Imam (Shi’a Muslims believe there were 12 Imams who were perfect beings chosen by God- the twelfth is in hiding.)
Sunni and Shi’a practices.
-Shi’a say the 5 prayers but combine them into three occasions of praying. Sunni say the 5 prayers separately. Shi’a place a piece of clay from the Holy Land and touch their forehead to it as they prostrate (bend down to pray). Shi’a Muslims pray with their hands to the side, Sunni Muslims cross their hands.
Both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims believe the Qur’an hadith and Sunnah are important Muslim texts. The Shi'a say the most important ones are the ones from the Prophet's family and close connections. The Sunnis consider all Hadith and Sunnah narrated by any of twelve thousand companions to be equally important.
The festival of Ashura is commemorated by Sunni and Shi’a but for different reasons. For Sunni Muslims it is a day of fasting which commemorates the day Noah left the Ark, and the day that Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God. For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a solemn day of mourning the martyrdom of Hussein in 680 AD at the Battle of Karbala.
Both Sunni and Shi’a follow the 5 pillars of Islam (Shahdah, Zakah, Salah, Sawm, Hajj) but Shi’a Muslims added Khums a 20% tax on any profit made during war, Jihad, encourage all good (Amr-bil-Maroof) and discourage all bad (Nahil Anril Munkar). Shi’a Muslims call these the ‘obligatory acts.’
The 6 articles in Sunni Islam
Tawhid- ‘He is Allah, the One, Allah is Eternal and Absolute.’ The Shahadah shows Muslims believe this because they say ‘there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.’
Angels- Allah revealed his will via angels to some prophets. According to the Qur’an, angels were Allah’s first creation and are made from light. They are immortal (live forever) and do nothing against Allah’s will. We said to the angels; "Prostrate to Adam." So they prostrated except Iblis (Satan). He was one of the jinns; he disobeyed the Command of his Lord.”
Holy Books (Kutub)- Musa (Moses) was given the Tawrat (Torah), Dawud (David) was given the Zabur (Psalms), Isa (Jesus) was given the Injil (Gospels). But all of these were distorted by humans. The Qur’an is Allah’s words, direct from Allah to Jibril to Muhammad.
Prophets (Risalah)- Prophets are human, but received their messages from an angel. Muhammad - The final prophet of Islam and the ‘seal of the prophets’. Allah revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad as the complete message to humanity. Sunni Islam teaches that Muhammad became a prophet at 40 not at birth
Akirah- this life is simply a preparation or a test for the life to come.’Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil, but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere’
The Last Day will be announced by the sounding of a trumpet. No one knows when the Last Day will happen except Allah. Isa or the Mahadi will return before the end.
Al Qad’r (Predestination)- means that everything in the universe is following a divine masterplan – Allah’s plan. ‘In all things the master-planning is God’s.’ Even though God knows what will happen and has a plan we still have free will
The 5 roots in Shi’a Islam
One ness (Al-Tawhid) (includes angels and holy books for Shi’a)
Shi’a Muslims add ‘and Ali was the (friend) representative of God’ to their Shahadah
Justice (Al-Adl)- Allah has justice, does not wrong people and is just in all of his deeds. Sending prophets and Imams shows Allah is Just
Prophethood (Al – Nabuwah)- They are human, but received their messages from an angel. Shi’a Islam teaches that Muhammad’s prophet hood did not begin at aged 40, but started from birth. It was simply announced at aged 40. Muhammad is the ‘seal of the prophets.’
Imams Al – Imamah- In Shi’a Islam the Imam is understood as a ‘perfect human’. there have been twelve Imams since Muhammad, including:
• 1st was Ali, chosen by Muhammad, told to him by Allah.
• 2nd was Hasan, Ali’s eldest son.
• 3rd was Husayn, who chose martyrdom.
• 12th Imam was Muhammad al’Mahdi – the hidden Imam. Shi’a believe he will return on day to bring in the Day of Judgement.
Afterlife (Al – Ma’ad)- (Same as Sunni Akhirah)
This life is simply a preparation or a test for the life to come. For Shi’a the Mahadi will be the ‘Hidden Imam’ and will return alongside Isa. Isa will come first and then the Mahadi.
Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah (Sources of Authority)
Interpretation of the Hadith and Sunnah is an Islamic academic science. The Shi'a gave preference to those credited to the Prophet's family and close associates. The Sunnis consider all Hadith and Sunnah narrated by any of twelve thousand companions to be equally valid.
Qur’an
In the Qur’an the instructions below are given many times. “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger”
Muslims believe that the Qur'an is a perfect copy of a heavenly book, and that it is the last revelation of Allah's truth to the human world, they believe that it is the best guide for how to live our lives and achieve salvation.
Someone who has learnt the Qur'an by heart is called a Hafiz/Hafizah (male/female), a very respected status.
Muhammad recited the words of Allah which were revealed to him through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). This was over a period of 23 years. They were then memorised by him and his companions and written down by others during his lifetime and shortly after.
Muslims must treat the Qur'an with great care. They wrap it in a clean cloth and keep it on the highest shelf in the room, to show its superiority. When is use, Muslims will use a bookstand so that the Qur'an does not touch the floor.
Hadith
Muslims also have the Hadith as a source of guidance, the word hadith means a 'statement' or 'report'. The books of Hadith are collections of reports of what Muhammad said, did or approved of in particular situations.
For Sunni Islam 'The Accurate Six' is the name given to the most trustworthy of the Hadith. They were collected within the first three centuries of Islam.
For Shi’a Islam they use ‘The Four Books’ to refer to their most trusted Hadith.
Sunnah
Sunnah was not recorded and written during the Prophet's lifetime, but was systematically collected and documented beginning at least two centuries after the death of Muhammad.
Sunnah, which consists not only of sayings, but of what Muhammad believed, implied, or tacitly approved, was recorded by his companions in hadith.
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