Perhaps, not a single religion in its history has escaped a split that led to the formation of new trends within a single doctrine. Islam is no exception: at present, there are half a dozen of its main directions that arose in different eras and under different circumstances.
In the 7th century, two versions of the doctrine split Islam: Shiism and Sunnism. This happened because of the contradictions in the issue of the transfer of supreme power. The problem arose almost immediately after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, who did not leave any orders in this regard.
A question of power
Mohammed is considered the last of the prophets sent down to people who established a connection between heaven and earth, God and man. Since secular power was practically inseparable from religious power in early Islam, both these spheres were regulated by one person - the prophet.
After the death of the prophet, the community split into several directions, solving the issue of transferring power in different ways. Shiism proposed the hereditary principle. Sunnism is the right to vote for a community that elects a religious and secular leader.
Shiism
Shiites insisted thatpower must pass by the right of the blood, since only a relative can touch the grace sent down on the prophet. Representatives of the movement elected their cousin Mohammed as the new imam, pinning hopes on him to restore justice in the community. According to legend, Muhammad called those who follow his brother Shiites.
Ali ibn Abu Talib ruled for only five years and could not achieve noticeable improvements during this time, since the supreme power had to be defended and defended. However, among the Shiites, Imam Ali enjoys great authority and honor: adherents of the direction add to the Koran a sura dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (“Two Luminaries”). One of the Shiite sects directly deifies Ali, the hero of many folk tales and songs.
What Shiites believe
After the assassination of the first Shiite imam, power was transferred to the sons of Ali from the daughter of Muhammad. Their fate was also tragic, but they laid the foundation for the Shia dynasty of imams, which lasted until the 12th century.
The opponent of Sunnism, Shiism, had no political power, but was deeply rooted in the spiritual realm. After the disappearance of the twelfth imam, the doctrine of the “hidden imam” arose, who would return to earth like Christ among the Orthodox.
Currently, Shiism is the state religion of Iran - the number of followers is approximately 90% of the total population. In Iraq and Yemen, about half of the inhabitants adhere to Shiism. The influence of the Shiites is also noticeable in Lebanon.
Sunnism
Sunnism is the second way to resolve the issue of powerin Islam. Representatives of this trend after the death of Muhammad insisted that the management of both the spiritual and secular spheres of life should be concentrated in the hands of the ummah - a religious community that elects a leader from among its number.
Sunni ulema - the guardians of orthodoxy - are distinguished by zealous adherence to traditions, ancient written sources. Therefore, along with the Koran, the Sunnah, a set of texts about the life of the last prophet, is of great importance. Based on these texts, the first ulema developed a set of rules, dogmas, following which means moving in the right way. Sunnism is a religion of bookish tradition and submission to a religious community.
Currently, Sunnism is the most widespread branch of Islam, covering about 80% of all Muslims.
Sunnah
What is Sunnism, it will be easier to understand if you understand the origin of the term. Sunnis are followers of the Sunnah.
Sunnah is literally translated as “example”, “example” and is fully called “Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah”. It is a written text consisting of stories about the deeds and words of Muhammad. Functionally, it complements the Qur'an, since the true meaning of the Sunnah is an illustration of the customs and traditions of noble antiquity. Sunnism is just following the pious norms established by the ancient texts.
Sunnah is revered in Islam along with the Koran, its teaching plays an important role in theological education. Shiites - the only Muslims - deny authoritySunnahs.
Sunni currents
Already in the 8th century, differences in matters of faith formed two branches of Sunnism: the Murjiites and the Mutazilites. In the 9th century, the Hanbali movement also arose, distinguished by strict adherence not only to the spirit, but also to the letter of religious tradition. The Hanbalites set clear limits on what was permitted and what was not permitted, and also completely regulated the life of Muslims. In this way they achieved purity of faith.
Delay until Doomsday
Murjiites - "postponers" - did not solve the issue of power, but offered to postpone it until a meeting with Allah. The followers of the current emphasized the sincerity of faith in the Almighty, which is a sign of a true Muslim. In their opinion, a Muslim remains the same even after committing a sin, if he maintains a pure faith in Allah. Also, his sin is not eternal: he will redeem him with suffering and leave hell.
First Steps in Theology
The Mutazalis - the breakaways - arose from the Murjiites movement and were the first in the process of formation of Islamic theology. The bulk of the followers were well-educated Muslims.
The Mu'tazalites concentrated their main interest on the difference in interpretations of certain provisions of the Koran concerning the nature of God and man. They de alt with the issue of human free will and predestination.
For the Mu'tazilites, a person who has committed a serious sin is in an average state - he is not a true believer, but not an infidel either. It is this conclusion of Vasil ibn Atu, a student of the famous in the VIII centurytheologian, is considered the beginning of the formation of the Mu'tazilite movement.
Sunnism and Shiism: differences
The main difference between Shiites and Sunnis is the question of the source of power. The former rely on the authority of the one blessed by the divine will by right of kinship, the latter rely on tradition and the decision of the community. For Sunnis, what is written in the Koran, the Sunnah and some other sources is of paramount importance. On their basis, the main ideological principles were formulated, loy alty to which means following the true faith.
Shiites believe that the will of God is accomplished through the imam, just as among Catholics it is personified in the image of the Pope. It is important that power is inherited, since only those who are related by blood to the last prophet Muhammad bear the blessing of the Almighty. After the disappearance of the last imam, power was transferred to the ulema - scientists and theologians who act as a collective representative of the missing imam, expected by Shiites like Christ among Christians.
The difference in directions is also manifested in the fact that for the Shiites, secular and spiritual power cannot be separated and is concentrated in the hands of one leader. Sunnis advocate the separation of spiritual and political spheres of influence.
Shiites deny the authority of the first three caliphs - companions of Muhammad. The Sunnis, for their part, regard them as heretics for this, who worship twelve imams who are less familiar with the prophet. There is also a provision of Islamic law, according to which only the general decision of authoritative persons has a decisivesignificance in religious matters. The Sunnis are based on this, electing the supreme ruler by the vote of the community.
There is also a difference in the practice of rituals between Shiites and Sunnis. Although both of them pray 5 times a day, however, the position of their hands differs. Also among the Shiites, for example, there is a tradition of self-flagellation, not accepted by the Sunnis.
Sunnism and Shiism today are the most widespread currents of Islam. Sufism stands apart - a system of mystical and religious ideas, formed on the basis of asceticism, rejection of worldly life and strict adherence to the precepts of faith.
