Perhaps no religion in its history has escaped the schism that led to the formation of new trends within a single teaching. Islam is no exception: currently there are about half a dozen of its main directions that have arisen in different eras and under different circumstances.
In the 7th century, two versions of the teachings split Islam: Shiism and Sunnism. This happened due to contradictions in the issue of transfer of supreme power. The problem arose almost immediately after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, who did not leave any orders on this subject.
Question of power
Muhammad is considered the last of the prophets sent to people who established a connection between heaven and earth, God and man. Since in early Islam secular power was practically inseparable from religious power, both of these areas were regulated by one person - a prophet.
After the death of the prophet, the community split into several directions, which differently decided the issue of the transfer of power. Shiism proposed a hereditary principle. Sunnism is the voting power of a community that has elected a religious and secular leader.
Shiism
Shiites insisted that power should be transferred by right of blood, since only a relative can touch the grace sent to the prophet. Representatives of the current elected Mohammed's cousin as the new imam, hoping for him to restore justice in the community. According to legend, Muhammad called the Shiites those who follow his brother.
Ali ibn Abu Talib reigned 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 Shiites, Imam Ali enjoys great authority and honor: the followers add to the Qur'an a sura dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (“Two Lights”). One of the Shiite sects directly deifies Ali, the hero of many folk tales and songs.
What Shiites believe
After the murder 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 Shiite imam dynasty, which lasted until the XII century.
Sunni's opponent, Shiism, did not have political power, but was deeply rooted in the spiritual realm. After the disappearance of the twelfth imam, the doctrine of the “hidden imam” arose, which will return to earth like Christ from the Orthodox.
At present, 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 Shiites is also noticeable in Lebanon.
Sunnism
Sunnism is the second way to resolve the issue of power in 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 members.
Sunni ulama - guardians of law - are distinguished by zealous adherence to traditions, ancient written sources. Therefore, along with the Qur'an, the Sunnah plays an important role - a set of texts about the life of the last prophet. On the basis of these texts, the first ulama developed a set of rules, dogmas, following which means moving in the right way. Sunnism is a religion of book tradition and submission to a religious community.
At present, Sunnism is the most widespread trend of Islam, covering about 80% of all Muslims.
Sunnah
What is Sunniism, it will be easier to understand if you understand the origin of the term. Sunnis are followers of the Sunnah.
The Sunnah is literally translated as "model", "example" and is completely called "The Sunna of the Messenger of Allah." This is a written text consisting of stories of deeds and words of Muhammad. Functionally, it complements the Quran, since the true meaning of the Sunna is an illustration of the customs and traditions of noble antiquity. Sunnism is precisely the observance of pious standards established by ancient texts.
The Sunnah is revered in Islam along with the Qur'an; its teaching plays an important role in theological education. Shiites - the only Muslims - deny the authority of the Sunnah.
Currents of Sunnism
Already in the VIII century, disagreements on matters of faith formed two areas of Sunniism: the Murghiites and Mutazilites. In the 9th century, the Hanbalite movement also arose, characterized by strict adherence not only to the spirit, but also to the letter of religious tradition. Hanbalites established a clear framework of what is permitted and what is forbidden, and also completely regulated the life of Muslims. Thus they sought the purity of faith.
Snooze until Judgment Day
The Murghiites, the “postponers," did not solve the issue of power, but proposed to postpone it until meeting with Allah. The emphasis was placed on the sincerity of faith in the Almighty, which is a sign of a true Muslim. In their opinion, the Muslim remains the same even after committing sin, if he maintains a pure faith in Allah. Also, his sin is not eternal: he will atone for it with suffering and leave hell.
The first steps of theology
The mutazalites — seceded — emerged from the Murgiite movement and were the first in the process of the formation of Islamic theology. The bulk of the followers were well-educated Muslims.
Mutazalites concentrated their main interest on the difference in interpretations of certain provisions of the Koran regarding the nature of God and man. They dealt with the issue of human free will and predestination.
For mutazilites, a person who has committed a grave sin is in average condition - he is neither faithful, but not wrong. It is this conclusion of Vasil ibn Atu, a student of the theologian known in the 8th century, who is considered the beginning of the formation of the mutazilite 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 who is overshadowed by divine will by right of kinship, the latter rely on the tradition and decision of the community. For the Sunnis, what is written in the Qur'an, Sunnah and some other sources is of paramount importance. On their basis, the basic ideological principles were formulated, loyalty to which means adherence to true faith.
Shiites believe that the will of God is accomplished through the imam, just as it is personified by the Catholics in the form of the Pope. It is important that power is inherited, since only those who are connected by blood relationship with the last prophet Muhammad bear the blessing of the Almighty. After the disappearance of the last imam, power was transferred to the ulama - scholars and theologians who act as the collective representative of the missing imam, expected by the 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 divided and is concentrated in the hands of one leader. Sunnis advocate the separation of the spiritual and political spheres of influence.
Shiites deny the authority of the first three caliphs - the associates of Muhammad. The Sunnis, for their part, consider them heretics for this, who worship the twelve imams less familiar with the prophet. There is also a provision of Islamic law, according to which only a general decision of authoritative persons is crucial in religious matters. The Sunnis are based on this, electing the supreme ruler by a community vote.
There is also a difference in the worship of Shiites and Sunnis. Although they both pray 5 times a day, the position of their hands differs. Also, Shiites, for example, have a tradition of self-flagellation, not accepted by the Sunnis.
Sunnism and Shiism today are the most common currents of Islam. Sufism stands apart - a system of mystical and religious representations, formed on the basis of asceticism, the rejection of worldly life and strict adherence to the covenants of faith.