Denominations of Islam

There is a number of Islamic religious denominations, each of which has significant theological and legal differences from each other. The Muslims you might meet will probably not all hold the same set of beliefs and doctrines. In other words they are similar in belief that Allah is one, but have significant theological and legal differences in each denomination. The major branches are Sunni, Shi'a and Sufi.

1-Sunni

Sunni Islam contains the majority of all Muslims. Sunni Muslims include 84%–90% of all Muslims. It is broken into four schools of thought (known as Mazaheb) which interpret specific pieces of Islam, such as which foods are permissible (halal) differently. They are named after their founders Maliki, Shafi'I, Hanafi, and Hanbali. They are sometimes mistakenly understood as different sects, but they are not.

Sunni means “tradition,” and Sunnis regard themselves as those who follow the traditions of Muhammad. They adopted the belief that leadership should pass to the most qualified person, not through hereditary succession.

The Sunni selected Abu Bakr, Muhammad's close companion and trusted advisor, to be Caliph. While the Caliph Abu Bakr was not a Prophet, as the Qur'an had declared Muhammad to be the last of the Prophets, the Caliph had religious prestige as head of the community of believers.

2-Shi'a Islamic Denomination 

The Shi'a  means "the party of Ali,". They believe that succession should be hereditary, staying within the Prophet's family. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the closest living male relative of Muhammad was his rightful successor, and they called him the first Imam (leader), rejecting the legitimacy of the previous Muslim caliphs. Three main subgroups of Shi`ites are Twelvers (Ithna-`Asharis), Seveners (Isma`ilis), and Fivers (Zaydis).

3-Sufism

While some consider the Islamic mysticism called Sufism to constitute a separate branch, most Sufis can easily be considered Sunni or Shia. Sufi Islam is a strain of belief and practice that might be found in both Sunni and Shia. It is more mystical and concerned with a personal relationship with the almighty. Sufism is less an Islamic sect than a mystical way of approaching the Islamic faith. It has been defined as "mystical Islamic belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God."

4-Wahabi

Wahabi Muslims have separate mosques and schools. Wahabi Muslims are followers of Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab in the 18th century. Wahabis prefer to eliminate music and listening to songs. They are against watching television and drawings of living things which contain a soul. Wahabis do not observe annual Sufi festivals, events or the birthday of Prophet Muhammad. One thing which distinguishes Wahhabi teachings from Sunni teachings is that Wahhabis consider several things prohibited which the four schools of Sunni Islam consider permitted.

5-Baha’is and Ahmadiyyas

Both are 19th-century offshoots of Shi`ite and Sunni Islam, respectively. Bahai’s consider themselves the newest of the major world’s religions but recognize that historically they originated from Shi`ite Islam in the same way that Christianity originated from Judaism. Ahmadiyyas do regard themselves as Muslims. Most other Muslims, however, deny that either group is a legitimate form of Islam and regard members of both groups as heretics — people who have corrupted and abandoned Islamic belief and practice.

* According to most sources, approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni, and approximately 15% are Shi'a; however, there is a small minority who are members of other Islamic sects.

According to most sources, approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni, and approximately 15% are Shi'a; however, there is a small minority who are members of other Islamic sects.

For Muslims, Islamic practices are five pillars: faith that Allah is one, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage to Mecca, and alms (charity).

1-Shahada: Faith

Shahada is the declaration of faith and the belief that there is only one God (Allah) and that Muhammad is God's messenger. It is a set statement normally recited in Arabic: (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله) La ilaha ella allah - Muhamed rasol allah. "There is no god but God (and) Muhammad is the messenger of God." It is obligatory to utter it to become a Muslim and to convert to Islam.

2-Salah: Prayer

Salat (ṣalāh) is the Islamic prayer. Salah consists of five obligatory daily prayers. it is done is specific times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), ʿAṣr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and ʿIshāʾ (night). The Fajr prayer is performed before sunrise, Dhuhr is performed in the midday after the sun has surpassed its highest point, Asr is the evening prayer before sunset, Maghrib is the evening prayer after sunset and Isha is the night prayer. All of these prayers have to be recited facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslims must wash before prayer; this washing is called wudu' (purification).

The prayer is accompanied by a series of set positions including; bowing with hands on knees, standing, prostrating and sitting in a special position.

3-Zakat: Charity

Zakāt or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving based on one's gained wealth. Zakat is obligatory for all Muslims who are able to do so. It is the responsibility of each Muslim to ease the economic hardship of others and to strive towards eliminating inequality between people's wealth. in other words, it is spending a portion of one's wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy. Another type of zakah is Sadaqah which refers to a variety of acts which bring joy or benefit to others. Smiling at someone, speaking a kind word, helping them or removing harm from their way are acts of Sadaqah.






4-Sawm: Fasting

There are three types of fasting are recognized by the Quran: Ritual fasting which is fasting as compensation for repentance and ascetic fasting. Ritual fasting is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan. Muslims must abstain from food and drink from dawn to maghreb during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins. Fasting is necessary for every Muslim that has reached puberty unless people who suffer from a medical condition which prevents him/her from doing so, pre-pubescent children, those with a medical condition such as diabetes, elderly people, pregnant or breastfeeding women, menstruating women and travelling individuals.The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness and to look for forgiveness from God, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, atone for their past sins and to remind them of the needy. During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by avoiding violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, profane language and gossip. In addition, all obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided.

Muslims traditionally break their fasts in the month of Ramadan with dates, as a following 

practice of Muhammad.

5-Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca

The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life. Muslims must dress in Ihram clothing, which consists of two white sheets. Both men and women are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. After a Muslim makes the trip to Mecca, he/she is known as a hajj/hajja (one who made the pilgrimage to Mecca). The main rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba termed Tawaf, touching the Black Stone termed Istilam, walking seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the Devil. A pilgrimage made at any time other than the Hajj season is called an Umrah.

An introduction to Islam and its doctrines.

-What does the word Islam mean?

The Arabic word Islam means “submission,” reflecting the tenet of submitting to the will of God. Followers of Islam are called Muslims which means “one who submits to Allah.”

Islam is a monotheistic faith based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet dedicated the remainder of his life to spread the message of monotheism in a polytheistic world. According to Islamic tradition, in the seventh century, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet over the course of 20 years, revealing to him many messages from God. These dictated revelations compose the Qur'an, Islam's holy book.

The sacred text of Islam, the Qur'an, which Muslims believe it contains the literal words of God, was written in Arabic within 30 years of Muhammad's death. Sayings and actions of Muhammad and his companions are collected in the form of Hadith.

Islam is often seen as having the simplest doctrines of the major religions. There are fundamental beliefs which every Muslim must ascribe to:

1. One God (Allah)

That Allah is one, eternal, creator, and sovereign. The central belief in Islam and the most important theme of Islam is that there is one God. The Muslim name for God is Allah. God is described in chapter 112 of the Quran "Say, He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him". Muslims reject the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and divinity of Jesus. 

2. The angels of God
Angels in Islam are spiritual creatures that obey and serve the purposes of Allah. They are messengers who relay communication to people and carry out other responsibilities. Angels' duties include communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's soul at the time of death. Muslims believe that angels are made of light. Another kind of being that is sapient in Islam is called Jinn, who are believed to be invisible to humans, including the Satans. 

3. The book of God, the Qur'an

Hand-written form of Qura'n

The Quran is the most important writing in the religion of Islam and is the highest authority in both religious and legal matters. The word "Quran" means "recitation" in Arabic. Muslims believe the Quran to be an errorless record of the angel Gabriel's revelations to Muhammad, from 610 until his death in 632 AD. It is also believed to be a perfect copy of a Quran that has existed eternally in paradise. The Quran is more concerned with moral guidance than legal instruction, and is considered the sourcebook of Islamic principles and values.The Quran is divided into 114 suras. The chronologically earlier suras, revealed at Mecca are primarily concerned with ethical and spiritual topics where as later Medinan suras mostly discuss social and moral issues relevant to the Muslim community.

4. The prophets of God, especially Muhammad

Muhammad is the most important historical and theological figure in Islam. His name, which means "highly praised," reflects this. Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD. His father died before he was born and his mother died when he was six-years-old. Muhammad was then raised primarily by his uncle, for whom he worked as a shepherd.



5. The Day of Judgement (or the afterlife)

A verse from Qura'n about the day of judgement

The afterlife is very important to the Islamic worldview. Muslims believe in the continued existence of the soul and a transformed physical existence after death. Islam teaches that there will be a day of judgement on their good and bad deeds
when all humans will be divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise and Hell. They believe its time is preordained by God but unknown to man. The Qurʼan lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell, such as disbelief in God, and dishonesty; however, the Qurʼan makes it clear God will forgive the sins of those who repent if he so wills. Good deeds, such as charity, prayer and compassion towards animals will be rewarded with entry to heaven. Muslims view heaven as a place of joy and bliss.



6. The supremacy of God's will (or predestination)

Islam teaches that God not only foreknows, but also foreordains all that comes to pass in the world and in the lives of individuals. Muslims believe Allah has decreed everything that will happen, nothing happens accidentally.