In the Name of Allah

Islamic Schools of Thought and Factors of Unity

Ahmed Minaei

Index
An introduction to different Islamic schools Imamah Shia Religious thought:
Holy Quran Sunnah
The Prophet PBUH Household of Prophet PBUH

Intellectual reasoning Consensus Shari`ah, Ijtahad

Factors that create unity

Sunnism and Shi`ism (1)

Today about 77-87% of all Muslims are Sunnis and about 23-13% are Shi`i. (~130 million) The Shi`a population are mostly in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf states, and East Africa have notable Shia minority.

Sunnism and Shi`ism (2)

Sunni Ah al- sunnah wal jama`ah Shi`a Shi`at Ali ibn Abi Talib After the death of the Prophet (PBUH), while Ali and the rest of his family were burying him, the rest of the community gathered in Medina and chose Abu Bakr as the Prophets successor (Caliph), the ruler of the newly established Islamic community. A number of people believed that Ali should have become the Prophets successor

Sunnism and Shi`ism (3)

The major point of contention was not only the question of who should succeed the Prophet PBUH, but the question of the qualifications of such a person. Sunnism: The function of Caliph was to protect the borders, keep security and peace, appoint judges, and so forth. Shi`ism: Such a person also had to have the deepest knowledge of Islamic Law as well as the esoteric knowledge of the Quran and prophetic teachings.

Imam
In Arabic "Imam" literally means leader. An Imam, in general terminology, may be good or bad, The extent of his leadership may be very broad or very limited.
leading a whole nation leading congregations in a mosque

Imam in Shi`i view

Must be inerrant (Ma`soum) and possess divine knowledge of both the exoteric and the esoteric meaning of the Quran.
So, Imam is the person who is appointed by God and introduced by the Prophet PBUH, and then by each preceding Imam by explicit designation, to lead the Muslim community Interpret and protect the religion and the law (shariah), and guide the community in all affairs. The Imam is the Representative of God on earth (khalifatullah) and the successor of the Prophet.

Imam in Sunni view

Equivalent to the term Caliph (khalifah). In Arabic the term khalifah means successor. The term has been used as a title for whoever took the power and ruled the Islamic state A Caliph may be elected, or nominated by his predecessor, or selected by a committee, or may even acquire power through military force. A Caliph need not be sinless, nor does he need to be superior to others in qualities such as faith or knowledge.

Islamic schools of Fiqh

Shi`ism / Ja`fari / Imami
Sunnism
Hanafi (Imam Abu Hanifah) Maliki (Imam Malik ibn Anas) Shafi`i (Imam Muhammad al-Shafi`i) Hanbali (Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal) d. 768 d. 795 d. 820 d. 855

d. 757

6th Imam of Shi`ism (founder of 12 Imam Shia Law)

12 Emams in Shi`a
1. Imam Ali b. Abu Talib Died 40 A.H./659 A.D. 2. Imam Hasan b. Ali Died 50 A.H./669 A.D. 3. Imam Husayn b. Ali Died 61 A.H./680 A.D. 4. Imam Ali b. Husayn Died 95 A.H./712 A.D. 5. Imam Muhammad b. Ali Died 114 A.H./732 A.D. 6. Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad Died 148 A.H./765 A.D. 7. Imam Musa b. Ja'far Died 183 A.H./799 A.D. 8. Imam Ali b. Musa Died 203 A.H./817 A.D. 9. Imam Muhammad b. Ali Died 220 A.H./835 A.D. 10. Imam Ali b. Muhammad Died 254 A.H./868 A.D. 11. Imam Hasan b. Ali 12. Imam al-Mahdi Died 260 A.H./872 A.D. Born 256 A.H./868 A.D.

The belief in a saviour

We have written in the Psalms following the Reminder: My honourable servants shall inherit the earth. (21:105)
Yet we wanted to endow those who were considered inferior on earth, and make them into leaders and make them [Our] heirs. (28:5)

Al-Mahdi
Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left (before the day of judgment), God will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person from my household who will be called by my name.
Sunan by al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Fitan, Int. serial no. 2156 & 2157 and Sunan by Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Mahdi, Int. serial no. 3733 & 3734.

A universal mission starting from the Arab world

The Shia believe that he is the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari. He was born in 255 (A.H). In the year 260 (A.H.) his occultation started. He is still alive, but protected by God in the state of occultation until the preparations will be made for his reappearance. The same is believed by some Sunni scholars, but some other Sunni scholars believe that he has not yet been born.

Islamic schools of Fiqh

Shi`ism / Ja`fari / Imami
Sunnism
Hanafi (Imam Abu Hanifah) Maliki (Imam Malik ibn Anas) Shafi`i (Imam Muhammad al-Shafi`i) Hanbali (Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal) d. 768 d. 795 d. 820 d. 855

d. 757

6th Imam of Shi`ism (founder of 12 Imam Shia Law)

Hanafism
Founded by Imam Abu Hanifah, a Persian student of Imam Sadeq Today has the largest number followers in the Sunni world. Held a great attraction for Turks and Muslims of Indian subcontinent. Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Caucasia, central Asia Sunni part of Afghanistan and Sunnis in Pakistan are mostly Hanafi

Malikism
Founded by Imam Malik ibn Anas Very conservative in approach to the Law The heart of Malikism is North and West Africa outside of Egypt Dominant in Morocco and Sudan.

Shafi`ism
Founded by Imam Muhammad al-Shafi`, a student of Imam Abu Hanifah Buried in Cairo, loved and admired by Egyptians. Part of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, Most of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand

Hanbalism
Founded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, from Baghdad Based itself solely on the Quran and Hadith Gave a very strict interpretation of Shari`ah The official school in Saudi Arabia and Qatar Wahhabism is an offshoot of Hanbalism

Wahhabism
Arose as a reformist movement in the end of 18th Opposed the later refinements of Islamic culture in the form of philosophy and theology as well as arts It was opposed by Shi`ism and many Sunnis Ottoman Caliph sent an army to defeat them Wahhabism survived through an alliance made between the Wahhabi scholars and House of Sa`ud After World War I captured the Hijaz (Mecca, Medina) and created the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Islamic sources according to Shi`a Law

Glorious Quran Sunnah
The Prophet PBUH The household of the the Prophet PBUH

The Reason (Intellectual Reasoning) Consensus (Ijma`)

Glorious Quran
Quran is the most important source for all Muslims Shi`a deny any alteration in the Quran Quran available today is the same one that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its preserver (15:9)

No alternation in Holy Quran

Seyed Tabatabaei in Al-Mizan:
Quran is a living and eternal Reminder which will never die and fall into oblivion. It is immune from any addition or loss. It is eternally protected by Allah against any alterations.

The Sunnah
After the Glorious Quran, the most important source for understanding Islam, and therefore Shii thought, is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, which includes his sayings and his deeds.
The Prophet PBUH is a perfect example for the believers (33:21). He never speaks out of his own wishes. (53:3) Muslims are asked to hold on to whatever he gives them and refrain from whatever he prohibits. (59:7)

The household of the Prophet PBUH

No disagreement exists among Muslims about the need to follow the teachings of the household of the Prophet in understanding Islam According to the Sunni view, all the companions of the Prophet are reliable sources, including the Ahlul Bayt

Ahlul Bayt
Ibn Taymiyah reports from Imam Malik: No eyes have seen, no ears have heard, and nothing has come to the heart of any human being better than Jafar b. Muhammad in his knowledge, in his piety, in his asceticism and in his servitude to God.
(Al-Tawassul wa al-Wasilah, p. 52, 1st edition)

Two precious (Thaqalayn)

I leave among you two precious things, which if you hold on to you will not go astray after me: the Book of God which is like a rope extended between the heaven and the earth, and my household. These two things will not separate from each other until they reach me near the fountain on the Day of Judgement. Look and be careful how you treat them after me.
Sahih Muslim (Vol. 8, p. 25, No. 2408), Musnad by Imam Ahmad (Vol. 3, p. 388, No. 10720), Sunan by Darimi (Vol. 2, p. 432), Sahih by Tirmidhi (Vol. 5, p. 6432, No. 3788). They are also mentioned in books such as Usd al-Ghabah by ibn Athir (Vol. 2, p. 13), Al-Sunan alKubra by Bayhaqi (Vol. 2, p. 198) and Kanz al-Ummal (Vol. 1, p. 44).

Results of Hadith Thaqalayn

1. From the time of the Prophet PBUH until the end of the world the Book of God and the household of the Prophet PBUH will always be together 2. No one can say that the book of God is enough, and that we do not need the household of the Prophet, or vice versa

Results of Hadith Thaqalayn

3. The household of the Prophet would never make mistakes and they are always truthful 4. The household of the Prophet, like the Quran itself, is held to be continuous, persisting until the Day of Judgement and Paradise. Thus, the household of the Prophet will never disappear, even for a short period of time.

Who constitute the `Itrah?

`Ayishah, Umm al-Muminin:
The Prophet PBUH went out wearing a black woollen cloak, when Hasan the son of Ali came to him, so the Prophet let Hasan come in with him under the cloak. Then Husayn came and he too entered. Then Fatimah came. She entered as well. Then Ali came. He also went under the cloak, such that the cloak covered the Prophet, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn. Then the Prophet recited: God only desires to keep away impurity from you, O People of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying (33:33)
Sahih by Muslim, Vol. 4, p. 1883, No. 2424. (Kitab Fadail alSahabah, Bab Fadail Ahlul Bayt, Int. serial no. 4450)

Reason
The Shi`a believe that Reason is a reliable source of knowledge and in complete harmony with revelation. There is an established rule among Shi`a jurists that a judgement made by reason (`aql) is the same as that made by the religion (shar`), and vice versa.

Intellectual reasoning
Role of Revelation/Scriptures in religious studies: confirmation of the facts that are already known from reason introducing new subjects that are not known through reason, such as details of resurrection and detailed accounts of moral and legal systems providing sanctions through the religious system of reward and punishment

Consensus
According to Shia methodology, the consensus of all people, or a group such as the scholars, by itself is not sufficient as a proof (hujjah) It only works when it leads to the discovery of Sunnah. If Muslims today agree on a given subject, while a scholar has doubt about the Islamic judgement on that subject, he methodologically cannot say that because everybody says so, I also say the same.

Dynamism to Shi`i thought

It is only the Quran and the Sunnah that are unquestionably true and immune from any error or mistake. This approach grants a type of dynamism to Shii thought, so that every generation of scholars and even any single scholar is able and indeed is required to refer directly to the Quran and Sunnah and conduct his own original ijtihad, (investigation and independent judgement).

Ijtihad, open or closed?!

Ijtihad has never been banned or closed in the Shi`a world. The Shia believe that the view of no jurist, however high his position, is immune from scientific questioning or challenge. Every scholar needs to consult and examine carefully the works of his predecessors.

Which School to be followed?

Many Sunny scholars such as the late Shaykh Shaltut have clearly pointed out that every Muslim is allowed to act according to one of the five Islamic schools of fiqh: Ja`fari, Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki and Shafi`i.

Who is in Minority?
Shi`a 23%

Hanafi 32%

Hanbali 4% Shafei 16%

Maliki 25%

Hanafi

Maliki

Shafei

Hanbali

Shi`a

The second largest religion in the world

In the last half century...

Judaism 5,630,000
Christianity 682,400,000 Islam 209,020,000

decrease 15,000,000
increase 1,000,000,000 increase 700,000,000

4%

47%

235%

Growth rates taken between World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1935 and Readers Digest Almanac and Yearbook 1983

The fastest growing religion

Christian 1900 world population 1980 world population 2000 world population 2025 world population (PROJECTED) 26.90% 30% 29.90% 25% Muslim 12.40% 16.50% 19.20% 30% 1900 world population 1980 world population 2001 world population 2026 world population (PROJECTED) 1900 world population 1980 world population 2001 world population 2026 world population (PROJECTED)

Muslims in the world

According to UNFPA (United Nation Population Fund) in 1999 the world population is 6.2 billion 20% (1.2 billion) adhere to Islam. Africa: 315,000,000 Asia: 812,000,000 Europe: 31,401,000 Latin America: 1,624,000 Northern America: 4,349,000 Oceania: 248,000.
www.census.gov. & Britannica 2002

Muslims in the world

Muslims live all over the world. The total number of countries with Muslim inhabitants is 208. (Britannica, 2002) About 85% of Muslims live outside the Arab world. The majority of Muslims live to the east of the borders of Iran, especially in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia. Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country

Factors that create unity

Despite the political fragmentation, theological differences, and ethnic distinctions, There is a strong sense of the unity of Islamic community (ummah) in the heart of all Muslims A constant desire for greater political unity within Abode of Islam (dar al-islam) A visible unity in Islamic civilization The central factor in creating unity among Muslims is the Holy Quran Sunnah / Hadith

Factors that create unity

1. 3 Central doctrines upon which all Islamic schools agree (Tawhid, Nubuwwah, Ma`ad) 2. Islamic Law (Shari`ah)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Daily Prayers Fasting Pilgrimage to Mecca Almsgiving Struggle for the sake of God Enjoining good and prohibiting evil

3. Same Values
1. Piety (Taqwa) 2. Knowledge (Elm) 3. Struggle for the sake of God (Jihad)

Additional References
Tabatabaei, Sayyed Mohammd Husayn: Shi`a Islam Nasr, Seyed Hossein, The Heart of Islam Shomali, M.A., Discovering Shii Islam Murata, Sachiko, and Chittick William C., The Vision of Islam Shomali, M.A., Shii Islam: Origins, Faith and Practices Algar Hamid, Shi'a Islam: Doctrines and History