Islam: Tradition Flashcards
What caused the Sunni-Shi’a split?
Disagreement over who ruled after Muhammed death. He never named a successor, nor had any male children to continue, yet the Muslims needed a leader. Shi’a Muslims believed the next successor should be Ali (cousin). Yet Sunni Muslims thought it should be Abu Bakr (loyal friend)
What quote from the hadith suggests Ali should be the next leader?
“Whoever has me as his patron… has Ali as his patron”
Sunni: reasons why Abu Bakr was chosen to lead
- Very pious - one of the first to covert to Islam
- Trusted friend + father in law to Muhammed
- Took over Friday prayers when Muhammed was ill
Scholarly/other reasons Abu Bakr should lead:
- Aslan states: he was not “untried” - recognized for spiritual maturity and military prowess
- Banu Hashim and other tribes wanted him as the leader
- Madelung - hereditary succession was common amongst the aristocratic Quraysh
- Had experience as a leader - in charge of Ummah when Muhammed was absent.
Shi’a: reasons for Ali to be leader:
- Muhammad had designated his cousin to be the leader at his final pilgrimage to Mecca
- The tradition states that Prophet Muhammad stooped a the oasis called Ghadir- al Khumm and declared “whoever has me as his patron has Ali as his patron”
- Both belonged to the Hashim tribe
- Muhammed requested the presence of Ali at his deathbed.
- Abu Bakr was at tribal consultation whilst Ali was washing Muhammed’s body (deceitful)
Sunni disagreement over who makes up the ijma:
- Only the salaaf
- Only first generation of Muslims
- All Muslims across the world
- Only Muslims who are learned.
Who was chosen as leader, and why?
Abu Bakr:
- Most scholars agree he was the best choice
- From Quaraysh tribe
- Ali and his family (wife Fatima) conceded that the situation was too volatile to make a fuss and so they swore allegiance to Abu Bakr
Shi’a successors after Muhammed:
The 12 Infallible Imams: Ali, Hassan, Hussain, Ali, Muhammed, Jaafar, Musa…
Sunni successors after Muhammed:
The 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs:
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali bin Talib
Importance of Imams:
Shi’a - they are divinely guided, they explain and safeguard the current faith.
Sunni - imam’s are not important, revelation ended with Muhammed.
Where are Sunni/Shi’a Muslims more prevalent?
Sunni - Most Muslim countries
Shi’a - Iran
Importance of Shi’a imams
Twelver Shi’a Muslims believe that:
1. Imam’s are semi-divine + have supernatural knowledge, miraculous births and perform miracles,
2. Each are a descendant of Muhammed and designated by the previous Imam
3. 12th Imam will come at the end of the world
What is the Ijma for Sunni Muslims?
Ijma is the community consensus, made up from:
1. Ulama - learned scholars
2. First generation of Muslims
3. Salaf - first 3 generations
“My ummah will never agree upon an error”
The Yemeni Cloak incident
Muhammed was sick with fever, so asked Fatima for a Yemeni cloak. Hasan and Hussein joined him under the cloak, as well as their father. Fatima then decided to join, and Muhammed repeated the verse 33:33 “Allah intends to keep off from you uncleanness… purify you with a perfect purification.”
What is the meaning/importance of the Yemeni cloak?
- The cloak represents sinlessness of the ahl al-bayt.
- Shi’a Muslims believe this refers to 14 people of Muhammed’s family: Muhammed, Fatima and the 12 imams.
- Allah intends to keep the people of the house sinless and flawless
