Diversity in Islam
o Shia’s interpretations of the five pillars of Islam Prayer
o Within Shia Islam there are also many sects, the o Sunni Muslims acknowledge
main one being ‘The Twelvers’ and another, the that the Prophet SAW used to
Ismailis’. combine his Zuhr and Asr
o Shia Muslims have a different version of the prayers and the maghrib and
populace of Islam the main pillars from the Isha prayers sometimes when
perspective of the Twelvers are known as the Usul the community where busy in
ud Din. The main beliefs practised are tawhid, some matters e.g., War
Nubuwwah (Risalah), Imamah, Miad (Akhirah). o Shia Muslims take this literally
o The Shahadah of the Shia differs from that of the and so combine their prayers,
Sunnis. To the Sunnis Shahadah they add ‘Ali is the reading them one after the
guidance of God’ which reflects the importance they other and instead prayed 3
place on Ali who in their eyes was chosen as times a day contrast to the
usual 5 daily prayers.
o When praying Shia Muslims
perform sajda with a small clay
The ismailis tablet placed in front of them
o Their pillars are somewhat different this is made from clay at the
in that they follow their Imams ground in Karbala and so their
interpretations which vary. Ismailis foreheads are placed on the
focus on the spiritual aspect of the tablet when prostrating
pillars being more important than
the physical aspect. For example,
they practise the greater fasts of not
backbiting, slandering etc than
actually abstaining from just food.
, o Shias believe that regardless of
The succession of Ali Ra
o Ali was one of the prophets SAW closest these events, Ali was the rightful
leader, and his death was wrong so
companions. Shia Muslims believe that
accepting what happened would be
God inspired Muhammed to appoint Ali as
seen as going against ‘God’s will’
his successor and that Ali was infallible in
as they believe this was injustice
that he was sinless.
and should promote what is right
o In the hadith of the Cloak, Muhammed,
and forbad wrong.
Fatimah, and Ali were together protected
by the prophet’s cloth which was
interpreted as the prophet wanting his
successors to be from his family.
o Sunnis agree that Ali was the fourth
rightly guided caliph not the first. There is
dispute over the appointment of Abu
Bakras the first caliph, Ali accepted Abu
Bakr’s leadership to not cause a split in
the community.
o Uthman ra was murdered after which Ali
was appointed but some felt that
Uthman’s murdered were not chased
down properly by Ali which resulted in the
battle of Siffin after arbitration failed. This
period is known as the period of the first
Fitnah known to set Muslims against each
other.
o Despite winning the battle of siffin, Ali’s
supporters were ineffective and he ra was
eventually murdered. With a poisoned
, Martyrdom The Death of Hussein
o Various traditions suggest martyrs are o When Ali became caliph not
highly regarded in Islam, elevated to everyone accepted him, his biggest
heaven automatically with their sins opponent was Muawiya whose son
overlooked, granted a place in the 7th Yazid succeeded him.
heaven. o Yazid demanded that Hussein gives
o Caliph Ali died when he was allegiance to him. Many supporters
assassinated during salah with a urged him to oppose Yazid and
poisoned sword in the middle of provide guidance as an Imam.so
Ramadhan, his death viewed as Hussein’s and Yazid’s troops under
martyrdom. Hussein and his supporter’s commander Obaidullah ibn Zayd
death at Karbala are regarded as faced off at Karbala. Ibn Zayd
martyrdom which has inspired Shia ordered Hussein to state allegiance
Muslims to this day. In Iran-Iraq war which Hussein did not so Ibn Zayd
against Saddam Hussein martyrdom cut off the water supply. Battle at
was encouraged. Karbala erupted on the 10th of
o Haleh Afshar points out the position of muharram. Hussein, women,
women in early Islam and their children, elderly were all mutilated
participation in fighting and conflict. In and massacred.
the days of the prophet Summayyah o This date is known as Ashura
Bint Khayyat was the first martyr in marked by special
Islam due to her conversion to Islam. commemorations by Shia Muslims.
o Some Muslims argue that the concept Some visit Hussein’s grave as a
of Martyrdom in today’s society has place of pilgrimage.
been abused by those who have o Passion plays are enacted to
become involved in modern day illustrate the events at Karbala.
political conflict, some of whom have
committed suicide bombings in the
name of Islam rejected by majority of
Muslims.
o Sufi Scholar: Muhammed Tahir Al Qadri
o Shia’s interpretations of the five pillars of Islam Prayer
o Within Shia Islam there are also many sects, the o Sunni Muslims acknowledge
main one being ‘The Twelvers’ and another, the that the Prophet SAW used to
Ismailis’. combine his Zuhr and Asr
o Shia Muslims have a different version of the prayers and the maghrib and
populace of Islam the main pillars from the Isha prayers sometimes when
perspective of the Twelvers are known as the Usul the community where busy in
ud Din. The main beliefs practised are tawhid, some matters e.g., War
Nubuwwah (Risalah), Imamah, Miad (Akhirah). o Shia Muslims take this literally
o The Shahadah of the Shia differs from that of the and so combine their prayers,
Sunnis. To the Sunnis Shahadah they add ‘Ali is the reading them one after the
guidance of God’ which reflects the importance they other and instead prayed 3
place on Ali who in their eyes was chosen as times a day contrast to the
usual 5 daily prayers.
o When praying Shia Muslims
perform sajda with a small clay
The ismailis tablet placed in front of them
o Their pillars are somewhat different this is made from clay at the
in that they follow their Imams ground in Karbala and so their
interpretations which vary. Ismailis foreheads are placed on the
focus on the spiritual aspect of the tablet when prostrating
pillars being more important than
the physical aspect. For example,
they practise the greater fasts of not
backbiting, slandering etc than
actually abstaining from just food.
, o Shias believe that regardless of
The succession of Ali Ra
o Ali was one of the prophets SAW closest these events, Ali was the rightful
leader, and his death was wrong so
companions. Shia Muslims believe that
accepting what happened would be
God inspired Muhammed to appoint Ali as
seen as going against ‘God’s will’
his successor and that Ali was infallible in
as they believe this was injustice
that he was sinless.
and should promote what is right
o In the hadith of the Cloak, Muhammed,
and forbad wrong.
Fatimah, and Ali were together protected
by the prophet’s cloth which was
interpreted as the prophet wanting his
successors to be from his family.
o Sunnis agree that Ali was the fourth
rightly guided caliph not the first. There is
dispute over the appointment of Abu
Bakras the first caliph, Ali accepted Abu
Bakr’s leadership to not cause a split in
the community.
o Uthman ra was murdered after which Ali
was appointed but some felt that
Uthman’s murdered were not chased
down properly by Ali which resulted in the
battle of Siffin after arbitration failed. This
period is known as the period of the first
Fitnah known to set Muslims against each
other.
o Despite winning the battle of siffin, Ali’s
supporters were ineffective and he ra was
eventually murdered. With a poisoned
, Martyrdom The Death of Hussein
o Various traditions suggest martyrs are o When Ali became caliph not
highly regarded in Islam, elevated to everyone accepted him, his biggest
heaven automatically with their sins opponent was Muawiya whose son
overlooked, granted a place in the 7th Yazid succeeded him.
heaven. o Yazid demanded that Hussein gives
o Caliph Ali died when he was allegiance to him. Many supporters
assassinated during salah with a urged him to oppose Yazid and
poisoned sword in the middle of provide guidance as an Imam.so
Ramadhan, his death viewed as Hussein’s and Yazid’s troops under
martyrdom. Hussein and his supporter’s commander Obaidullah ibn Zayd
death at Karbala are regarded as faced off at Karbala. Ibn Zayd
martyrdom which has inspired Shia ordered Hussein to state allegiance
Muslims to this day. In Iran-Iraq war which Hussein did not so Ibn Zayd
against Saddam Hussein martyrdom cut off the water supply. Battle at
was encouraged. Karbala erupted on the 10th of
o Haleh Afshar points out the position of muharram. Hussein, women,
women in early Islam and their children, elderly were all mutilated
participation in fighting and conflict. In and massacred.
the days of the prophet Summayyah o This date is known as Ashura
Bint Khayyat was the first martyr in marked by special
Islam due to her conversion to Islam. commemorations by Shia Muslims.
o Some Muslims argue that the concept Some visit Hussein’s grave as a
of Martyrdom in today’s society has place of pilgrimage.
been abused by those who have o Passion plays are enacted to
become involved in modern day illustrate the events at Karbala.
political conflict, some of whom have
committed suicide bombings in the
name of Islam rejected by majority of
Muslims.
o Sufi Scholar: Muhammed Tahir Al Qadri
