Muhammad is dead. Now What? The story of the Sunni/Shia split OR Mixing Religion and politics Is Never a bad idea, right guys? …Guys?

Muhammad’s Succession 632 CE- Muhammad dies, leaving no confirmed successor* Disagreement among clans on who will lead the faith Chosen by bloodline (Ali)? Or leadership ability? Some hesitance to establish a hereditary dynasty, like pre-Islamic bedouins The Ummah (the Islamic community) elects Muhammad’s father-in-law (through his wife Aisha) Abu Bakr He becomes the first Caliph - the leader of the Ummah. “Caliph” means deputy or successor

The Rashidun (632-661) The Rule of the Four Righted Guided Caliphs Name Ruled Died Known For Abu Bakr 1st Caliph 632-634 elected Natural causes, appointed his successor Quelled rebellion and united Arabia Umar ibn al-Khattab 2nd Caliph 634-644 appointed Stabbed in a Medina mosque by a POW with a personal grudge. Wars of expansion (power not religion but religion followed) to the greater Middle East Uthman ibn Affan 3rd Caliph 644-656 Assassinated by those from the elite of Medina over the rise of status and power of the Umayyad clan. Expanded the empire to North Africa and Central Asia- but with much political cost. Standardized the Qu’ran. Ali ibn Abu Talib 4th Caliph/1st Imam 656-661 Assassinated by Kharajiites, a group of dissenters to Ali’s rule Ruled during the first Fitnah (civil war). His place in history is denoted more for who he was rather than what he did.

First Fitnah A 5 Year Civil War that lasted through Ali’s Reign Angered over Ali’s reluctance to seek revenge in the death of Uthman, Aisha (Muhammad’s wife) led a revolt against Ali in the Battle of the Camel, which was lost by the rebels. Ali’s rule was not supported in Syria (where Uthman had appointed members of the Umayyad clan in power). Mu’awiya, governor of Syria, also wanted revenge for Uthman’s death. The Battle of Siffin (657) ended in arbitration between the two sides, which seriously hurt Ali politically.

A Community Divided As Ali was not actively seeking retribution for Uthman’s death, the Ummah was growing more and more discontent with the Caliph (Ali), garnering more support for challengers to the Caliphate like Mu’awiya. The Ummah was also horrified by the infighting between those that had once been a part of Muhammad’s inner circle, the community wanted a strong leader, not only for their protection but for the preservation of the faith. The true split in Islam came with the death of Ali. The Shia (“followers”), who supported Ali went one way, The Sunni (“tradition”), who followed Mu’awiya I (who declared himself Caliph and began the Umayyad dynasty) went the other.

Second Fitnah Mu’awiya I had managed to reconsolidate the Ummah, although in order to keep the community intact long-term,. Mu’awiya arranged for his son Yazid to succeed him Closer to a monarchy than of an Arab Chieftain Outraged at the choice of succession, Hussein (the son of Ali) and his followers demanded their rights to the Caliphate, which culminates in the Battle of Karbala in 680.

The Battle of Karbala and its outcomes Supporters of Hussein ibn Ali vs. Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph. Horribly outnumbered: under 100 vs. 4000+ All men were massacred Women and children enslaved and made to march to Damascus, including Hussein’s sister Zaynab The Martyrdom of Hussein is celebrated by Shia, this day is called Ashura.

Holidays Sunni: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr Shia: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura Ashura- a day of mourning. Men would beat their chests, and cut their bodies with knives. As most religious elite ban the cutting practice it still happens, they encourage the Shia to donate blood instead to commemorate the blood spilled at the battle of Karbala.

Sunni and Shia Today Population statistics: Sunni 90% Shia 10%

Holy Places Sunni: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem Shia: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf (Site of Ali’s Tomb), Karbala

Recap Sunni Abu Bakr Umar Uthman Ali Mu’awiya Umayyad dynasty (661-750) Abassid dynasty (750-1517) Ottoman dynasty (1517-1924) (ISIS?) The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors-- rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War. Caliphs are political leaders

Recap Sunni

Recap Sunni

Recap Sunni

Recap Shia Abu Bakr Umar Uthman Ali – 1st Imam Hasan (Ali’s son) – 2nd Imam Hussein (Ali’s son) – 3rd Imam […] Muhammad ibn al-Hasan–12th Imam = the Mahdi = savior (Ayatollah Khomeini: Iran, 1979) Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed. In 931 the Twelfth Imam disappeared. This was a seminal event in the history of Shiite Muslims. Cult of Martyrdom- the 12 Imams The Mahdi Imams are religious leaders

Map study 1 Which countries have a mix of Sunni and Shia Muslims? Link

Map study 2 Which ethnic groups are in Iraq? Iran? Turkey? Link

Map study 3 Who should be in charge of Iraq?

Map study 3 Kurds! 30-45 million of ‘em.

Map study 4 Which countries have the most Muslims? Link

Map study 4 Which countries have the most Muslims? Link

Map study 4 Which countries have the most Muslims? Link

Terrorism Admit it, you’ve been thinking about it a bit while we’ve studied Islam

Religion Is powerful People can use religion for good or for ill. Every religion has its terrorists.

Wahhabism Founded by Mohammed Ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-92) Advocated a return to “original” Islam, no “innovations” Wahhabi Islam thus bans any prayer to saints and dead loved ones, pilgrimages to tombs and special mosques, religious festivals celebrating saints, the honoring of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, and even prohibits the use of gravestones when burying the dead. Those who would not conform to this view should be killed, their wives and daughters violated, and their possessions confiscated, he wrote.

Wahhabism + SAUD 1741: al-Wahhab allied with House of Saud 1930s: House Saud takes over Arabia => Saudi Arabia

Wahhabism + SAUD + OIL Saudi Arabia makes oodles of money from oil $1 billion/day 2nd largest oil reserves in the world US imports $300B/yr, 17% from Saudi Arabia (2015) 1970s: began “exporting” Wahhabism $10 billion worth (US State Dept)