Dear carmi604-ga,
There are two main sects of Islam: Sunni and Shiite. The main
difference arose following their beliefs as to who were the leaders by
succession following the death of Prophet Muhammad.
The Shi'ites , from the Arabic word for "faction “, rejected the first
three successors to Muhammad as usurpers, claiming the fourth,
Muhammad's son-in-law Ali, as the rightful leader. They rule in Iran,
Azerbaijan and also have a sizable presence in Iraq and Syria. They
represent 10-15% of all Muslims.
The Sunnis, from the Arabic word for “tradition”, are the largest
division of Islam (today more than 80%). They accepted the succession
of Muhammad's elected successors i.e. a line of caliphs, starting with
Abu Bakr.
Among these, other sects arose - such as the conservative Wahhabi of
Saudi Arabia which is the form of Islam espoused by Osama bin Laden -
as well as different schools of theology. Another development within
Islam, beginning in the eighth and ninth centuries, was Sufism, a form
of mysticism. This movement was influential for many centuries and was
instrumental in the spread of Islam in Asia and Africa. Some Muslims,
such as Wahhabis, do not consider Sufis true Muslims.
Other differences between the two main sects include the question of
intercession between Allah and human beings; matters not delineated by
the Koran; the means of attaining paradise; and the role of
present-day Imams, or religious leaders.
I recommend the following web sites to obtain a broader understanding
of some of these issues and in particular the history of how the split
occurred and influence of religion on the state:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0847245.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0844916.html
http://www.ncss.org/resources/moments/580602.shtml
Please do not hesitate to ask for clarification of any of this answer.
Answerfinder-ga
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