I've read some about Shiite and Sunni. I'd like to know more. I'm also aware of Wahabiism and the American Nation of Islam. What other groups, based on differences in intepretation of the Koran, exist? Shiite and Sunni differ mainly on the succession of leadership from Mohammed. Other groups may differ based on (sp?) fatwah's issued by various Imam's. What I'm looking for is a 'landscape' view of Islam based on religious interpretation with info on the total number of worshippers in each group.
Update:Thank you all for your responses. I read a report that was delivered to the US Congress in 2003 and extracted the following info. Would you please tell me whether it is inaccurate.
There are 3 holy books in Islam: the Quran (Gabriel dictating to Muhammed), the Sunnah (Muh. life as an example) and the Hadith (Muh. holy sayings). For Sunni's there are 4 schools of law which Shariah uses according to the local choice: Hanbali (strict), Shafi (popular), Maliki (mostly in africa), and Hanafi (moderate).
There are approximately 1 Billion people who practice Islam world wide. In addition to Sunni and Shia, there are Sufi's, Unitarians (Saudi Arabia), Wahabi's (reformers), Alawi's (Syria & Turkey), Druze (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel), Ibadhis/Kharjites (Oman, Africa), Ahmadiya (Pakistan), Zaydis (Yemen).
Islam is categorized (by the Congressional report) into either 'fundamentalists' or 'extremists(bin Laden).
Question: which school of law is favored by Muslims in the US?
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The largest Muslim group is Ahlus Sunni. They follow the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Wahabism is a recent trend but it considers itself Sunni. It just says to go back to the original sources of Islam and to not promote new innovations in the religion. Shias have different beliefs but from what I've seen its mostly a political difference in who should be the head of the Islamic state. There are other differences too. The Nation of Islam originally had nothing to do with Islam at all. Recently, it has come closer to mainstream Islam but still has some major differences. The Nation of Islam originally had a prophet and though white ppl were evil. This is in complete contradiction to mainstream Islam that says the Last Prophet was Muhammad and all humans are equal. Sunnis comprise about 90% of mainstream Islam while Shias are 10%. But these are rough figures.
Islam like Christianity and Judaism has splintered off into other groups with their own particular belief systems.
yeap, thanks for your question. the denominations aren't created in just a blink of eye, but it took almost hundreds for them to build a strong foundation in islamic community excluding american nation of islam and sister in islam. these denominations claimed to be following the quran, but when we make a few research into their belief and culture, clearly seen that they are truly following the quran and hadiths. while prophet muhammad had said, "i'm giving you two treasures and you won't lost in searching for truth if you keep on hlolding these treasures; quran and hadiths."