ISLAM. Shi'i and Sunni Muslims - Research Paper Example

Islam is articulated by the divine book, Holy Quran, and is a monotheistic religion. Quran is the text, which is regarded as the perfect word of God by its Muslim followers and by the teachings of Holy Prophet (PBUH). Muhammad (PBUH) is the last Prophet of Allah and the seal on all the prophets and marks the finality of the prophethood. An adherent, or a follower, of Islam is known as the Muslim. The Muslims, without doubt, believe that there is only One and Incomparable God and the purpose of the existence of entire humanity is to serve and love the Almighty Power.

They are also of the firm belief that Islam is a full universal adaptation of the primitive faith which was sent at various places and times through Moses, Abraham, and Jesus, who were the prophets of God before the arrival of Holy Prophet (PBUH) (Raana, 2010). Majority of the Muslims in Islam are the Sunni followers these days. According to the etymology of the word Sunni, it is a very broad terms which has been derived from the word Sunnah, which means a ‘normal practice’ or ‘habit’.

Sunnis exist from the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and are generally considered as the orthodox, or conventional, form of the religion. They are considered to be the followers of one of the four schools of thoughts: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii, and Hanbali. These schools differ from each other in the methodologies of interpreting and practicing the Islamic laws (Marranci, 2007). The formation of Sunni sect was the outcome of the election of Abu Bakar as the first successor of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Ali had already got the candidature for the caliph but when the community chose the closest companion of Holy Prophet, the entire community got divided into two sects over this dispute. Those, who accepted and respected the legality and authority of Abu Bakar’s caliphate composed the majority of Muslims, were later called as “Sunni,” which means the “followers of [the Prophet’s] customs [sunna].” The