Is He Caliphied?

Holy Watermelon

What qualifies a man to lead the Ummah? Islam, like any religious tradition, is not monolithic. Let's explore the history of schisms and the personalities behind them in the early Islamic period. After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, there was a succession crisis; for some, it was a bigger crisis than for others.

The first to be elected to take over leadership was Abu Bakr, the prophet's father-in-law. For decades, the followers of Muhammad were fairly united, until one of his sons-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, took over as the fourth caliph. This was followed by a great schism between what would come to be known as the Sunni and Shia Muslims.

The Shia have splintered further since the 7th century: The Ismailis adhere to inheritance of a lost son, and the Twelvers hope for the return of a mysterious claim of a hidden child.

Despite the many schisms that established the disunity of Islamic thought, there is much that they retain in common.

We also explore the traditions that fuel the authoritarian fundamental extremists that so many are rightly worried about.

All this and more...

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