Shia Islam Essay, Research Paper

Shi’a Islam

Shi’a Islam is almost as old as Islam itself and has always had a minority

population in Muslim populated areas of the world. According to Shi’a beliefs the prophet

Muhammad had named his cousin Ali as his successor at his time of death.

Ali had supposedly been the first to accept Muhammad’s revelations after the

prophet’s wife, Khadija had. When Muhammad died it was not Ali who was named caliph,

but Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr had accompanied Muhammad in the hijra in Medina. His reign as

caliph was short-lived, he died after only two years as an imam.

After Abu Bakr’s death Umar was name caliph. He was also a companion of the

prophet. After his death a council was formed to choose the next caliph. The council

elected Uthman of the Umayad clan. Ali, who was on the council disagreed with the

decision but didn’t voice a challenge to him.

Followers of both men clashed and for the first time in the history in Islam a

division in the Islamic community had been formed. Tensions between both sides caused

the murder of Uthman by Ali’s party in Medina. Ali then assumed the position as caliph

and imam. Ali was not generally recognized as the caliph outsid