who is the religious leader of islam

Today, about 85 percent of the approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are Sunni, while 15 percent are Shia, according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations. WebIslamic religious leaders by nationality (20 C) A. Ayatollahs (8 C, 14 P) C. Caliphs (28 C, 4 P) Muslim clergy (3 C, 1 P) F. Female Islamic religious leaders (3 C, 28 P) G. Grand Muftis (30 C, 15 P) I. Imams (10 C, 12 P) M. Marja' (3 P) Religious leaders of the medieval Islamic world (9 C) Eventually the Sunni majority (named for sunna, or tradition) won out, and chose Muhammads close friend Abu Bakr to become the first caliph, or leader, of the Islamic community. It is commonly used to refer to the official that leads the prayers at the mosques. The position of women as imams is controversial. For a time, the influence and status of his wife and his uncle, Abu Talib, the chief of the clan, protected Muhammad from persecution. But of course it's not what happened. Instead, Husseins martyrdom at Karbala became the central story of Shia tradition, and is commemorated yearly as Ashoura, the most solemn date on the Shia calendar. Moreover, a number of rudimentary details about Muhammad are confirmed by non-Islamic sources dating from the first decades after Muhammads traditional date of death. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Sarah Pruitt is a writer and editor based in seacoast New Hampshire. It was obviously intended by the Ummayads to put the definitive end to all claims to leadership of the ummah as a matter of direct descendence from Muhammad, says Hazleton of Husseins death, and the death of all the surviving members of Muhammads family, at Karbala. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became the supreme religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, following many years of resistance to Shah Pahlavi. Most Muslims believe that Muhammads scribes wrote down his words, which became the Quran. Mounted on the heavenly steed Buraq, Muhammad traveled from the Ka'ba in Mecca to the "Farthest Mosque," which Muslims believe to be the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. By carefully comparing accounts, scholars have identified common elements that were in circulation by the late 7th century, and some rudimentary details are confirmed by non-Islamic sources (e.g., a Syriac chronicle and an Armenian history) dating to the first few decades after his traditional death date. Each such report is normally introduced by a list of names tracing it through various intermediaries back to its ultimate source, which in many cases is an eyewitnessfor example, the Prophets wife ishah. Eid al-Fitr: marks the end of Ramadanthe Islamic holy month of fasting. Islam, major world religion promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. However, many Muslims do not support such extreme measures. Islam started in Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia, during the time of the prophet Muhammads life. Featured in this unit are several depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. In the final major confrontation, The Battle of the Trench and Siege of Medina, Muhammad and his followers prevailed and a treaty was signed. Amid the increasing politicization of Islam and the rise of fundamentalists on both sides of the divide, sectarian tensions intensified in the early 21st century, especially amid the upheavals caused by two Persian Gulf Wars, the chaos that followed the U.S.-backed ouster of Saddam Husseins Sunni regime in Iraq, and the mass uprisings across the region that began with the Arab Spring in 2011. The Angel Gabriel appeared and relayed the word of God: Recite in the name of your Lord who creates, creates man from a clot! At least to historians who are reluctant to admit reports of divine intervention, the problem is reinforced by the miraculous elements of some of the material included in Ibn Isqs work. The Shi'a believe that the last Imam, the 12th Imam Mahdi will one day emerge on the Day of Resurrection (Qiyamah). In its narrow sense it refers to scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence. Religious leadership in Islamic social circles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islamic_religious_leaders&oldid=1147270042, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 March 2023, at 21:21. During the reign of the first four caliphs, Arab Muslims conquered large regions in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine, Iran and Iraq. Muhammad was the prophet and founder of Islam. Philosophy. The rift between these two factions has resulted in differences in worship as well as political and religious views. A central figure in an Islamic movement is also called an imam, like Imam Nawawi in Syria. 30 Apr 2023 20:48:23 Learn about the life of Mohammad, the founder of Islam. Islam is picking them off. (There are dozens of these guys out there and evangelicals, even the minorities in the space, are missing a massive opportunity. In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina with his supporters. However, Shia tradition states he welcomed the message from the Angel Gabriel and was deeply inspired to share his experience with other potential believers. The titles of Ayatollah and Grand Ayatollah exist only in the Shiite sect of Islam. Eventually the Sunni majority (named for sunna, or tradition) won out, and chose Muhammads close friend Abu Bakr to become the first caliph, or leader, of the Islamic community. Sensing a threat, Meccas merchants and leaders offered Muhammad incentives to abandon his preaching, but he refused. Also see The Grand Ayatollah. Islam, major world religion promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. BBC.In nations with significant Muslim populations, much disdain for ISIS. From that point forward, Muhammad was ostracized in Mecca. However, this work is extant only in later reworkings and abridgements, of which the best known is Abd al-Malik ibn Hishms (died 833834) Srat Muammad rasl Allh (Life of Muhammad, the Messenger of God). However, when his message condemned idol worship and polytheism, many of Meccas tribal leaders began to see Muhammad and his message as a threat. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions. Updated: January 10, 2022 | Original: July 31, 2019. Although rare, this can include military jihad if a just war is needed. .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Jesus Christ. All things considered, there is no compelling reason to suggest that the basic scaffolding of the traditional Islamic account of Muhammads life is unhistorical. Several Iranian places and institutions are named "Imam Khomeini", including a city, an international airport, a hospital, and a university. Commissioned by Muslims for Muslims, these images appear in biographies of the Prophet and his family, world and local histories, and accounts of Muhammad's celestial journey (mi'raj), as well as in literary texts. All Rights Reserved. The caliphate system lasted for centuries and eventually evolved into the Ottoman Empire, which controlled large regions in the Middle East from about 1517 until 1917, when World War I ended the Ottoman reign. Eid al-Adha: celebrates the Prophet Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah. WebDr. What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World? Muslims also celebrate other holidays, such as the Islamic New Year and the birth of Muhammad. All rights reserved. The Caliph has often been referred to as Ameer al-Mumineen ( ), has been defunct since the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate in 1924. Adultery can carry the penalty of death by stoning. Islam is picking them off. (Lyons Press, 2017), which chronicles some of history's most famous disappearances. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Muhammad is traditionally said to have been born in 570 in Mecca and to have died in 632 in Medina, where he had been forced to emigrate to with his adherents in 622. Soon, Muhammad began to gather a small following, initially encountering no opposition. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became the supreme religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, following many years of resistance to Shah Pahlavi. Finally, in 1979, the Islamic Revolution in Iran produced a radical brand of Shia Islam that would clash violently with Sunni conservatives in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the decades to follow. Other passages mention military encounters between Muhammads followers and the unbelievers. It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word or Khalfah, which means "successor", that is, successor to the Muhammad. In 622, they headed to Medina, another oasis town, where they were promised freedom to practice their religion. He then returned to earth to continue spreading the message of Islam. ; in Arabic: muathi (mu-a-thin) [IPA: mn) is any person at the mosque who makes the adhan, or athan (call to prayer) for the Friday prayer service and the five daily prayers, or Salah, Arabic for prayer. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images, according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations, https://www.history.com/news/sunni-shia-divide-islam-muslim. This event marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. Islam does not have an ordained clergy with authority over rites and rituals. Hence, even if one accepts that the Qurnic corpus authentically documents the preaching of Muhammad, taken by itself it simply does not provide sufficient information for even a concise biographical sketch. His wife is called "nyai". Ruhollah Khomeini is officially referred to as Imam in Iran. The text is considered the sacred word of God and supercedes any previous writings. After the Prophet's Death: Emergence of Shi'i and Sunni Sects of Islam Please enter the correct OTP! This combination of money and power would only grow. The imam's Arabic titles are used by the majority of Twelver Shia who use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Imam&oldid=1151031191, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the New International Encyclopedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Knowledge of Quran and Sunnah, religious devotion, According to most Shia scholars, he was poisoned on the order of Caliph, Sunni and Shia sources both describe him as one of the early and most eminent, According to some Shia scholars, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn Walid ibn 'Abdallah in, According to Shia sources, he was poisoned in, Leader of the Shia community during the schism of, Famous for his generosity and piety in the face of persecution by the, Poisoned by his wife, Al-Ma'mun's daughter, in. ALOR SETAR: The people must not be misled by leaders who sow hatred by using race and religion for their own benefits, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Some Orientalists wrote the title as Khalf. It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word or Khalfah, which means "successor", that is, successor to the Muhammad. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Islam, BBC.Islam: The Second Largest World ReligionAnd Growing, Religious Tolerance.Islam Fast Facts, CNN.Basic Facts About Islam, PBS.What is Sharia Law and How is it Applied? An Imam reads verses from the Quran after Isha' (night prayers) in the Mughal Empire, Discourse between Islamic Imams in the Mughal Empire, Crimean Tatar imams teach the Quran. Muhammad, in full Ab al-Qsim Muammad ibn Abd Allh ibn Abd al-Mualib ibn Hshim, (born c. 570, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]died June 8, 632, Medina), the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Qurn. The controversial term radical Islam has become a well-known label to describe the religions connection to acts of violence. This category has the following 16 subcategories, out of 16 total. The Night Journey and Ascension of the Prophet Any other use of the hosted content, such as for financial gain, requires express approval from the copyright owners. When he was roughly forty, Muhammad began having visions and hearing voices. The term, however, has important connotations in the Islamic tradition especially in Shia belief. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became the supreme religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, following many years of resistance to Shah Pahlavi. Some mosques have specific places for the adhan to be made from, such as a minaret or a designated area in the mosque. Ayatollahs can reach the position of a Marja-e-Taqlid, which allows them to issue fatwi (Arabic, plural of "fatwa"). WebMuhammad was the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Qurn, Islams sacred scripture. Mosques are places where Muslims worship. Other, smaller Muslim denominations within the Sunni and Shiite groups exist. His strong monotheistic message angered many of the Meccan merchants. The following section will nonetheless provide a concise digest mainly of Ibn Isqs version of the life of the Prophet. The essence of the problem is that Muhammad died without a male heir, and he never clearly stated who he would want to be his successor, says Lesley Hazleton, author of After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Sunni-Shia Split in Islam. While Shia represent the majority of the population in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan and a plurality in Lebanon, Sunnis are the majority in more than 40 other countries, from Morocco to Indonesia. Uthman was also killed, and Ali, Muhammads cousin and son-in-law, was selected as the next caliph. Islamic religious leaders have traditionally been people who, as part of the clerisy, mosque, or government, performed a prominent role within their community or nation. When Muhammad died in 632, he had not named a successor. This was important, because by the time he died, he had basically brought all the tribes of Arabia together into a kind of confederation that became the ummahthe people or nation of Islam.. The book is written with Allah as the first person, speaking through Gabriel to Muhammad. Islamic tradition holds that the first persons to believe were his wife, Khadija and his close friend Abu Bakr (regarded as the successor to Muhammad by Sunni Muslims). Of all the gods worshipped, it is believed that Allah was considered the greatest and the only one without an idol. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}History of the Dalai Lama's Biggest Controversies. These officials are supposed to belong to the Hanafi school of the Sunni sect. Spreading the Message of Islam All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Certain verses assume that Muhammad and his followers dwell at a settlement called al-madnah (the town) or Yathrib (e.g., 33:13, 60) after having previously been ousted by their unbelieving foes, presumably from the Meccan sanctuary (e.g., 2:191). A mihrab is a decorative feature or niche in the mosque that indicates the direction to Mecca, and therefore the direction to face during prayer. He spent his entire life in what is now the country of Saudi Arabia, from his birth about 570 CE in Mecca to his death in 632 in Medina. It contains some basic information that is found in the Hebrew Bible as well as revelations that were given to Muhammad. For instance, a Syriac chronicle dating from about 640 mentions a battle between the Romans and the Arabs of Muhammad, and an Armenian history composed about 660 describes Muhammad as a merchant who preached to the Arabs and thereby triggered the Islamic conquests. Most of his early life was spent as a merchant. ,,@)H2DfM "+" y`q9 Rh , m@j QJg`:x 8 The term Mullah is a variation of the word mawla(means master or lord) and Mawlana is its derivative (means my lord) and are used mainly in Central Asia and in the Sub-Continent . It may also refer to the Islamic scholars who created the analytical sciences related to Hadith or it may refer to the heads of Muhammad's family in their generational times.[2]. Most of his early life was spent as a merchant. endstream endobj startxref By carefully comparing alternative versions of one and the same biographical narrative, scholars have been able to show that a certain number of traditions about Muhammads lifefor instance, an account of the Prophets emigration from Mecca to Medinawere in circulation already by the end of the 7th century. Within the century after Muhammads death, his followers had built an empire that stretched from Central Asia to Spain. Sharia law requires men and women to dress modestly. After working for several years as a merchant, Muhammad was hired by Khadija, a wealthy widow, to ensure the safe passage of her caravans to Syria. They thought that 'Ali, Muhammad's closest surviving blood male relative, should be their next leader (caliph). The most famous site was the Kaaba (meaning cube in Arabic). The rise of Islam is intrinsically linked with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims to be the last in a long line of prophets that includes Moses and Jesus. It contains 114 chapters, which are called surahs. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Enter valid first name and last name with at least one space. The rift between these two factions has resulted in differences in worship as well as political and religious views. Major mosques usually have a person who is called the "servant of the mosque". Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah. Ghazi was an individual who participated in ghazw, meaning military expeditions or raiding. After his clan withdrew its protection, he fled to Medina in 622 and repulsed two attacks by Meccan forces in 625 and 627. The Al-Islam.org site and the DILP are entirely supported by individual donors and well wishers. In his early 20s, Muhammad began working for a wealthy merchant woman named Khadijah, 15 years his senior. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Muhammad and his followers soon returned and took over the city, destroying all its pagan idols and spreading their belief in one God. These attitudes varied dramatically from region to region and throughout history; the societies that produced the works discussed here are among those that allowed the depiction of the Prophet. In Islam, an Imam is a religious leader who often leads congregational prayers in a mosque. His youngest daughter, Fimah, married Muhammads cousin Al, the fourth of Muhammads successors as leader of the Muslim community. In each context, they serve a distinct purpose. However, in the modern contexts of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries as well as secularised Muslim states like Turkey, and Bangladesh, the religious leadership may take a variety of non-formal shapes. Lithograph by Carlo Bossoli, Imam Khomeini, leader of the Iranian revolution, A Bosniak military imam in the Austro-Hungarian Army, Grand Mufti Mirza Huseyn Qayibzade of Tbilisi, Grand Mufti Absattar Derbisali of Kazakhstan, Portrait of Sheikh ul-Islam of the Caucasus Ahmad Huseinzadeh by Ali bey Huseynzadeh, Sheikh ul-Islam of the Caucasus Abdussalam Akhundzadeh. The angel ordered Muhammad to recite the words of Allah. This journey became known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah), and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Twelver and Ismaili Shi'a believe that these imams are chosen by God to be perfect examples for the faithful and to lead all humanity in all aspects of life. Books on Islam, Muslims, Prophet Muhammad(s), Ahlul Bayt. What are the scholarly sources of Muhammads biography? 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Some Orientalists wrote the title as Khalf. As in many religions, there is no single image or symbol of Islam that is universally accepted by all Muslims worldwide. The Qurn yields little concrete biographical information about the Islamic Prophet: it addresses an individual messenger of God, whom a number of verses call Muhammad (e.g., 3:144), and speaks of a pilgrimage sanctuary that is associated with the valley of Mecca and the Kabah (e.g., 2:124129, 5:97, 48:2425). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Islam does not have an ordained clergy with authority over rites and rituals. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. But starting in the late 20th century, the schism deepened, exploding into violence in many parts of the Middle East as extreme brands of Sunni and Shia Islam battle for both religious and political supremacy. The split between the two main sects within Islam goes back some 1,400 years. hXmo6+bKNJ@/q8k #Y)(q`:4)NGH2dz L\g#$d=b>%1). 30 Apr 2023 20:48:23 In the broader sense, it refers to those who have studied a broad range of essentially Islamic disciplines for several years, for example the hadith and the muhaddith. They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad. In Sunni belief, the term is used for the founding scholars of the four Sunni madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence (fiqh). Imam is an Arabic word meaning "Leader". Finally, it is distinctly possible that some reports about events in Muhammads life emerged not from historical memory but from exegetical speculation about the historical context of particular verses of the Qurn. The book is called Resalah, which is usually a reinvention of the book Al-Urwatu l-Wuthqah, according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life. History of the Dalai Lama's Biggest Controversies, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Birth Year: 570, Birth City: Mecca, Birth Country: Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic texts and tradition, an angel named Gabriel visited Muhammad in 610. while he was meditating in a cave. WebCaliph is the term for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. Searching for clarity, he would sometimes meditate at Mount Hira, near Mecca. The divide originated with a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic faith he introduced. This system of leadership, which was run by a Muslim ruler, became known as a caliphate. When Umar was assassinated six years after being named caliph, Uthman, Muhammads son-in-law, took the role. Lay Leaders After Muhammads passing, Islam began to spread rapidly. (There are dozens of these guys out there and evangelicals, even the minorities in the space, are missing a massive opportunity. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. (lim). For example, before Muhammads emigration to Medina he is said to have received an oath of allegiance by twelve inhabitants of the city, an obvious parallel to the Twelve Apostles, and during the digging of a defensive trench around Medina Muhammad is said to have miraculously sated all the workers from a handful of dates, recalling Jesus feeding of the multitude. Caliph was first used for Abu Bakr, who was elected head of the Muslim community after the Prophet Muhammad's death. The Holy Prophet himself has said: This son of mine, Husayn is an Imam, son of an Imam, brother of an Imam and father of nine Imams. Kyai or Kiai is a title originally used in Javanese culture. Gradually the people of Mecca turned to polytheism and idolatry. See List of rulers of Oman, the Rustamid dynasty: 776909, Nabhani dynasty: 11541624, the Yaruba dynasty: 16241742, the Al Said: 1744present for further information. I dont get!!!!!) Lay Leaders By 630 he had unified most of Arabia under a single religion. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. If crimes are committed, Sharia law is known for its harsh punishments. At age 40, he began to have revelations from Allah that became the basis for the Koran and the foundation of Islam. In Twelver Shsm there are 14 infallibles, 12 of which are Imams, the final being Imam Mahdi who will return at the end of times. jefferson high school football roster, easton md st patrick's parade, alexander jones five more minutes,
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