Islamic Denominations Explained

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CREDITS:
Script, Narration & Animation by Syawish Rehman
Audio editing by Ali Shahwaiz

[Dfathurr]

I have a funny experience relating to difference between school of Jurisprudence. See, I am a Sunni Muslim and i followed Shafii school (i came from Indonesia). But i did stay for academic purpose in Turkey (which mostly followed Hanafi school). My story regarding how they do the morning prayer (Shubh or Fajr).

Firstly, i explained the range of morning prayer. Usually it went before dawn up into exactly first light of sunrise (usually between 4AM to 6 AM). Now. Most of Shafii school would do the prayer as early as possible (so, basically 4 AM). now, anyone who wake at 4 AM would certainly still doozed of at some point. So when i prayed at the mosque. Usually i just pray and would either sleep on the mosque or go home (the sermon was rarely held during this time). So basically, i sleep again after i pray.

However in Hanafi school, most of them don't really care when you pray as long as it still in time range. And for morning prayer, they would do as late as 5.30 AM. So first time i wake up early and prepare to pray, i was surprised they didn't immediately pray and doing sermon instead. And since usually i was sleeping again at that time, i just doozed of untill prayer calling (and even then i was awoken by an elder near me). Now if you were sound asleep and somebody immediately waking you up, usually you lose some sense and balance. So i was praying but half asleep. And suddenly BAM. I fall afront and hit some people in front of me (kinda like dominos). It was shameful of me (especially since i am foreigner to them) and literally asking pardon to everyone in mosque. 😅😅 truly a never forgetable experience

[charlieduke]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this for a long time. Excellent job everyone who was involved with this video. Top notch work everyone.

[thetormentr]

the fact that 90% of Muslims are Sunni and less than 10% are Shia finally answers my life-long question (that I never bothered to look up) of why I've never met a Shia while always knowing that the two 'biggest' groups of Islam are Sunnis and Shias

[fiona]

As a fan of both Al Muqaddimah and Matt, I was so hyped to click on this video and hear Syawish!!! Great video, and well explained!!!

[trylonthego]

You forgot to mention that Shafi'i fiqh is predominant in the Indian Ocean coastal areas and Southeast Asia countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, etc). In Brunei, the constitution specifically mention "Shafeite sect" of Islam as the country's official religion.

[moosa]

Shafi Maliki, Hanafi and Hanbali are not a sect, just different schools of opinion on how to comprehend laws, their belief system (aqeedah) and methodology (manhaj) was one, which is ahlu sunnah wal jamah. They are not sects just for clarification

[silmiha]

I'm born into a muslim family and raised as one, but to be honest I don't really have that much knowledge about other denominations. I didn't even know for the longest time that there's more than one. Looking forward to learning more.

[BlueSaladid]

A few notes:
-ISIS are considered kharijites by most muslims.
-The 'sunni' schools of jurisprudence aren't really a division, and you can follow whichever one makes the most sense to you.
-The term 'sunni' is usually just used when talking about the sunni-shia divide, otherwise they are just called muslims which is exactly what the Quran orders us to call ourselves:
{Strive for ˹the cause of˺ Allah in the way He deserves, for ˹it is˺ He ˹Who˺ has chosen you, and laid upon you no hardship in the religion—the way of your forefather Abraham. ˹It is Allah˺ Who named you the muslims (the ones who submit) ˹in the˺ earlier ˹Scriptures˺ and in this ˹Quran˺, so that the Messenger may be a witness over you, and that you may be witnesses over humanity. So establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and hold fast to Allah. He ˹alone˺ is your Guardian. What an excellent Guardian, and what an excellent Helper!} Noble Quran 22;78

{Indeed, you ˹O Prophet˺ are not responsible whatsoever for those who have divided their faith and split into sects. Their judgment rests only with Allah. And He will inform them of what they used to do.} 6;159

[PatSen]

Very thoughtfully put together. You know what to not include, and how much to include. Which is why this episode has immense clarity. Very well done. Congratulations.

[yazito]

I’m actually quite impressed. Very well-explained video. I was expecting a lot of biased opinions and tone like a lot of people do when talking about Islam…but this was very informative and factual. I can tell you’ve done a lot of research on this.

[pnkcnlng]

Please make one of this on Buddhist schools❤

[abidsabanovic]

Good summary.
Just a note to non-muslims. Fiqh differences are more of a differrence in practices rather than theological. Differences between madhabs come from the different methodology they use to arrive at conclusions. However, they overlap more than they differ, and even when it comes to prayer, it is some details rather than a fundemental divergence. Muslims pray almost the same all around the world.
Video is nicely summed up and the beginning about how it's hard to say these are denomination is very true. In sunni islam it doesn't play much of a role and 4 madhabs and 3 theological schools are considered orthodoxy, hence why we didn't really have religious wars like the christian Europe had.

[Affa]

Would have loved to see also a reference to the Hui Muslim Schools, especially since they have been historically pretty relevant during the Chinese Warlord period.

[revinhatol]

3:54
FUN FACT: "Tawhid" can also be translated into Ge'ez as "Tewahedo" which is used for naming the Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox churches.

[mohammedalsaed]

Great Work !

Not sure if the Chart is published yet but it would be nice to include:
1. Kaysanites as a 4th divsion of Shiism. Although they are extinct now they factored heavy in the 2nd Fitna with Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi being their leader and their mission for vengeance for Karbala. They should at least get mention.
2. Slight mistake about Akhbaris being a higher percentage of Twelvers than Usulis. It's the opposite. It may have been true during the Safavid dynasty but in the modern day it's reversed.
3. Maybe add other Sunni schools of Fiqh that are now extinct like Awzai, Laythi, Jariri, Thawri in addition to the Zahiri just to be more comprehensive and show that the main 4 aren't the only ones during the golden age, they were just the ones that withstood the test of time.
4. Add The Muslim Brotherhood to the Sunni Revivalist Movements Chart. I feel they they are a must mention.
5. In Addition to the Druze and Baha'is. Maybe show how the Yarsanism and Yazidism religions stem outta islam.
6. Forget to Mention that the Shafi'i school is the biggest in SE Asia and East Africa. As well as the Maliki school being biggest in West Africa in addition to the North. I just feel like it should be mentioned that the most populous muslim country follows the Shafi'i school.
7. Maybe add dashed lines across that show the Hanafis being tied to the Maturidis, the Hanbalis being tied to the Atharis, and the Shafi'is and Malikis being tied to the Ash'aris. I feel like pointing out that the Ash'aris are technically the biggest school of Aqidah is worth a mention.
8. Would be cool to see some of the Kharijite sects anyway. Even though they are extinct, they factored in 3/4 fitnas
9. I get the choice of leaving the Sufi Tariqas out of this, but maybe a full video explaining them?

[JanSchattling]

At first I was irritated because I expected Matts voice but I understand why it might be better to have this explained by someone who has a closer connection to the topic.
Thank you for this, I am always astonished how much more there is to learn about all these different religions.

[frhuntrz]

Just don't confuse between fiqh (how to perform daily religious practices) and aqidah (one's belief or creed) as they are two different things.

[davode]

A few notes about Shia:
1. The majority of Iranians are Usuli Shia, so nowadays the Usuli is the dominant subgroup of twelvers, not the Akhbari (Akhbari Lost dominance a few centuries ago)
2. A considerable number of Seveners are still living in the south east of Iran.

[alanho]

Can't wait to learn a bit of Arabic, as a guy with very little exposure to Islamic cultures, I found it a bit difficult to follow these beautifully pronounced names. Wish me luck!

[MrMarc]

As a man from the US, raised Christian, who happens to be Black, I am intrigued and enlightened by this scholarly work. I have long wondered how people who claim the same geographical location as their birthplace or Holy Land are so distant and even hate the people who would have to be family? I am a person who strives for peace, in this lifetime. If that is to happen, we all have understand these divisions and strive to make peaceful debate to live and thrive together. Thank you for this, as I had no idea about the diversity that exists in the Muslim faith. It has encouraged me to learn more. Peace.