The Beliefs Of Prophet Muhammad And Sunni Islam

All Muslims agree that there is one god, Prophet Muhammad (Prophet) is the last messenger of God, the Quran is the holy book and that there is a day of judgement where Allah (God) will resurrect all human beings, where they will be questioned about beliefs and committed actions. However in all religions, there are differences. In Islam there are two main denominations, Shia and Sunni. The largest denomination of the two sects of religion is Sunni Islam. It began when the prophet passed away in the beginning of the 7thcentury, where the prophet left behind the religion of Islam but also the Muslims organized as an Islamic government. It was the question of who would prosper and lead the Islamic state. Sunnis claim the Prophet selected Abu Bakr to lead salaat (prayer) while in his deathbed, hence proposing the Prophet identified Abu Bakr as the succeeding leader. However the Shias evidence is that Prophet Muhammad stood up in front of his companions on the way from his last pilgrimage (Hajj), and proclaimed Ali as the spiritual guide and master of all Muslims (Sunni-Shia 2009). Scholars have said the Prophet took Ali’s hand and raised it up and yelled saying anyone who follows Muhammad must follow Ali. Regardless of their differences Muslims should be awake and should be alert that if disputes takes place among Sunni and Shia Muslims, it is harmful to all Muslims and is violating Allah’s wish.

Sunni Islam is the largest branch of religion, they make up 80 percent of the followers of the Muslim population in the world (Patheos 2014). Believers of the Sunni faith are also known as the Sunnis but also referred as “Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h”, “adherents to the Sunnah and the assembly” (religious facts 2004). The Sunni Muslims have a...

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... is avoiding insulting and accusing one another and stick up for each another. “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner... (Noble Quran, 16: 125)” Unity and coming together are among the basic principle of Islam. To give an irrational and impractical meaning to the issue of the Islamic unity, without doubt by the term Islamic unity, the Islamic scholars do not mean that all denominations, should give into one denomination or the common things should be taken up and the different views be set aside, as these are neither rational nor logical. By the Islamic unity these scholars mean that all Muslims should unite and work together in one line and leave the past behind and focus mainly on the future, to make Islam more known and instead of focusing on the differences, focus on the similarities.