Over 100 sects and sub-sects among Muslims
Introduction:
All Muslims believe that God is one, the Holy Quran is the last book from God, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet of God and the Kaaba is the only direction for prayers. However, they deviate from one another on minor issues.
The existence of numerous sects within Islam reflects the diversity of interpretation and practice that has emerged over centuries. While the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) provided clear guidance through the Quran and his Sunnah, differences in understanding, historical contexts and cultural influences have led to varying interpretations. Some sects arose from political disputes, others from theological debates and some from attempts to adapt Islam to new challenges.
However, the proliferation of sects does not necessarily indicate a lack of sincerity; rather, it highlights the complexity of applying timeless principles to changing circumstances. Unity in Islam is rooted in the core tenets of faith, but differences in practice and interpretation serve as a reminder of the importance of returning to the Quran and Sunnah as the ultimate sources of guidance. Ignoring these foundational teachings can indeed lead to further division, emphasizing the need for sincere adherence to the Prophet's message.
1. Sunni Islam
- Founder: Majority tradition tracing back to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
- Reason: Follows the Sunnah and consensus of the early Muslim community.
Schools of Jurisprudence:
Hanafi: Found in parts of the Levant (e.g., Syria, Lebanon) and Iraq.
Maliki: Predominant in North Africa (e.g., Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).
Shafi'i: Common in Egypt, Yemen, and parts of the Levant.
Hanbali: The official school in Saudi Arabia, closely associated with Wahhabism.
Subgroups of Sunni Muslims:
Ash'ari: Theological school emphasizing rationalism and tradition.
The Ash'ari school is one of the most influential theological schools in Sunni Islam. It emerged as a response to the rationalist Mu'tazila school and other theological controversies in early Islamic history.
Founder: Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari (874–936 CE).
Background: Al-Ash'ari was initially a Mu'tazili scholar but later broke away from the Mu'tazila after a spiritual crisis. He adopted a middle path between the rationalism of the Mu'tazila and the literalism of the Hanbalis.
Maturidi: Another theological school, close to Ash'ari but with differences in epistemology.
Founder: Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 944 CE).
Reason: Al-Maturidi founded the Maturidi school of theology as a response to the rationalist Mu'tazila and other theological debates. He emphasized the use of reason alongside revelation to understand Islamic doctrine. His school became one of the two main Sunni theological traditions, alongside the Ash'ari school.
Athari: Literalist school, often associated with Salafism.
2. Shia Islam
- Founder: Followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib.
- Reason: Believes in the divine appointment of Ali and his descendants.
Sub-sects:
- Twelvers (Ithna'ashari): Believes in 12 Imams.
- Ismailis (Seveners): Believes in 7 Imams.
- Zaidis: (Fivers): Follows Zaid ibn Ali. Believes in 5 imams.
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3. Kharijites (Khawarij)
- Founder: Emerged during the First Fitna (656–661 CE).
- Reason: Radical group advocating for pious leadership.
Subgroups:
Ibadi: Moderate surviving branch, found in Oman.
Azariqa: Radical subgroup, now extinct.
Najdat: Another radical subgroup, now extinct.
4. Mu'tazila
- Founder: Wasil ibn Ata (8th century).
- Reason: Rationalist theological school emphasizing free will.
5. Murji'ah
- Founder: 7th century.
- Reason: Postponed judgment of faith to God.
6. Qadariyya
- Founder: 7th century.
- Reason: Advocated free will.
7. Jabriyya
- Founder: 7th century.
- Reason: Believed in predestination.
8. Sufism
- Founder: Organic mystical movement (8th century).
- Reason: Focused on inner spirituality and asceticism.
9. Ahmadiyya
- Founder: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiyani (1889).
- Reason: Claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah.
The followers of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam are divided into two groups: the first being the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, currently the dominant group, and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement for the Propagation of Islam.The larger group takes a literalist view believing that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the promised Mahdi and a Ummati Nabi subservient to Muhammad, while the latter believing that he was only a religious reformer and a prophet only in an allegorical sense. Both Ahmadi groups are active in dawah or Islamic missionary work, and have produced vasts amounts of Islamic literature, including numerous translations of the Quran, translations of the Hadith, Quranic tafsirs, a multitude of sirahs of Muhammad, and works on the subject of comparative religion among others.
10. Wahhabism/Salafism
- Founder: Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (18th century).
- Reason: Advocated a return to early Islamic practices.
11. Barelvi and Deobandi
- Founders:
- Barelvi: Ahmad Raza Khan (19th century).
- Deobandi: Darul Uloom Deoband (1867).
- Reason: Revivalist movements in South Asia.
12. Alawites
- Founder: Muhammad ibn Nusayr (9th century).
- Reason: Syncretic Shia sect with Gnostic influences. Alawites are also called Nusayris. ShΔ«ΚΏΔ«te scholars such as Shaykh Tusi didn't consider Alawites as ShΔ«ΚΏa Muslims while condemning their beliefs, perceived as heretical. The medieval SunnΔ« Muslim scholar Ibn Taymiyyah also pointed out that the Alawites were not ShΔ«ΚΏΔ«tes.The Alawites are said to be a distinct monotheistic Abrahamic religion and ethno-religious group that developed between the 9th and 10th centuries CE.
13. Druze
- Founder: Hamza ibn Ali (11th century).
- Reason: Syncretic faith with Ismaili Shia roots.
14. Nation of Islam
- Founder: Wallace Fard Muhammad (1930s).
- Reason: Black nationalist movement in the U.S.
15. Ahl al-Haqq (Yarsanism)
-Founder: Sultan Sahak (14th century).
- Reason: A Kurdish religious group with roots in Shia Islam, known for its unique beliefs and practices, and a syncretic blend of Islamic and pre-Islamic elements.
16. Mahdawiyya
- Founder: Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri (15th century).
- Reason: Claimed to be the Mahdi.
17. Nondenominational Muslims ❤️
- Founder: Modern trend.
- Reason: Focuses on individual interpretation.
Nondenominational Muslims is an umbrella term that has been used for and by Muslims who do not belong to a specific Islamic denomination, do not self-identify with any specific Islamic denomination, or cannot be readily classified under one of the identifiable Islamic schools and branches.[143][144][145] A quarter of the world's Muslim population see themselves as "just a Muslim''.
18. Hurufiyya
- Founder: Fazlallah Astarabadi (14th century).
- Reason: Mystical focus on letters and numbers.
19. Nizaris (Assassins)
- Founder: Hasan-i Sabbah (11th century).
- Reason: Radical Ismaili Shia group.
20. Bohras
- Founder: Ismaili Shia offshoot (12th century).
- Reason: Follows the Da'i al-Mutlaq.
Dawoodi Bohras:
Follow the line of Da'is (spiritual leaders) that began with Dawood bin Qutub Shah in the 16th century.
They believe that the 26th Da'i, Dawood Burhanuddin, was the rightful successor after the death of the 25th Da'i, Yusuf Najmuddin.
Sulaimani Bohras:
Follow the line of Da'is that began with Sulaiman bin Hasan in the 16th century.
They believe that Sulaiman bin Hasan was the rightful successor after the death of the 25th Da'i, Yusuf Najmuddin.
21. Akhbaris
Founder: The Akhbari school emerged within Shia Islam, particularly among Twelver Shias, in the 17th century. It is not attributed to a single founder but is associated with scholars like Muhammad Amin al-Astarabadi (d. 1626-27 CE).
Reason: The Akhbaris rejected the use of rationalist methods (ijtihad) in jurisprudence and relied solely on the Quran, Hadith (traditions of the Prophet and Imams), and consensus. They opposed the Usuli school, which advocated for the use of reason and ijtihad.
22. Yazidis
- Founder: Pre-Islamic roots, influenced by Islam.
- Reason: Venerates Melek Taus (Peacock Angel).
23. Zikris
- Founder: 15th century in South Asia.
- Reason: Focuses on remembrance (zikr) of God.
24. Ghulat (Exaggerators)
- Founder: Various early groups.
- Reason: Attributed divine status to Ali or others.
25. Kaysanites
- Founder: 7th century.
- Reason: Believed in the messianic return of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyya.
26. Safaviyya
- Founder: Safi-ad-din Ardabili (13th century).
- Reason: Sufi order turned political movement.
27. Tijaniyya
- Founder: Ahmad al-Tijani (18th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing spiritual path.
28. Sanusiyya
- Founder: Muhammad ibn Ali as-Sanusi (19th century).
- Reason: Sufi order resisting colonialism.
29. Mahdists (Sudan)
- Founder: Muhammad Ahmad (19th century).
- Reason: Claimed to be the Mahdi, led a revolt.
30. Hizb ut-Tahrir
- Founder: Taqiuddin al-Nabhani (1953).
- Reason: Advocates for a global caliphate.
31. Tablighi Jamaat
- Founder: Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi (1920s).
- Reason: Missionary movement for personal reform.
32. Muslim Brotherhood
- Founder: Hassan al-Banna (1928).
- Reason: Political movement for Islamic governance.
33. Jamaat-e-Islami
- Founder: Abul Ala Maududi (1941).
- Reason: Political and religious movement in South Asia.
34. Taliban
- Founder: Mullah Mohammad Omar (1990s).
- Reason: Militant movement for strict Islamic rule.
35. ISIS
- Founder: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (21st century).
- Reason: Radical group seeking a global caliphate.
36. Boko Haram
- Founder: Mohammed Yusuf (2002).
- Reason: Militant group opposing Western influence.
37. Progressive Muslims
- Founder: Modern movement.
- Reason: Advocates for gender equality and human rights.
38. Liberal Islam
- Founder: Modern intellectual movement.
- Reason: Emphasizes critical thinking and modernity.
39. Quranic Feminists
- Founder: Modern movement.
- Reason: Promotes gender equality through Quranic reinterpretation.
40. Ahl-e-Hadith
- Founder: 19th century in India.
- Reason: Rejects traditional schools, relies on Quran and Hadith.
41. Ibadi Islam
- Founder: Emerged from Kharijites (7th century).
- Reason: Moderate branch found in Oman.
42. Nimatullahi
- Founder: Shah Nimatullah Wali (14th century).
- Reason: Sufi order focused on spiritual purification.
43. Chishti Order
- Founder: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (12th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing love and devotion.
44. Naqshbandi Order
- Founder: Baha-ud-Din Naqshband (14th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing silent meditation.
45. Mevlevi Order (Whirling Dervishes)
- Founder: Followers of Jalaluddin Rumi (13th century).
- Reason: Known for whirling as a form of dhikr.
46. Ahl al-Quran
- Founder: Modern movement.
- Reason: Rejects Hadith, relies solely on the Quran.
47. Ahl al-Bayt Movements
- Founder: Various groups.
- Reason: Focuses on veneration of the Prophet's family.
48. Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat Islam (Lahori Group)
- Founder: Split from Ahmadiyya in 1914.
- Reason: Moderate interpretation of Ahmadi teachings.
49. Moorish Science Temple
- Founder: Noble Drew Ali (1913).
- Reason: Syncretic movement for African Americans.
50. Five Percenters
- Founder: Clarence 13X (1960s).
- Reason: Offshoot of Nation of Islam, teaches Black divinity.
51. Submitters
- Founder: Rashad Khalifa (20th century).
- Reason: Quranist movement emphasizing mathematical miracles.
52. Hafizi
- Founder: Not a singular founder, but emerged from the Ismaili Shia community (9th-10th century).
- Reason: A distinct group within the Ismaili Shia sect, it followed the teachings of the early Ismaili leaders but diverged in their interpretation of leadership.
53. Nuqtavi
- Founder: Mahmud Pasikhani (14th century).
- Reason: Syncretic movement combining Islamic and Gnostic elements. Also know as Nuktawiyya: Syncretic group combining Islamic and Zoroastrian elements.
54. Uwaysi
- Founder: Named after Uwais al-Qarani.
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing direct spiritual transmission. The Oveysi (or Uwaiysi) order claims to have been founded 1,400 years ago by Uwais al-Qarni from Yemen.
55. Shattariyya
- Founder: Abdullah Shattar (15th century).
- Reason: Sufi order focused on rapid spiritual advancement.
56. Qalandariyya
- Founder: Medieval Sufi order.
- Reason: Known for antinomian practices.
57. Malamatiyya
- Founder: 9th century.
- Reason: Emphasized humility and self-blame.
58. Bektashiyya
- Founder: Haji Bektash Veli (13th century).
- Reason: Syncretic Sufi order.
59. Rifa'iyya
- Founder: Ahmad al-Rifa'i (12th century).
- Reason: Known for ecstatic practices.
60. Suhrawardiyya
- Founder: Shihab al-Din Abu Hafs Umar Suhrawardi (12th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing Sharia.
61. Kubrawiyya
- Founder: Najm al-Din Kubra (13th century).
- Reason: Sufi order focused on visionary experiences.
62. Shadhiliyya
- Founder: Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili (13th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing gratitude and reliance on God.
63. Chishti-Sabri
- Founder: Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari (13th century).
- Reason: Branch of Chishti order emphasizing asceticism.
64. Ni'matullahi Sultan Ali Shahi
- Founder: Sultan Ali Shah (19th century).
- Reason: Sufi order emphasizing spiritual guidance.
65. Tariqa Muhammadiyya
- Founder: 18th century.
- Reason: Sufi movement aligning with the Sunnah.
66. Fethullah GΓΌlen Movement (Hizmet)
- Founder: Fethullah GΓΌlen (20th century).
- Reason: Promotes education and interfaith dialogue.
67. Islamic Modernism
- Founder: Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Muhammad Abduh (19th century).
- Reason: Reconciles Islam with modernity.
68. Islamic Socialism
- Founder: Ali Shariati (20th century).
- Reason: Combines Islam with socialist ideals.
69. Qarmatians
- Founder: Abu Sa'id al-Jannabi (9th century).
- Reason: A radical Ismaili Shia movement known for its revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate and the establishment of an alternative caliphate.
70. Islamic Environmentalism
- Founder: Modern movement.
- Reason: Emphasizes stewardship of the environment.
71. Islamic Liberation Theology
- Founder: Asghar Ali Engineer, Ali Shariati.
- Reason: Focuses on social justice and resistance.
72. Islamic Postmodernism
- Founder: Modern intellectual movement.
- Reason: Challenges traditional interpretations.
73. Islamic Transhumanism
- Founder: 21st century.
- Reason: Explores technology and human enhancement.
74. Islamic Vegan/Vegetarianism
- Founder: 21st century.
- Reason: Advocates for animal rights and sustainability.
75. Dawat-e-Islami
Founder: Ilyas Qadri (Pakistan)
Reason: Dawat-e-Islami is a counter-movement to the Tablighi Jamaat. Both are Islamic missionary movements
76. Agha Khani Muslims
Founder: The Nizari Ismaili branch traces its origins to a split within the Ismaili Shia community in the 11th century. The formal establishment of the Agha Khani lineage began in the 19th century with Hasan Ali Shah, the first Aga Khan, who was given the title by the Persian king.
Reason: The Agha Khani tradition, as it exists today, was solidified under Aga Khan I in the 19th century. He led the community during a period of political and social upheaval, establishing the Aga Khan as both a spiritual and temporal leader.
77. Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah
- Founder: The mainstream Sunni community.
- Reason: Refers to the traditional Sunni belief in following the Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) and the consensus of the community, emphasizing unity. [Many sects and sub-sects among Muslims claim to follow Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.]
78. Bazmi Tawheed Ahlihadith [Kashmir]
79. Cultural Muslims
They have Muslim names and celebrate Islamic festivals, but they neither believe in Islam nor practice it. They openly identify as disbelievers in God. Most of them are associated with the Bollywood film industry or are fans of Bollywood figures and international atheists. Javed Akhtar, Naseeruddin Shah and Fatima Sana Sheikh are among the prominent examples.
80. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)
Founder: Founded in 2015 by Khadim Rizvi at Nishtar Park, Karachi.
Reason: TLP's ideology is centered on Sharia law to be established in Pakistan. It staunchly opposes Westernization and has promoted unity between Islamic factions, including the Deobandi and Wahhabi schools. A part of the Finality of Prophethood movement along with other Islamist organizations, TLP have targeted the Ahmadiyya on the basis of their rejection of the Finality of Prophethood.
81. Noorbakshia
Founder: Followers of the Noorbakshia Sufi order, founded by Syed Muhammad Noorbaksh in the 15th century.
Beliefs: They combine elements of Shia Islam and Sufism, emphasizing the spiritual authority of their founder.
Population: Primarily found in the Kargil and Leh regions of Ladakh.
82. Mazhariyya : The Mazhariyya is a Sufi order founded by Shah Muhammad Mazhar in the 18th century in India. It is a branch of the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi tradition, which emphasizes strict adherence to Islamic law (Sharia) and the teachings of its founder, Ahmad Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf-e-Thani). The Mazhariyya order focuses on spiritual purification, silent meditation (muraqaba), and dhikr (remembrance of God). It promotes a balanced approach to Sufism, combining inner spirituality with outward religious observance. The order has a modest following in South Asia and is known for its emphasis on reforming society and reviving Islamic principles in line with the teachings of its founder.
83. Batiniyya: Esoteric sects emphasizing hidden meanings in the Quran.
84. Tafziliyya: A theological school emphasizing the superiority of Ali.
85. Usulis
Founder: The Usuli school developed over time, but key figures like Shaykh al-Mufid (d. 1022 CE) and later scholars such as Muhammad Baqir Behbahani (d. 1791 CE) played significant roles in its establishment.
Reason: The Usulis emphasized the use of reason (aql) and ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning) in deriving Islamic law. They became the dominant school within Twelver Shia Islam, opposing the Akhbari approach.
86. Gohar Shahi sect
Riaz Ahmed Gohar Shahi (born 1941) is the founder of the spiritual movements Messiah Foundation International (MFI) and Anjuman Serfaroshan-e-Islam. He is controversial for being declared the Mahdi, Messiah, and Kalki Avatar by the MFI. Shahi's supporters claim that his face became prominent on the Moon, Sun, nebula star and the Black Stone in Mecca. Shahi disappeared from public view in 2001. There have been claims that he died in that year or in 2003, but these are unconfirmed.
87. Hebtiahs Bohra
The Hebtiahs Bohra were a branch of Mustaali Ismaili Shi'a Islam that broke off from the mainstream Dawoodi Bohra after the death of the 39th Da'i al-Mutlaq in 1754. They were mostly concentrated in Ujjain in India with a few families who were Hebtiah Bohra.
88. Alavi Bohras
The Alavi Bohras are a Tayyibi Musta'lavi Isma'ili Shi'i Muslim community from Gujarat, India. In India, during the time of the 18th Fatimid Imam Al-Mustansir Billah around 1093 AD in Egypt, the designated learned people (wulaat) who were sent from Yemen by missionaries (du'aat) under the guidance of the imam established a da'wah in Khambhat (Gujarat, India).
89. The BahΓ‘ΚΌΓ Faith
BahΓ‘ΚΌΓs believe that God communicates his will and purpose to humanity through his intermediaries, the prophets and messengers who have founded various world religions from the beginning of humankind up to the present day, and will continue to do so in the future. They are seen as apostates from Islam.
90. Jahmiyya
Jahmis were the alleged followers of the early Islamic theologian Jahm bin Safwan who associated himself with Al-Harith ibn Surayj. He was an exponent of extreme determinism according to which a man acts only metaphorically in the same way in which the sun acts or does something when it sets
91. The Azeemi Sufi Order
It is a Sufi Tariqa named after and founded by Sayyid Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya, commonly known as Qalandar Baba Auliya. It was established in 1960 (1380 AH) in Karachi, Pakistan.
92. United Nation of Islam
The United Nation of Islam (UNOI) is a black American new religious movement based in Kansas City, Kansas. It was founded in 1978 as an offshoot of the Nation of Islam by Royall Jenkins, who continued to be the group's leader until he died in September 2021 of complications resulting from COVID-19. He styled himself "Royall, Allah in Person". Since its founding, the group has undergone numerous name changes and is currently known as the Value Creators.
93. Rafiziyah vs Nasibiyah
The Rafiziyah(Rawafid) are Shia Muslims who reject the first three caliphs, upholding Ali and his descendants as rightful successors. The Nasibiyah are those hostile to Ali and his family, often linked to early Umayyad supporters. Both terms reflect early Islamic succession disputes, with Shia viewing Ali as rightful and others opposing him, leading to enduring theological and political divisions.
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To sum up, there are five broad categories of Muslims:
1. Sunni Muslims: Those who follow the Quran, Hadith, and respect all the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) and the early imams— Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafa'ee, etc
2. Shia Muslims: Those who follow the Quran, the Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Prophet), and their 12 imams. They don't respect or honour the suhabah.
3. Sufis: Those who emphasize personal spiritual experiences, dreams and desires most. They are criticized for prioritizing practices like saint and grave worship over strict adherence to the Quran and Hadith. They sing songs and recite poetry. They even dance in masjids. They hardly recite or follow the Holy Quran.
4. Liberal Muslims: Those who do not practice Islam strictly but refrain from publicly insulting Islam or Muslims.
5. Apostates, hidden disbelievers and Ex-Muslims: Those who mock Islam and Muslims, often for personal gain or vested interests.
The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said, “My Ummah will be divided into 73 sects. All of them will be in the fire except one.” The people asked him, “And which one will that be?” He replied, “The one that follows what I and my companions are upon right now.”
However, it is difficult for me to understand what he meant by the word 'sect'.
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