The label Shi’a was invented a few decades after the death of the Prophet, by an opposition group to the government of the day. Similarly, the term Sunni was invented in the 10th-11th century CE by the faction opposing the Shi’a-subsets, who were ruling the Muslim world then.
Both terms, and hence both groups, have no legal or Shari’ah backing in Islam: the Qur’an and the ahadeeth only ‘hint’ to their existence, that ‘hint’ is a piece-of-string imagined by both the groups who refuses to bury their labels.
Zaidiyyah
The Umayyah rulers were a ruthless lot. After ‘Ali, they had eliminated his son Husayn. Husayn’s son, Zayn al-Aabideen submitted to the Umayyah rule.
Zayn’s son, Zayd, rebelled and was killed by the Umayyah. Zayn’s other son, Muhammad al-Baaqir, did not revolt.
Due to al-Baaqir’s subservience to the Khilaafat, Zayd was proclaimed as the Imaam. This was the first schism in the house of ‘Ali. Many such schisms would follow, with each successive generation.
After Muhammad al-Baaqir, his son, Ja’far as-Saadiq did not take up arms against the Umayyah rulers.
With the fall of the Umayyah Khilaafat, the followers of Zayd established themselves as the Idrisids of Maghreb, where they ruled till mid-10th century CE when they were replaced by their rival Shi’a-sect, the Fatimiyyun. After the Fatimiyyun, the Maghreb became Sunni.
In the 10th-11th centuries CE, during the Shi’a rule over Islam, Zaydis ruled intermittently over the Fertile Crescent.
After a lull of a millennium, after the defeat of Othmania Sultanat in 1918, the Zaidis were installed in Yemen by the British and the French colonial forces.
In 1962, after flirting with Socialist idealism of General Nasser of Egypt, Zaidi Imaamat was eventually removed by the socialist military junta. A prolong Civil War followed, which has left some deep scars.
Today, the region is embroiled in the Saudi-backed Sunni rule, Udawaani Salafis, Iran-sponsored Shi’a revolt and residual socialist anarchists – all backed by powers-that-be. Mix that with people wanting democracy, the country is a mess.
What about Zaidiyyah though?
After the death of Zayd, his followers eventually allied themselves with Shafi’i school. No major controversies in Islam until the 20th century.
Borrowing the Ithna-‘Ashari doctrine of Imaamat, and combining it with Sunni Khilaafat, the Zaydi followers formed their own Imaamat for a while. After socialist intrusion in the 1960s, Imaamat lost its credibility as a ‘divine institution’.
Today, many Zaydis look towards Iran and Ithna-‘Ashari for inspiration. However, believing in Ghaybah remains a thorn in their relationship. Despite such a major contradiction, the Zaydis are marching-on at the behest of Iran. Saudi Salafism, which views Taqleed with derision, does not help the situation as they heap humiliation on people who take pride in Zayd as their Imaam.
Failed by next door Salafi Sunnis and their distant Shi’a, many Zaydis may want to turn to other options of living in peace. Here in comes the world powers, adding fire to the fuel. No wonder Yemen is a standard showcase of mess.
Ithna-‘Ashari Shi’a
If ‘unqualified’, Shi’a are the Ithna-‘Ashari – the Twelvers. Of the 15-20% Shi’a that constitutes the Muslim world, they are by far the most dominant.
Once who ruled the Muslim world, they are now a minority. Because, they imploded – each trying to have the larger piece of the pie that was ever becoming smaller (see the divisions above). The Sunnis survived because they invented a social contract, and enlarged the pie with rules of engagement – called Shari’ah.
So why did the Shi’a survive at all?
I believe it is due to ignorant bliss (living in remote isolation: mountains, deserts or islands, language barriers due to geography), patronage by powerful partisans (world Powers or dominating Races), and learning from their Sunni rivals: Ithna-‘Ashari has been copying the Sunnis for nearly a millennia now.
► As the Safawi Sultanat consolidated, in the 16th century, the Shi’a began adopting ahadeeth to resolve issues (not just to debate the role of ‘Ali): the Shi’a Akhbari system was born.
► In the 18th century CE, despite Nadir Shah’s failed efforts to reconcile the Shi’a and the Sunnis, the Shi’a took their first steps in solving their worldly disputes using a methodology: the Usuli Shi’a slowly began replacing the Akhbaari group (now a minority group in Iraq and parts of India but a majority in Bahrain).
► From the Usuli group, the Marja’ system evolved under the guidance of Sufi system.
► After devastating Russian Wars, the Usulis also instituted the Taqleedi system – yet another Sunni status-quo mechanism – to overcome political instability.
Most Sunnis, and Shi’a, remain unaware of this slow Shi’a drift towards the Shar’iah (following a methodological path).
In the 20th century, the Shi’a surpassed the Sunnis. They invented a way to reconcile democracy with Islam. The Shi’a also took a long path aiming to influence the Alevi (of the Turkey/Balkans) and Alawi (of Syria) to follow the Shari’ah. The results are slow but positive. However, it is a start for them while most Sunnis sulk, and are stuck, with their 12th-century methodology of deriving rules.
So, why cannot they be leaders of the Muslim community?
It boils down to one Aqeedah, the Shi’a Creed – the Ghaybah. It is a firmly-held belief that their 12th (hence Twelvers) Imaam has disappeared, is alive and shall return for their redemption before Judgement Day.
No sane human will accept such an idea that so belongs to the medieval world. The rest of Shi’a arguments are distractions and a footnote to this central concept.
This single idea of Ghaybah knocked out the Shi’a from the pedestals of power in the past, and makes them a minority today. A real shame, for otherwise a talented and hard-working group today.
Seveners, and their sub-sects
In 765, after the death of Ja’far as-Saadiq, both of his two sons claimed his spiritual fortunes.
In Persia/Iran, Musa al-Kadhim and his five generations came to form the Ithna-‘Ashari. The death of each imaam was followed by splits in the community until the 12th imaam went into Ghaybah which halted the successive schisms.
The followers of Ja’far’s other son, Isma’il, were deeply divisive. Eventually, they formed the Fatimiyyun Sultanat (calling themselves a Khilaafat was political propaganda, that we see so often see from political desperates).
It must be acknowledged that the Fatimi scholars were the first vocal exponents of Baatiniyah (esoterism) in Islam, which inspired many a Sufis and Jurists alike. The Fatimi used Baatin to weave a claim to power. However, far from reason and dwelling too much on innuendo led to internal strife, divisions and finally their fall.
Nizari Shi’a (Khojas/Aga Khani)
In 1841, a fleeing governor of an Iranian province found himself friends with the British Army, who had just invaded Afghanistan (1st Anglo-Afghan War). From here, Hasan Ali Shah (now called Aga Khan-1) was given refuge in Bombay, the headquarters of British East India Company.
India was then a melting pot of hundred of sects and faiths.
In 1866, the British administration forcibly consolidated much of the property of Indian Shi’as under Aga Khan, making him economically viable. As the British went on to colonise India, Nizari Shi’a was organized into an economic charity, with a CEO. Aga Khan became that CEO, the latest of whom today resides in France.
Around the world, the Khojas target the poor – Sunni or otherwise – who after benefitting from the Khoja organisation must pay ‘taxes’ to their CEO, on the threats of being ex-communication and cut from family ties. His charity runs hospitals, hostels, and other humanitarian organizations.
The challenge of the 21st century is both material and spiritual.
Without the billions of dollars in trusts, invested in various Western companies, the spirituality of Isma’ilis is very unconvincing to their Sunni or Shi’a brethren. Also, there is a moral issue with this hereditary-spiritual-CEO who spends millions on his divorce, and is accountable to none but the British and American courts – not a good PR for the guy who demands respect for being an Imaam – God’s sole representative on planet earth.
Bohras
Unlike their Khoja cousins, the Bohra were the refugees to India from Yemen – initially settling down in the Indian state of Gujarat. Unlike their Sevener cousins, they believe in Ghaybah.
Of the many Bohras, Dawoodi Bohras stand out. Though, they too are prone to the same schisms. Like the Khojas, they too run an economic charity led by the firm-hand of their hereditary-spiritual CEO.
The leaders of the newly independently India recoiled at the treatment of Dawoodi subjects by their CEOs; the socialist leaders were then mindful of their colonial Muslim brethren. In the New India, the Muslims are the target: Sunni, Shi’a and Bohra will not matter in the long run.
Contributions of Bohras to Muslims or the world?
Unlike the Fatimiyun or the Ithna-‘Ashari, practically nothing. Add some embarrassment in India and around the world, for blindly following the Fatimi theories of the 11th century.
Numbering a few hundred thousand, they may feel they the Chosen Ones of this world. Lost is the fact that their generation is beholden to investments, though some have begun to ask serious questions.
Other Bohras
Because they are not that economically savvy, they are bound to drift towards Sunni or Shi’a schools – sooner than their Dawoodi cousins.
Druze
Yet another Sevener family – this time under the patronage of Israel. Though many live in Syria, and hate Israel.
In Israel, their excuse is classic: they feel completely justified in bombing Gaza or West Bank, because the Sunnis have persecuted them for centuries.
In the wider world, away from their Middle Eastern ghettos where collective punishment and coercion is routine, the internet has exposed the secrets of their faith system. Their young will have a choice, and they will choose.
