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Denominations

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Denominations and Sects provide a convenient means of dividing religions into their respective and/or competing variants, and are often inspired by inter-cultural and inter-traditional variations.  Sometimes these variations arise naturally (such as from a social-psychological standpoint) due to geographical isolation, but can also be the result of disagreements and fueds between religious leaders who could not unite on any number of points, along with a variety of other historic and/or opinion-oriented possibilities.

Included hereunder is an alphabetical listing of known denominations (numbered dynamically, and since this numbering can change as new variants are added it's best to reference a denomination or sect by its name), with some specific key highlights and informational links (if known) which are primarily intended to be helpful to researchers.

While the 5 most famously-known denominations of the Islamic religion seem to be the Sufi, Ismaili, Suni (Sunni), Shiite, and Wahhabi sects (in no particular order), that number pales in comparison to the total number known, and probably a much larger number that remain undiscovered or are also yet to be invented by future Muslims with new ideas that challenge old-fashioned traditions.

1. Ahadiyah †
   • They believe in the Fardh (obligations) in faith but deny the sunnah.
2. Ahmadi (a.k.a., Ahmadiyya)
   • Founded by Prophet Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who promoted it with a slogan that roughly translates to "love for all and hatred for none," and is know to have been "sent to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed, and reinstitute morality, justice, and peace."
   • Believe that the Mahdi is Jesus Christ and that he has returned.
   • In Pakistan, the Ahmadi have been officially denounced by the government as "not real Muslims," and their founder has been characterized as an imposter.
3. Ajaridah †
   • Followers of Abd-al-Karim ibn-Ajrad.  They believed that a child should be called to Islam after it has attained maturity.  Also they believed booty of war to be unlawful till the owner is killed.
4. Akhnasiyah †
   • They do not believe in waging a war except in defense or when the opponent is known personally.
5. Alavi Bohras ‡
   • A denominational split from the Bohras that is prevalent in South Asia that recognizes different lines of Dai al-Mutlaqs.
6. Alawite (a.k.a., Alawis, Alawīyah)
   • Founded by Ibn Nusayr during the 9th century CE.
   • They consider Ali ibn Abi Talib to be the first Imam of the Twelver school.
   • Many members of this denomination believe it was fully established as a distinctly separate religion from Islam, yet consider themselves to be real Muslims.
   • They openly drink alcohol and eat pork.
7. Aliviyah (a.k.a., Ajariyah) †
   • They believe that Hadhrat Ali share prophethood with Muhammad (pbuh).
8. Ammaliyah †
   • They believe that faith for one is what he/she sincerely practices.
9. Amriyah †
   • Followers of 'Amr ibn-Ubaid ibn-Bab.  They reject the legal testimony of people from supporters of either side of the battle of Camel.
10. Ashab Ta'ah †
    • They believe that Allah can send a prophet without giving him any sign to prove his prophecy.
11. Ashariyah †
    • The believe that Qiyas (taking a guess) is wrong and amounts to disbelief.
12. Azraqiah †
    • Followers of Nafi ibn-al-Azraq.  They do not believe in the good dreams and vision and claim that all forms of revelation has ended.
13. Bada'iyah †
    • They believe that obedience to Ameer is obligatory no matter what he commands.
14. Bahshamiyah †
    • Followers of abu-Hashim.  They believe that one who desires to do a bad deed, though may not do it, commits infidelity and deserves punishment.
15. Baqiriyah †
    • Followers of Muhammad ibn-'Ali al-Baqir.  They believe him to be the Imam Ghaib and expected Mahdi.
16. Bashriyah †
    • Followers of Bashr ibn-al-Mu'tamir.  They believe that Allah may forgive a man his sins and may change His mind about this forgiveness and punish him if he is disobedient again.
17. Bohras (Mustali-Tayyibi Ismailis) ‡
    • Recognizes Ahmad al-Mustali as the rightful Imam after al-Mustansir, and recognizes his son and grandon - al-Amir and al-Tayyib - as his successors.
    • Recognizes al-Tayyib as the 21st Imam who has gone into concealment (satr) and believe that the lineage of Imams remains concealed from the public.
    • Recognizes a succession of Dal al-Mutlaqs (Chief Dai) as the sole representatives of the concealed Tayyibi Imamat.
    • Some distinct denominations split off from the Bohras, with each recognizing different lines of Dai al-Mutlaqs:  Alavi Bohras, Daudi Bohras, and Sulaymani Bohras.
18. Butriyah (a.k.a., Hurariyah) †
    • They did not dispute the Khilafat of Uthman, neither they attack him nor praise him.
19. Daudi Bohras ‡
    • A denominational split from the Bohras that is prevalent in South Asia that recognizes different lines of Dai al-Mutlaqs.
20. Druze (Unitarians) ‡
    • Recognizes Ismaili Imams up to Imam al-Hakim (they broke the Fatmid da'wah).
    • Recognizes Imam al-Hakim as the earthly manifestation (zuhur) of Allah and Hamze ibn Ali (the founder) as the Imam.
    • Believes that al-Hakim and Hamza have gone info concealment and will return in the future, lead by a heirarchy of teachers.
21. Dusre
22. Fatimid Ismailis ‡
    • Recognizes Abdullah al-Mahdi as the rightful Imam succeeding Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Radi as the first Caliph of the Fatimids.
    • Recognizes the continuation of the Ismaili Imamat and Fatimid Calphiate through the lineal descendants of al-Mahdi-al-Qa'i, al-Mansur, al-Muizz, al-Aziz, al-Hakim, al-Hakim, al-Zahir, and al-Mustansir.
23. Fikriyya †
    • They believe that doing Dhikr and Fikr (Remembering and thinking about Allah) is better than worship.
24. Hafsiyah †
    • Consider Hafs ibn-abi-l-Mikdam as their Imam.  They believe that only knowing Allah frees one from polytheism
25. Hamziyah †
    • Followers of Hamza ibn-Akrak.  They believe that children of polythiests are condemned to hell.
26. Hanafiyah (a.k.a., Hanafi) †
    • Followers of the Imammate of Muhammad ibn-al-Hanifah.  They believe that Allah might have had a beginning.
27. Hanbali
    • An off-shoot of the Suni denomination.
28. Harithiya †
    • Followers of Harith ibn-Mazid al-Ibadi.  They believe that the ability precedes the deeds.
29. Hashamiya (a.k.a., Taraqibiyah) †
    • They Predicate a body to Allah and also allege Prophet (pbuh) of disobedience to Allah.
30. Hishamiyah †
    • Followers of Hisham ibn-'Amr al-Futi.  They believe that if a Muslim community come to consensus it need an Imam and if it rebels and kills its Imam, no one should be chosen an Imam during a rebellion.
31. Hudhailiyah (a.k.a., Faniya) †
    • Followers of abu-al-Hudhail Muhammad ibn-al-Hudhail.  They believe that both Hell and Paradise will perish and that preordination of Allah can cease, at which time Allah will no longer be omnipotent.
32. Hujjatiya †
    • They do not believe in the punishment for deeds on the grounds that because everything is determined so whatever one does s/he is not responsible for it.
33. Ibadiyah (a.k.a., Ibadi, Af'aliyah) †
    • Consider Abdullah ibn-Ibad as their Imam.  They believe in doing good deeds without the intention of pleasing Allah.
34. Ibriyah †
    • They believe that Holy Prophet (pbuh) was a wise man but not a prophet.
35. Ikhwani
    • Serves as a proxy to help the Muslim Brotherhood achieve geo-political agendas.
    • http://www.ikhwanis.com/
36. Imamis ‡
    • Recognizes Ali Zayn al-Abidin, Muhammad al-Baqir, and Jafar al-Sadiq as the Imams following Husayn.
37. Iskafiyah †
    • Followers of Muhammad ibn-Abdallah al-Iskafi.  They believe that Allah has power to oppress children and madmen but not those who have their full senses.
38. Ismailiyah † (a.k.a., Ismaili)
    • They believe in the continuity of Imammate among the descendants of Ismail ibn-Ja'far.
39. Ja'friyah †
    • Followers of Ja'far ibn-Harb and Ja'far ibn-Mubashshir.  They believe that drinking raw wine is not punishable and that punishment of hell could be inferred by a mental process.
40. Jahiziayh †
    • Followers of 'Amr ibn-Bahr al-Jahiz.  They believe that Allah is able to create a thing but unable to annihilate it.
41. Jarudiyah †
    • Followers of Abu'l-Jarud, They believe Prophet (pbuh) designated Ali (ra) as the Imam by his characteristics but not by name.
42. Jubbaiyah †
    • Followers of abu-'Ali al-Jubbai.  They believe that Allah obeys His servants when He fulfill their wish
43. Ka'biyah †
    • Followers of abu-Qasim Abdullah ibn-Ahmad ibn-Mahmud al-Banahi known as al-Ka'bi.  They believe that Allah does not see Himself nor anyone else except in the sense that He knows Himself and others.
44. Kamiliyah †
    • Followers of abu-Kamil.  They believed companions to be heretic because they forsook their allegiance to Ali and condemn Ali for ceasing to fight them.  They believed in the returning of the dead before the Day of Resurrection and that Satan is right in preferring fire to clay.
45. Karibiyah †
    • They believed that Imam Muhammad ibn-al-Hanifah is not dead and is the Imam Ghaib (in disappearance) and the expected Mahdi.
46. Kathiyah (a.k.a., Ithn 'Ashariya, a.k.a., The Twelvers) †
    • They believe that expected Mahdi will be the twelveth Imam among the descendants of 'Ali ibn-abi-Talib.
47. Khaiyatiyah (a.k.a., Makhluqiyah) †
    • Followers of abu-al-Husain al-Khaiyat.  They believe that everything non-existant is a body before it appears, like man before it is born is a body in non-existance.  Also that every attribute becomes existant when it makes its appearance.
48. Khalafiyah †
    • Followers of Khalaf.  They do not believe in fighting except under the leadership of an Imam.
49. Khawarij (a.k.a., Khariji, ash-Shurah)
    • They believe that all Muslims have the right and duty to revolt against any ruler who deviates from their interpretation of Islam, and they reject the doctrine of infallibility for the leader of the Muslim community.  Kharijites also view the act of fighting in the name of Jihad as a requirement for women.
50. Khazimiyah †
    • They believe Allah loves men of all faiths even if one has been disbeliever most of his life.
51. Lafziyah †
    • They believe that Quran is not the word of God but only its meaning and essence is the word of God.  Words of Quran are just the words of narrator.
52. Ma'badiyah †
    • They did not believe in taking or giving alms from or to slaves.
53. Ma'lumiyah (a.k.a., Majhuliyah) †
    • They believed that whoever did not recognize Allah by all His names was ignorant of Him and anyone ignorant of Him was a disbeliever.
54. Maliki
    • An off-shoot of the Suni denomination.
55. Mu'ammariyah †
    • They Believe that Allah neither creates life nor death but it is an act of the nature of living body.
56. Mubarikiyah †
    • They believe in the continuity of Imammate among the descendants of Muhammad ibn-Ismail ibn-Ja'far.
57. Muhammadshahi Nizari Ismailis ‡
    • Recognizes Muhammad Shah as the rightful Imam after Shams al-Din Muhammad.
    • Traced the Imamat in the line of Muhammadshah until the disappearance of their 40th Imam, Muhammad Baqir in 1796 CE; in 1886 a delegation of these Nizaris recognized Sultan Muhammad Shah Age Khan Ill as their Imam and transferred their allegience to the Qasimishahi Imamat.
58. Muhammadiyyah (a.k.a., Mughairiyah) †
    • Followers of Muhammad ibn-'Abdullah ibn-al-Hassan.  They do not believe that Imam Muhammad ibn-'Abdullah died and that he is Imam Ghaib and awaited Mahdi.
59. Muhkamiyah †
    • They believe that God has no control over His creations.
60. Mukarramiyah (a.k.a., Tehmiyah) †
    • Followers of abu-Mukarram.  They believe that ignorance constitutes as disbelief.  Also that Allah enmity or friendship depends upon the state of a persons belief at his death.
61. Murdariyah †
    • Followers of Isa ibn-Sabih.  They believe that staying in close communication with the Sultan (ruler) makes one unbeliever.
62. Musawiyah (a.k.a., Mamturah) †
    • They believe Musa ibn-Ja'far to be the Imam Ghaib and expected Mahdi.
63. Nadisiyah †
    • They believe that those who consider themselves better than anyone else are Kafirs (disbelievers).
64. Najadat †
    • Followers of Najdah ibn-'Amir al-Hanafi.  They abolished the punishment for drinking wine also they believed that sinners of this sect would not be treated in hellfire but some other place before allowed in paradise.
65. Nation of Islam
    • Followers of Wallace Fard Muhammad in Detroit, USA, who founded the Nation of Islam in 1930 and became the divine messiah and incarnation of Allah.  They believe that "the black man is the original man," and that everyone must live righteously and worship Allah.
    • Later influential writings include Elijah Muhammad's Message to the black man in America (published in 1965).
66. Nazzamiyah †
    • Followers of abu-Ishaq Ibrahim ibn-Saiyar.  They do not believe in the miraculous nature of the Holy Quran nor do they believe the miracles of Holy Prophet (pbuh) like splitting the moon.
67. Nizari Ismailis ‡
    • Recognizes Nizar ibn Mustansir as the rightful Imam after al-Mustansir.
    • Recognizes the descendants of Nizar ibn Mustansir in Alamut - al-Hadi, al-Muhtadi, al-Qahir, Hasan ala-dhikrihi al-salaam, Nur al-Din Muhammad, Jalal al-Din Hasan, Alai al-Din Muhammad, Rukn al-Din Muhammad, Rukn al-Din Khurshah, and Shams al-Din Muhammad all in the legitimate legitimate succession of Imams.
    • Some distinct denominations split off from the Nizari Ismailies:  Muhammadshahi Nizari Ismailis, and Qasimshahi Nizari Ismailis.
68. Qabariyya †
    • They do not believe in the punishment of grave.
69. Qarmatis ‡
    • Recognizes Muhammad ibn Ismail as the last Imam and the Mahdi/Qa'im who has gone into occultation and will reappear near the Day of Judgement.
70. Qasimshahi Nizari Ismailis ‡
    • Recognizes Qasim Shah as the rightful Imam after Shams al-Din Muhammad.
    • Recognizes the descendants of Qasim Shah in Persia as the rightful Imams.
    • The 46th Imam Hasan Ali Shah Qajar and migrated to Indi -- he was succeeded by Shah Ali Shah Age Khan Il, and Sultan Muhammad Shah Age Khan Ill.
    • Known as the "Ismailis" during modern times, the Nizaris are prevalent in more than 35 countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America.
71. Radeediyah †
    • They believe that this world will live forever.
72. Raji'yah †
    • They believe that Hadhrat Ali ibn-abi-Talib will return to this world.
73. Rashidiyah †
    • They believe that land watered by springs, canals or flowing rivers should pay half the Zakat (Tithe), while land watered by rain only should pay the full Zakat.
74. Rohingya
    • They believe that they have always been in Rakhine, Burma (a.k.a., Myanmar) starting from the date of the creation of the world (according to Kyaw Min, a Yangon-based Rohingya politician), which would make them older than Islam itself.
    • See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohingya_people
75. Saltiyah †
    • Followers of Salt ibn-Uthman.  They believed in the conversion of adults only and if father has converted to Islam children were considered disbeliever till they reach maturity.
76. Satbiriyah †
    • They do not believe in the acceptance of repentance.
77. Sha'iyah †
    • They believe that the one who has recited La Ilaha Il-Allah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah), whatever she or he does, will never be punished.
78. Shabibiyah (a.k.a., Salihiyah) †
    • Followers of Shabib ibn-Yazid al-Shaibani.  They believe in the Imamate of a woman named Ghazalah.
79. Shafi'i
    • An off-shoot of the Suni denomination.
80. Shahhamiyah (a.k.a., Sifatiyah) †
    • Followers of abu-Yaqub al-Shahham.  They everything determined is determined by two determiners, one the Creator and the other acquirer.
81. Shaibaniyah (a.k.a., Mashbiyah) †
    • Followers of Shaiban ibn-Salamah al-Khariji.  They believe Allah resembles His creatures.
82. Shaitaniyah (a.k.a., Shireekiyah) †
    • They believed in the view that deeds of servants of Allah are substances; and a servant of Allah can really produce a substance.
83. Shiite (a.k.a., Shia)
    • Predominant in Saudi Arabia.
    • Disagree with Suni about what they consider to be the correct bowing technique.
    • See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam
84. Shuaibiyah (a.k.a., Hujjatiyah) †
    • They believe that what Allah desires does happen no matter what and what does not happen it means Allah desires it not.
85. Sufriyah † (a.k.a., Sufi)
    • Believe in mysticism.
    • Followers of Ziyad ibn-al-Asfar.  They believed that sinners are in fact polytheists.
86. Sulaimaniah (a.k.a., Jaririyah) †
    • Followers of Sulaiman ibn-Jarir al-Zaidi, They believed Imamat was a matter of conference and could be confirmed by two best Muslims.
87. Sulaymani Bohras ‡
    • A denominational split from the Bohras that is prevalent in Yemen and Saudi Arabia that recognizes different lines of Dai al-Mutlaqs.
88. Suni (a.k.a., Sunni)
    • Predominant in Iran.
    • Disagree with Shiite about what they consider to be the correct bowing technique.
    • Believe that Ali was also a legitimate prophet.
    • See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suni_Islam
89. Tanasikhiya †
    • They believe in the re-incarnation of soul.
90. Tha'libiyah †
    • Followers of Tha'labah ibn-Mashkan.  They believe that parents remain guardian over their children of any age until children make it clear to parents that they are turning away from truth.
91. Thamamiyah †
    • Followers of Thamamah ibn-Ashras al-Numairi.  They believe that he whom Allah does not compel to know Him, is not compelled to know and is classed with animals who are not responsible.
92. Uyghur
    • Practiced primarily in China in accordance with strict national laws and regulations
    • The only approved doctrine of Islam is a version of the Quran that was modified by the Government of China with the goal of reducing extremism following terrorist attacks orchestrated by some Uyghurs that killed hundreds of innocent people and injured many more
93. Wahhabi
    • Practiced by the ruling family in Saudi Arabia
    • Practiced by the Islamic State (IS, a.k.a., ISIS, ISIL) international terrorist group
94. Wasiliyah †
    • Followers of Wasil ibn-'Ata al-Ghazza.  They believe that those who commit major sins will be punished in hell but still remain believers.
95. Yaqubiyya †
    • They accepted the Khilafat of Abu Bakr and Umar, but did not reject those who rejected these Khulafaa.  They also believed that Muslim committers of Major sins will be in hell fire forever.
96. Younasiyah †
    • Followers of Younas ibn-'Abd-al-Rahman al-Kummi.  They believe that Allah is borne by bearers of His Throne, though He is stronger than they.
97. Zahiri
    • An off-shoot of the Suni denomination that is somewhat frequently characterized by Suni people in Iran (mostly) as an insignificant minority.
98. Zarariyah †
    • They believed that Allah did not live nor had any attributes till He created for Himself life and His attributes.
99. Zaydis ‡
    • Recognizes Zaydi ibn Ali (the son of Ali Zayn al-Abidin) as the 5th Imam.
    • Recognizes any Hasanid or Husaynid Alid as the legitimate claimant to the office of Mmamat as long as they rise up in arms.

Footnotes:

• † 73 Divisions in Islam and One True Jama'at -- Appendix II: Sects of Islam (http://www.real-islam.org/73_8.htm)
• ‡ A Visual Chart of different Shia Communities (https://www.ismailignosis.com/2014/07/05/what-is-shia-islam-a-visual-chart-of-different-shia-communities/)