The words Sunni and Shia appear regularly in stories about the Muslim world but few people know what they really mean. Religion permeates every aspect of life in Muslim countries and understanding Sunni and Shia beliefs is important in understanding the modern Muslim world....

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The Church of Scientology has claimed to have as many as 10 million members as of 2006,though actual membership figures it has released indicate a far smaller total. Third party estimates of Scientology's worldwide membership range from less than 100,000 to approximately 500,000. According to a 2001 survey published by the City University of New York, 55,000 people in the United States would, if asked to identify their religion, have said Scientology.
The first Church of Scientology was incorporated in Camden, New Jersey as a non-profit organization in 1953. The Church forms the centre of a complex worldwide network of corporations dedicated to the promotion of L. Ron Hubbard's philosophies in all areas of life. This includes:

- Drug treatment centres (Narconon);
- Criminal rehabilitation programs (Criminon);
- Activities to reform the field of mental health (Citizens Commission on Human Rights);
- Projects to implement Hubbard's educational methods in schools (Applied Scholastics);
- A "moral values" campaign (The Way to Happiness);
- A political action committee, (Citizens for Social Reform) to promote social programs with legislators at the US federal and state levels;
- World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, or WISE, which licenses Hubbard's management techniques for use in businesses;
- A consulting firm based on Hubbard's management techniques (Sterling Management Systems);
- A campaign directed to world leaders, as well as the general public, to implement the 1948 United Nations document "The - Universal Declaration of Human Rights" (with particular emphasis on the religious freedom elements).
Within the church, members are arranged in a hierarchically pyramid ranked structure, with higher level members holding authority over lower ranked subordinates, especially as evidenced by the Sea Org.

 

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Salafism (Arabic: سلفي‎ "predecessors" or "early generations"), is a generic term, depicting a school of thought that takes the pious ancestors (Salaf) of the patristic period of early Islam as exemplary models[. This branch of Islam is often referred to as "Wahhabi," a term that many adherents to this tradition do not use. Wahhabism is a particular orientation within Salafism. Most puritanical groups in the Muslim world are Salafi in orientation, but not necessarily Wahhabi[2]. Salafism is not a sect per se but describes a simplified version of Islam, in which adherents follow a few commands and practices.

Salafis view the first three generations of Muslims, who are Muhammad's companions, and the two succeeding generations after them, the Tabi‘in and the Taba‘ at-Tabi‘in, as examples of how Islam should be practiced. This principle is derived from the following hadith by Muhammad:

“ The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them, and then whose who follow the latter (i.e. the first three generations of Muslims). ”

One tenet of Salafism is that Islam was perfect and complete during the days of Muhammad and his companions, but that undesirable innovations were added afterwards due to materialist and cultural influences over the later centuries. Salafism seeks to revive a practice of Islam that more closely resembles the religion during the time of Muhammad

Distinctive beliefs and practices
Salafis idealize an uncorrupted bygone religious community that declined due to foreign innovations (bid‘ah). They seek an Islamic revival through the purging of these influences and the emulation of the early generations. Particular emphasis is given to monotheism (tawhid), condemning many traditional practices as polytheism (shirk), and encouraging struggle (jihad) of varying degrees. Salafis believe that widespread Muslim practices such as venerating the graves of Islamic prophets and saints are shirk. Photographs of any living being that possesses a soul are forbidden. Celebration of Muhammad's birthday (Mawlid) is also considered as bid`a. Salafis in general are opposed to both Sufi and Shi'a doctrines, which they regard as deviations.

Salafis place great emphasis on ritual not only in prayer but in every activity in life -- three fingers should always be used when eating, water is to be drunk in three pauses with the right hand while sitting -- so as to follow the example of Muhammad and his companions and make religion part of every activity in life.

Salafism differs from the earlier contemporary Islamic revival movements of Islamism of the 1970s and 1980s, in that (at least many) Salafis reject not only Western ideologies such as socialism and capitalism, but also common Western concepts like economics, constitutions, political parties, revolution and social justice. Muslims should not engage in Western activities like politics, "even by giving them an Islamic slant." [8] Instead, Muslims should stick to Islamic activities, particularly dawah and jihad. Salafis promote sharia rather than an Islamic political program or state.

Salafis reject dogmatic theology (kalam). They consider this to be based on classical Greek philosophy (Plato and Aristotle) and an import foreign to the original practice of Islam.

Salafism is a movement, and like the Sufis, Salafis can come from the Maliki, the Shafi, the Hanbali, or the Hanafi. Salafis are divided on the question of adherence to the four recognized schools of traditional legal interpretation (madhhabs).

Some Salafis wish to base their jurisprudence directly on the Qu'ran and Sunnah. They believe that literal readings of the Qur'an and the hadith (or oral traditions) are sufficient guidance for the believing Muslim. One scholar who supported this position was Albaanee.
Some Salafis follow the teachings of the 14th century Syrian scholar Ibn Taymiya, and his students Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Kathir.
Some Salafis rely on the jurisprudence of one of the four famous madhabs. For example, Ibn Taymiya followed the Hanbali madhhab. Some of his students (such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Dhahabi) followed the Shafi madhhab. Other students (such as Ibn Abu al-Iz) follow the Hanafi madhhab.
Some members of this form of Islam call themselves Muwahhidun ("Unitarians"). They use the Salafi Da'wa or Ahlul Sunna wal Jama'a. However, because Salafis see themselves as practicing "pure" Islam, Salafi adherents may not necessarily identify themselves as "Salafis".

History of Salafism
From the perspective of the Salafis themselves, their history starts with the Prophet himself. They consider themselves direct followers of his teachings, and wish to emulate the piety of the earliest followers of Islam (the salaf al-salih). All later scholars are merely revivers (not 'founders'). Modern scholars may only come to teach (or remind) us of the instructions of the original Salaf... more click on heading

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Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آيت‌الله); is a high ranking title given to major Shi'a clerics. The word means "Sign of God" and those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in seminaries (Hawzas) of Islamic sciences. The next lower clerical rank is Hojjat-ol-Eslám ("Authority on Islam").

The rank is granted by consensus, rather than ceremonially: an esteemed religious scholar who has earned the respect and admiration of his teachers for his knowledge and behavior after completing his howze studies. By then he would be able to issue his own edicts from the sources of religious laws: Qur'an, Sunnah, Ijmāˤ and Aql "intellect" (the equivalent of the Sunnī principle of Qiyas). Most of the time this is attested by an issued certificate from his teachers. This Ayætollah then can teach in religious howzeha according to his speciality and can act as a reference for their religious questions and as a judge.

Only a few of the most important Ayatollah are accorded the rank of Grand Ayatollah (Áyatolláh e Ozmá, "Great Sign of God") or Marjà e Taqlid ("Reference for Emulation"). This usually happens when the followers of one of the Ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. The book is called Resále e Elmiye, which is usually a reinvention of the book Al-Urwatu l-Wuthqah according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life.

There is usually one Grand Ayatollah in Iraq that heads the Hawzas (currently Ali Sistani) and a few that coordinate with him like Mohammad Said Al-Hakim, Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad, and Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi. There are more in Iran and wherever the Shi'a exist. There are more than 20 living world-wide; the most famous of them are Naser Makarem Shirazi, Ali Khamenei, Ali Sistani, Kazem al-Haeri, Sadeq Rohani, Fazel Lankarani, Montazeri, Mohammad Hussein Fadlullah, and Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi.

There are a few females which are equal in ranking to the Ayatollahs, and are known as Lady Mujtahideh. An example of which is Lady Mujtahideh Zohreh Sefati (official website). The first Lady Mujtahideh was Nosrat Amin Esfhani, born in 1886 to a religious family, she received her Ijtihad degree from Grand Ayatollahs of Qom at the age of 40.

When Westerners say "the Ayatollah", they usually mean Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who brought the word into the international limelight during the 1979 Iranian Revolution; a possible secondary meaning would be the term's use to indicate the serving Supreme Leader of Iran.

"The Ayatollah" is also the name of a celebration performed by Cardiff City fans during a game. The celebration itself consists of using both arms to pat the head at the same time, and is derived from media coverage of the mourning displayed when Ayatollah Khomeini died, and originally stemmed from the grief of watching Cardiff City in the lower leagues, it has now transcended this and is regularly seen on the terraces and as a celebration by sportsmen in other sports who wish to show their support of Cardiff City. Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas performs the celebration when he scores a try, Glamorgan and England cricket player Simon Jones also used the celebration when he took the wicket of Simon Katich in the first innings of the fourth Test of the 2005 Ashes Series.

 

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Scientology is a body of teachings and related techniques developed by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. It began in 1952 as a self-help philosophy, an outgrowth of his earlier self-help system, Dianetics, and later described itself as a new religion. It claims to offer "an exact methodology" to help humans achieve awareness of their spiritual existence across many lifetimes and, simultaneously, to become more effective in the physical world. The name "Scientology" is also used to refer to the often controversial Church of Scientology, the largest organization promoting the practice of Scientology, which is itself part of a network of affiliated corporations that claim ownership and sole authority to disseminate Dianetics and Scientology.

A stated goal of Scientology is to rehabilitate the thetan (roughly equivalent to the soul) to regain its native state of "total freedom." Church spokesmen and practitioners claim that Hubbard's teachings (called "Technology" or "Tech" in Scientology terminology) have saved them from a plethora of problems and enabled them to better realize their highest potential in business and in their personal lives. However, outside observers—including journalists, lawmakers, and national governing bodies of several countries—have alleged that the Church is an unscrupulous commercial enterprise that harasses its critics and brutally exploits its members.

Although believers are usually free to practice, the organized church has often encountered opposition. While a number of governments now view the Church as a religious organization entitled to the protections and tax relief that such status brings, others view it as a pseudoreligion, a cult, or a transnational corporation

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Wahhabism (Arabic: الوهابية, Wahabism, Wahabbism, Whahhabism) is an Islamic movement, named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). It is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and recently Western Iraq. In Pakistan also, it has become dominant and Jama'at ud Da'wah is the leading organization inviting people to the purely Qur'an and Sunnah based approach.

The term "Wahhabi" (Wahhābīya) is rarely used by members of this group today, although the Saudis did sometimes use it in the past. The currently preferred term is "Salafism". From at least 1914, they usually called themselves the Ikhwan, the Brethren. The term Wahhabism was originally bestowed by their opponents.

The Wahhabis claim to hold to the way of the Salaf as-Salih, the "pious predecessors" as earlier propagated mainly by Ibn Taymiyya, his students Ibn Al Qayyim al-Jawziyya, and later by Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab and his followers. ..... more click on heading

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Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. They are referred to as Ahl ul-Sunna (Arabic: أهل السنة; "people of the example (of Muhammad)"). The word Sunni comes from the word sunna (Arabic : سنة ), which means the words and actions [1] or example of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Sunnis are also referred to as Ahl ul-Sunna wa-l-Jama'ah (Arabic: أهل السنة والجماعة) (people of the example (of Muhammad) and the community) which implies that the Sunnis are the majority (as it is apparent). They represent the branch of Islam that came through the caliphate, which started with Abu Bakr.

Demographics
There are many challenges to demographers attempting to calculate the proportion of the world's Muslim population who adhere to each of the main traditions. For instance, there is no Sunni-Shi'a breakdown available for many countries, and the CIA World Factbook gives a Sunni-Shi'a breakdown only for countries where Shi'a are a significant minority. When no breakdown is given, all the country's Muslims have been enrolled, provisionally, in the Sunni column. Thus, the exact percentage of the world's Muslim population that adheres to the various Shi'a sects, as opposed to the majority Sunni group, is indeterminate.

Nevertheless, using various sources, one can arrive at an estimate of roughly 10-15 percent Shi'ite. However, other reasonably acceptable calculations indicate an estimate as low as 7.5 percent Shi'a.[1] In fact, the 2006 edition of Encyclopædia Britannica states that "the total Shi'ite movement comprises probably less than 10 percent of the Islamic world." Clearly, much further work will be required before these Sunni-Shi'a statistics can be considered reliable..... more click on heading

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Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam or Shi‘ism (Arabic شيعة šīʿah), is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family (who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendents known as Shi'a Imams.Prophet Muhammad's bloodline only continues through his beloved daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali which alongside the prophets grandsons are the Ahl al-Bayt. Thus, Shi'as consider Prophet Muhammad's descendents as the true source of guidance while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and not something attached to faith. The singular/adjective form is šīʿī (شيعي.) and refers to a follower of the faction of Imam Ali according to the Shia ideology.

Shia Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches; however, only three of these currently have a significant number of followers. The best known and the one with most adherents is the Twelvers (اثنا عشرية iṯnāʿašariyya) which have a large percentage in Iran 90% and Iraq; the others are Ismaili and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias. The Sufi orders among the Shias are the Alevi, Bektashi, Kubrawiya, Noorbakhshi, Oveyssi, Qizilbashi, Hamadani and Fatimid orders and denominations. Twenty percent of Turkey's population is Alevi while Lebanon and Syria have a large presence of Druze and Alawites. .... more click on heading

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Battle of Karbala
The Battle of Karbala was a military engagement that took place on 10 Muharram, 61 AH (October 9 or 10, 680 CE) (Persian: هجدهم یا نوزدهم مهر ماه 51 شمسی‎) [1] [2] in Karbala, in present day Iraq, between Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali and a military detachment from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph. Although the party of Husayn ibn Ali was small and the war didn't take much time, many notable members of the Muhammad's family were involved in it.
This battle is central to Shi'a Muslim belief. The death of Husayn is mourned by an annual commemoration, Ashurah.

Battle based on Islamic traditions

Background
After the passing on of Prophet Muhammad, there was some dissension in the Muslim community as to who should succeed him. The majority of the Muslims accepted the rule of the caliph Abu Bakr and then of the caliphs Umar ibn al-Khatthab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali bin Abi Talib. However, Shi'a've believed that Ali ibn Abi Talib, Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, who had lived with Prophet Muhammad since he was a child, was the better choice....... more click on heading

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Muharram (Arabic: محرم ) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months of the year. Fighting in this month is looked down upon and is often put to the side in respect for Islam. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

The first day of Muharram is the start of the Islamic New Year. The Festival of Muharram takes place during this month. The shia Muslim celebrate it in a different way in which they commemorate the Battle of Karbala and consider this a month of sadness and mourning. The commemoration reaches its climax on the tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashurah.

This is the day Husayn ibn Ali, the grand son of the prophet Muhammad was martyred along with his family members and friends in the Battle of Karbala. This day is important in relegions other than Islam also. It is, for example, related by the jews to the time of Moses when he crossed the Red Sea escaping from the Pharaoh. Sunni Muslims often fast on this sacred day.

This month of Muharram also has traditions which have no support from Islamic teachings. For example, the celebration of the Muslim new year, and the partying and card giving, etc, associated with it is considered to be a bidah and even haraam to all Shia muslims because they feel it is a time to mourn and it is haraam to express any happiness.

Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months. This month is most sacred to the Shi’a Muslim community and heavy mourning activities on the first ten days of the month are observed by Shi'a Muslims to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Some Muslims fast during these days but the shia muslims do not fast as they consider fasting a sign of happiness. The tenth day is called Ashurah, meaning, ‘the tenth’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting. The shia just stop eating and drinking but do not fast till the evening. The Sunni Muslims also fast during Muharram and on the ninth and the tenth day or the tenth and the eleventh day as recommended by the Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime.

Islamic Events
On 1 Muharram, the Islamic New Year is observed by some Muslims.
On 1 Muharram, Shi'ite Muslims begin the observance of the Commemoration of Muharram which marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. Imam Husayn entered Karbala.
On 7 Muharram, access to water was banned on Husayn by Yazid's order.
On 10 Muharram, the Day of Ashurah is commemorated by Muslims as the anniversary of the martrydom of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. But the Shi'ite Muslims attach much greater importance to this day.
On 25 Muharram, Fourth Imam Ali ibn Husayn was martyred.
On 27 Muharram, Mesum was martyred.

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Karbala (Arabic: كربلاء‎; BGN: Karbalā’; also spelled Kerbala, Kerbela, Karbila) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N, 44.08°E. In the time of Hussayn ibn ˤAlī's life, the place was also known as al-Ghadiriya, Nainawa, and Shathi'ul-Furat. The estimated population in 2003 was 572,300 people. It is the capital of Al Karbala Province. Shīˤa Muslims consider Karbala to be one of their holiest cities after Mecca, Medina and Najaf. The city is best known as the location of the Battle of Karbala.

Etymology
There are many theories as to the meaning of the name Karbala. Many believe its origin is from the old Assyrian language, composing two syllables: "Karb"; meaning "near", and "ala" (corrupted from "Iyle" an Aramaic word) standing for "God."[1][2][3][4] Others, like geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi believe the name to be derived from the Arabic language, meaning "soft earth" (corrupted from karbalat.)[5] Some also believe the origin may be Persian formed from the words Kaar, meaning "work", and bolo, meaning "the higher".

About the city
The city is one of Iraq's wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and agricultural produce, especially dates. It is made up of two districts, "Old Karbala," the religious centre, and "New Karbala," the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.... more click on heading

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