what 2 branches of the islam faith are there?

Answer 1

Sunni and Shiite

Answer 2

The MAIN branches of Islam are Sunni and Shi'a.

Although both sides are wrong about why they split.

Qur'an [42:13] -

"...keep to obedience and be not divided therein.."

There should be no separation in Islam, although there are MANY sects that have formed.

Answer 3

Sunnis Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. They are also referred to as Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h (Arabic: أهل السنة والجماعة) (people of the example (of Muhammad) and the community) which implies that they are the majority, or Ahl ul-Sunna (Arabic: أهل السنة; "The people of the example (of Muhammad)") for short. 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. They represent the branch of Islam that accepted the caliphate of Abu Bakr due to him being chosen by peoples consensus, thus elections, or Shurah on the caliphate being the first distinguishing factor in Sunni Islam. Most Sunni lawyers define themselves as those Muslims who are rooted in one of the four orthodox schools of Sunni law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii or Hanbali).


ShÄ«‘a, also Shi'ah and Shi‘ite (Arabic شيعة Å¡Ä«Ê¿a), is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of 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. Muhammad's bloodline continues only through his daughter Fatima Zahra and her husband Ali ibn Abu Talib, who alongside the Muhammad's grandsons are among the Ahl al-Bayt ("people of the house [of Muhammad]"). Thus, Shi'as consider 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 Å¡Ä«Ê¿Ä« (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, Sevener, and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias.[1] 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.

According to most sources, including the US Library of Congress, present estimates indicate that approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 15% are Shi'a. Today there estimated to be between 130 and 190 million Shi'a Muslims[2] (including Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaydis) throughout the world, about three quarters of whom reside in Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and India.[3][4]

Answer 4

THere is more than two but the two mains ones are Sunni and shiite. Its just like christianity it goes to calolism and protisant then those branch out.

Answer 5

Thats a bad question...

There's more than 2 branches.

The 2 primary branches in Iraq are the Sunni and Shia

Answer 6

There are more than 2 sects of Islam...Although the 2 major sects are Sunni and Shiite

Sources:
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/blfaq_islam_sects.htm

Answer 7

There are many so called "branches" of Islam including Sunni, Shi'a, Suffi, Wahabi, Baha'is, Ahmadiyyas, Druze, Alvis, and 'Alawis, but no matter what group you consider yourself to belong to, we all say that we are Muslim. If someone asked me what my faith is, I say, "Muslim." If they ask me if I am Sunni or Shi'a, even though I am Shi'a, I say "I am Muslim."

Answer 8

i am a muslim the leading ones are sunni and shia. how ever there are several different sects of islam. there is suffi, wahabi, ahmedia, etc..... our prophet muhammud sallahualahewsallam warned ALL muslims about dividing into sects. there will be over 70 sects of islam by the end of the world and all about one will be in hell. according to our scriptures.

Answer 9

there are many but there shouldn't be. anyone who follows the Quran and the Sunnah is a muslim. That is why I have stopped calling myself a sunni. I am a muslim, that is all.

I just realized I basically just repeated everyone else. oh well

Answer 10

You forgot 'the Nation of Islam'