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| Shaykhism
A sect of Islam that arose in the 19th century from the teachings of the Arab Shí'í teacher, Shaykh Amad al-Ahsá'í (1753 - 1826) and then continued by his follower, Kázim Rashtí who died in 1844. It had a wide following in Iran and Iraq equally among the learned (religious leaders) and the lay (often illiterate) people. The teachers took an gnostic approach to Islam, -that there were mysteries (esoteric knowledge) which needed to be unveiled and there was some expectation of a resurrection or new teacher or prophet expected. Shí'ah Islam or Shí'ism or Shí'ítes The state religion of Iran since the 16th century. It differs to Sunní Islam in a central devotion to a series of Imáms (leaders) who were related to the Prophet Muhammad and who Shí'ís regard as the recipients of divine grace and guidance. Various Shí'í sects have developed each with its distinctive teachings and list of Imáms. The Twelvers are the largest of these. They regard the writings, sayings and deeds of the Imáms as an additional source of divine guidance to the revelations of the Qur'án and the oral statements and practices (hadíth) attributed to Muhammad. Shí'ísm also contains a strong popular emphasis on suffering and martyrdom not found in Sunnism, due to their history of persecution and oppression as a minority group. Sunní Islam The most common sect of Islam in the world. Only the revelations of the Qur'án and the oral statements and practices (hadíth) attributed to Muhammad are considered divine. Twelver (Ithná- 'Ashariyyá) Shí'ism The largest sect of Shí'ísm in Iran who recognized 12 Imams starting with Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 661 A.D.), and continuing successively through his descendents until Muhammad al-Mahdi, who disappeared mysteriously in 873 A.D. A belief then developed that the Twelfth Imán was hidden from the eyes of the faithful until the end of time, when he would return to vanquish his opponents and establish a kingdom of peace and justice. The Báb claimed not to be the Twelfth Imám who most were expecting to literally reappear, but the Qa'im, the return of the Twelfth Imám. Letters of the Living The title the Báb gave to the first 18 individuals who recognized him as a messenger of God between May and August in 1844. Some of these were: Mullá Husayn-i-Bushrú'í (c.1813 - 49), Mullá Alíy-i-Bastámí (died in 1845), Sayyid Husayn Yazdí (died in 1852), Táhirih (1814 - 1852), Quddús (1822 - 49). |
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