Islamic schools and branches

This article summarizes the different branches and various types of schools in Islam. There are three types of schools in Islam: Schools of Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic schools of Sufism better known as Tasawwufī-tārīqat and Aqidah schools of Islamic divinity. While all branches recognize the Qur'an, they differ in which other authorities they acknowledge.

This article also summarizes Islamism – the view that Islam is also a political system – and Liberal movements within Islam based on Ijtihad or interpretation of the scriptures.

Islamic denominations

In the beginning Islam was divided into three major sects. These political divisions are well known as Sunni, Shi'a and Kharijites. Each sect developed several distinct jurisprudence systems reflecting their own understanding of the Islamic law during the course of the History of Islam. For instance, Sunnis are separated into five sub-sects, namely, Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbalites and Ẓāhirī. Shi'a, on the other hand, was first developed Kaysanites and in turn divided into three major sects known as Fivers, Seveners and Twelvers. Qarmatians, Ismailis, Fatimids, Assassins of Alamut and Druses all emerged from the Seveners. Isma'ilism later split into Nizari Ismaili and Musta’li Ismaili, and then Mustaali was divided into Hafizi and Taiyabi Ismailis. Moreover, Imami-Shi'a later brought into existence Ja'fari jurisprudence. Akhbarism, Usulism, Shaykism, Alawites and Alevism were all developed from Ithna'asharis. Similarly, Khawarij was initially divided into five major branches as Sufris, Azraqis, Najdat, Adjarites and Ibadis. Among these numerous sects, only Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Imamiyyah-Ja'fari-Usuli, Nizārī Ismā'īlī, Alevi, Zaydi, Ibadi, Zahiri, Alawite, Druze and Taiyabi communities have survived. In addition, some new schools of thought and movements like Quranist Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims and African American Muslims later emerged independently.

Madhhab

A madhhab (Arabic: مذهب‎ maḏhab, IPA: [ˈmæðhæb], "doctrine"; pl. مذاهب maḏāhib, [mæˈðæːhɪb]; Turkish: mezheb; Urdu: مذہب mazhab) is a school of thought within fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). In the first 150 years of Islam, there were numerous madhāhib; several of the companions of Prophet Muhammad are credited with founding their own. As a matter of fact, there were as many mazhabs as there were companions. Over the centuries, mazhabs have variously grown, spread, split, and been absorbed; at one time, there were 130 schools. Most have become obsolete. Traditionally there has been four mazhabs followed by the majority of Muslims throughout Islamic history. As of the Amman Message, eight are officially acknowledged by the leaders of the international Muslim community - five Sunni schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali and the reintroduced Zahiri), two Shia schools (Ja'fari, Zaidi), and the Ibadi school.

The theological schools (Kalam) formed at the same time and in the similar way. The main theological schools are three major Sunni schools (Mu'tazili, Ash'ari and Maturidi) and three major Shia schools (Imamiyyah, Ismā'īlī and Zaidi), along with several minor schools.