Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam — Page 205
− The two mainstream sects of Islam are: The , and the Sunnis − − Shi'ite. All other sects developed from these two mainstreams. Some well-known sects and their relationship with the two mainstream sects are: Sunni Stream of Islam:: Ahli Sunnat, Ahl-i-Hadith, − − ± − Wahhabis, Ahmadis − − ± − Shi‘ah Stream of Islam:: ( Zaidis Also called "Five-Imam − − − Shi'ites" or "Fivers"), Twelvers, (Also called "Twelve-Imam Shi'ites" − or ithna‘ashari‘a), Seveners: Nizaris − − ± − − (Isma‘ilis), Musta’lis (Bohras). − − − − The Sunnis − [The adjective from the word (practice and custom Sunnis Sunnah − of the Holy Prophet ")] is the largest group of Muslims. The full name of sa the is ’ (The people of the and the Sunnis Ahlussunnah wal-jama Sunnah − − Consensus). This is the main sect of Muslims. About 85% of the Muslims are Sunnis Khulafa-i-Rashidin. They accept the authority of all the (The − − − − righteous ) and follow closely the custom and practice ( ) of Khulafa Sunnah − the Holy Prophet. They adhere to the Islamic law ( ) as interpreted sa Shari‘ah − − by the four well-known jurists and Imams: Malik bin Anas, Abu Hanifa, − − − ± − Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi’ i and Ahmad bin Hanbal. ± − − − ± ± The Schools of Jurisprudence There are four Schools of Jurisprudence among the : the Sunnis − Hanafi; Hanbali; Maliki Shafi’i and. Each school is a legal system ± − ± − − − − − developed out of the so-called "Foundations of the Jurisprudence" ( Usul ± − al-fiqh Abu Hanifah Malik ibn ). The founders of the schools are: (d. 767); − ± − − Anas Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i Ahmad ibn (d. 795); (d. 820); and ± − − − ± Hanbal Maliki (d. 855). The school is dominant in the Arab West and West ± − − 205