Close commitment to religion is called as ‘Fundamentalism’. Terrorism is a special form of Fundamentalism. Strong commitment to Islam is named as ‘Islamic Fundamentalism’. There are many other forms of Religious Fundamentalism, but their influence, goal etc. are not so deep, widespread and problematic. None others has been able to withstand and replace the operations of Islamic Fundamentalism. Islam has always been the most political of the world religions from its very beginning.
All branches of Islam are devoted to its propagation. But there are two main branches of Islam: the Sunni and the Shia. Both have tried to spread Islam as Islamic Fundamentalism. Both branches have undergone the various phases of Islamic Fundamentalism.
The Sunnis constitute about 85 per cent of the world’s one billion Muslims. The other 15 per cent are Shias. Yet the Shia Fundamentalism has been much more spectacular and aggressive. However, both have been violent and expansive forms of Islamic Fundamentalism.
The two branches of Islam parted company at an early stage over the succession to the Prophet. Shias were the followers of Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet. Ali had refused to become Caliph on the terms offered to him. Eventually, he had become Caliph on his own terms. One of Ali’s sons, also revered by the Shias, chose to suffer martyrdom rather than renounce his claim to the caliphate. This self-sacrifice and sticking to principle became characteristic of Shiaism.
The Shi’ites tend to be more puritanical, more fundamentalist and more devoted to martyrdom, to holy war and to the fusion of religion and state than the Sunnis. Shiaism tends to be more anti-establishment form of Islam, and puts greater emphasis on social justice. It appeals strongly to the poor and dispossessed. The Sunnis are the followers of the Sunna, the beaten path or Tradition. Sunnism is usually the pro-establishment religion. In most states, its religious leadership is part of the establishment.
Law, education and preaching are all practiced under the aegis of the state. The ulamas receive state salaries. The Sunni clergy have often acted as the mouthpiece of the state. The Shia clergy, even in Shia states, have a separate organisation from the state and have traditionally performed a more critical role.
Shiaism has a messianic dimension that Sunnism lacks. It believes that there will be a restoration of the rule of the Prophet with the return of the ‘hidden Imam’ who will one day lead the Islamic community to a final paradise. All injustice will be banished and the oppressed will inherit the earth.
Sunnis believe a caliph to be merely a fallible interpreter of the Quran, whereas, Shias believe that a true caliph is an Imam, a divinely inspired and therefore infallible religious leader in true descent from the Prophet and Ali. The true descent of the Prophet has been lost, but, Shias believe, one will eventually be found again.
Prophet Muhammad (670-732), the founder of Islam, is known to have direct revelation of Allah. He gave directions to him on all matters – cosmos, religion, politics, society, family, economy and duties of a believer. Basically, they were pivoted on non-idolatry, equality and fighting for the cause of religion. With these teachings, he founded the first Islamic State and led its expansion by fighting and winning over the Arabian tribes. In this manner, the founder of Islam was a political and military, as well as a religious, leader.
He gave the weapon of Islamic Fundamentalism or of Absolute Faith and Belief to his followers to spread his Message. It did not so happen in case of the founders of other religions. Most of the founders of non-Muslim religions were devoted to self-realisation of God, and kept themselves confined to preaching and religious living only. All other matters were secondary to them. In terms of temporal power and influence, they stand no match to Islam.
The Islamic ideal has been the unity of political authority. It has always been a conquering and proselytising faith. It began with the domination of the Arabian Peninsula. Within a couple of centuries of its foundation, Islam possessed an empire stretching from Spain to India. It crushed and trampled over all other non-Muslim dynasties, cultures, religions, communities and economies. It was victorious everywhere. Towards the end of the middle Ages, the leadership of Islam passed from the Arabs to the Turks. The Turks, with the Sword of Islam, succeeded in conquering much of Europe.