Resurgence In The Shiite World - Part 2 - The Historical Progression.

After the birth of the new religion of Islam, and the rifts that characterised its early years, by the late 7th century AD the division between Shiism and Sunnism was firmly in place. The centuries that followed were marked by rapid conquest of new territories in the name of Islam - from Sindh in present day Pakistan to Spain - with Shiite and Sunni soldiers often fighting side by side. But these centuries were also marked by infighting among Muslims, and the emergence of various groups among both Sunnis and Shiites.

Shiism did not undergo any divisions during the first three Imams: Ali, Hassan, and Hussein. But after the martyrdom of Hussein, the majority of the Shiites accepted the imamate of Ali Ibn Hussein Al Sajjad, while a minority known as the Kisaniyah believed that the third son of Ali, Mohammad Ibn Hanafiyah, was the fourth Imam as well as the promised Mahdi. After that branches broke away following the deaths of virtually each Imam. However, from the eighth Imam to the twelfth, whom the majority of the Shiites believe to be the promised Mahdi, no division of any importance took place within Shiism (see Branches within Shiism in Part 3).

The martyrdom of the founding imams, which took place in Iraq, had a major impact on shaping the politics and theology of Shiism. It is important to note that, while there are doctrinal differences within its sub-sects, all Shiites believe their imams are the rightful heirs of Prophet Mohammed, and that Ali and his descendants possessed spiritual and political authority, including infallibility and special powers to discern hidden meanings in the Koran. The persecution of Shiites throughout history, many adherents of the sect still believe, makes it necessary for them to hide the true faith and outwardly profess Sunni Islam in places where there is no freedom of religion.

Rifts among the Shiites emerged in the late 7th century itself. For instance, while Ali Zain Al Abidin (the son of Imam Hussein) was able to compromise and accept Ummayyad rule, Mohammad Ibn Hanafiyah (son of Ali by a Hanafi woman), rebelled against the Ummayyads in 687 AD. The revolt failed but this did not end the rift and did not make the Ummayyads more acceptable to the Shiite community. On the contrary, the pious among the Shiites were shocked by the corruption and extravagance of the Ummayyad court - which controlled an area from Sindh to Spain, reflecting what until then was the fastest expansion of empire in history.