Islam was classically divided into two major sects, known as
Sunni Islam and
Shia Islam.
Kharijite and
Murijite Islam were two early Islamic sects. Each sect developed several distinct jurisprudence systems reflecting their own understanding of the Islamic law during the course of the
history of Islam.
Current sects Sunnis are separated into five
maddhabs;
Hanafi,
Maliki,
Shafi'i,
Hanbali and
Ẓāhirī. The Shia, on the other hand, first developed
Kaysanism, which in turn divided into three major groupings known as
Fivers,
Seveners and
Twelvers. The
Zaydis separated first. The non-Zaydis were initially called "
Rafida". The Rafidis later divided into two sub-groups known as
Imamiyyah and
Batiniyyah. • The Romani Islam, A special brand of Islam influenced by Romani mysticism emerged in the
Western Balkans among the
Muslim Romani people there. • The "
Imami-
Shi'a" later brought into existence
Ja'fari jurisprudence.
Akhbarism,
Usulism, and
Shaykhism were all ensued as variations of "Ja'fari fiqh", while
Alawites and
Alevis who are not the strict followers of "Ja'farism" are developed separately from the teachings of ''
Ithna'ashari Imāms.'' valley in Sahara has been home of the
Ibadi branch of Kharijte sect. •
Batiniyya groups, on the other hand, were divided into two sub-groups known as
Seveners and
Ismā'īlīs.
Qarmatians who did not follow the
Fatimid Caliphate were branched from the
Seveners. Those groups of
Batiniyya who followed the
Fatimids are the ancestors of today's
Ismā'īlīs.
Druze was emerged as an offshoot of Ismāʿīlism at the beginning of the 11th Century.
Isma'ilism at the end of the 11th Century split into two major branches known as
Nizārī Ismā'īlī (Assassins of Alamut) and
Musta’li Ismaili. As a result of the assassination of
Fatimid Caliph Al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-Lah,
Mustaali was once more again divided into
Hafizis and
Taiyabi Ismailis
(Dawoodis, Sulaymanis and Alavis). • The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali Sunnis, the Twelver groups, the Ismā'īlī groups, the Zaydis, the Ibadis, and the Ẓāhirīs continue to exist. In addition, new sects like
Black Muslim movements,
Quranists,
Salafis,
Wahhabis,
Allahiyahs, and
Zikris have been emerged independently.
Former sects • The Khawarij were initially divided into five major branches:
Sufris,
Azariqa,
Najdat, Adjarites and
Ibadis.
Amman Message An Islamic convention held in
Jordan in July 2005, which brought 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries together, announced the official recognition of eight
schools of
Islamic jurisprudence and the varying
schools of Islamic theology. The eight recognized
Islamic schools and branches are: •
Sunni Hanafi • Sunni
Maliki • Sunni
Shafi'i • Sunni
Hanbali •
Shi'i Imāmī ''(followers of the
Ja'fari jurisprudence)'' • Shi'i
Zaydi •
Khariji Ibadi • Sunni
Ẓāhirī ==In Jainism==