The Sunnites acknowledge the first four caliphs to have been the rightful successors of Mohammed. They are divided into four ortho dox sects or legal schools, the first of which was founded by Abu Hanifa. This Abu Hanifa was a pupil of the sixth Imam of the Shiites; but separated from him to form the school of his name that now predominates in Turkey, central Asia and northern India. The second of these schools, that of Ash Shafia, prevails in southern India and Egypt. The third school, that of Malik, has its home in Morocco and Barbary. The last school, that of Ahmed ibn Hanbal, is found in East Arabia and portions of Africa. The term Sunni, which they apply to themselves, is an arrogant title. It signifies "one who is on the path." They claim that they receive the six authentic books of tradition.
From the school of Ahmed ibn-Hanbal sprang the sect of the Wahhabites, who are named after their founder's father, the founder himself being named Mohammed. This Mo hammed, born in Arabia, in the early part of the 18th century, having seen, in the course of his travels, that Islam had departed from its primitive faith, determined to restore to the religion of Mohammed its early purity. His zeal as a reformer received some temporary setback and he soon became the warrior-prophet. Many converts were made by his missionaries, and the movement ,grew till Turkey feared for her own safety. In 1803 Mecca, .2.0:1• 'a year later Medina, was captured,•...The political power of the Wahhabites wits' soon destroyed, however, though are still a force in Islam. _In 'laths, too, the movement met.with 'rzsitlurrTate.
tenets of the Wahhabites are, practi cally, those held by the early Moslem. They arrogated to themselves the name of Unitarians, stigmatizing other Moslems as polytheists, inas much as the doctrine of the eternity of the quered country the terms were: Embrace Islam, pay tribute or die. These were harsh terms, but much of their severity is accounted for by the early history of Islam. Broken oaths of allegiance and unprovoked attacks are re sponsible, to a large extent, for Mohammed's uncompromising attitude. The Koran does state itself clearly on this point, yet no precept found there, when °taken with its context, can justify unprovoked war." At the present day a far more liberal policy is preached toward unbe lievers and the subject is much debated by the learned in Islam.
Among the prohibitions of the Koran, the most important are those concerning wine and gambling. "They will ask thee concerning wine and lots; answer in both there is great sin and also some things of use unto men; but their sinfulness is greater than their use," and suras 2, v. 216; 5, v. 92, treat of the same. These verses are held by the Moslem to be an abso lute prohibition. There might be, however, some doubt as to that if the verses alone and not their traditional interpretation were con sidered. Another prohibition of the Koran is murder. When one believer kills another in tentionally he is to remain in hell forever. (Sura 4, v. 96). From this fate, however, popular belief rescues him. the killing be by accident, there are certain expiations that may be made. There are also many prohibi tions in regard to eating, the most important of which is that in regard to swine-flesh. (Sum 5, v. 4). Such flesh as is eaten must be from an animal killed in a prescribed manner. Laws of marriage, divorce, testaments and many other civil and criminal laws are founded on the Koran and the Traditions. Mohammed founded not only a religion but a social system as well, wherein thg religious and the political life are inseparable. v This is the unique feature of Islam.
Mohammed is said to have told his follow ers that after him 73 sects would arise. His prophecy has been mere than fulfilled. It is tmpossible to give more than a synopsis of a few of the more important divisions of Islam. The two great divisions of sectarian Islam are the Sunnites and the Shiites. Compared with the Sunnite, the Shiite is a small sect, number ing about 15,000,000, while the former has about 145,000,000 adherents. The Shiites believe Ali to have been the legitimate Caliph or Imam, that is, successor of Mohammed, and conse quently reject Abu-Bekr, Omar and Othman., Ali, by his double relationship with the Prophet. — be was cousin and son-in-law as well as by reasons deduced from the Koran, and by traditions assigning him the appointment at the Koran meant two eternal beings, therefore, two gods. The reverence paid to saints and their tombs aroused to a high degree the antagonism of the Wahhabites. Even the tomb of Mo hammed receives no reverence from them, and when they captured Medina, all the rich orna ments were stripped from this sacred spot.