Core Tenets and Historical Divisions of Islam

Pillars of Islam

• Shahada: "There is no god but God. Muhammad is God's messenger."
• Salah: Pray five times a day facing Mecca. Ritual purity is required.
• Zakat: An obligatory annual tax, considered charity.
• Sawn: The fast observed during Ramadan.
• Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must undertake at least once.

Sacred Texts and Traditions

The Quran

The Quran is understood to be the literal word of God, revealed to Muhammad. It details how to achieve salvation, requiring belief in Allah and the Quran itself. It contains 114 chapters, called Suras.

Hadith and Sunna

• The Hadith are anecdotes concerning Muhammad's life and behavior, which are highly relevant to the Muslim community.
• The Sunna is the example set by Muhammad's life, serving as a model and guide for every Muslim.

Division of Islam

Sunnis and Shias

The primary division in Islam separates the Sunnis (approximately 85% of all Muslims) and the Shias, who are followers of Ali. This historical split occurred after Muhammad's death during the search for a replacement leader for the community. This conflict resulted in several murders and civil war within Islam. Ali eventually became Caliph for both Sunnis and Shias but was assassinated five years after assuming power.

Historical Context: Post-Ottoman Era

On May 19, 1916, representatives of Great Britain and France secretly reached the Sykes-Picot Agreement. By this accord, most Arab lands under the rule of the Ottoman Empire were designated for division into British and French spheres of influence upon the conclusion of World War I.

Allied Discussions on Ottoman Territory

After the war began in the summer of 1914, the Allies (Britain, France, and Russia) held extensive discussions concerning the future of the Ottoman Empire, which was fighting alongside Germany and the Central Powers. In March 1915, Britain signed a secret agreement with Russia. In exchange for Russian agreement on British claims in other areas, Russia would annex the Ottoman capital of Constantinople and control the Dardanelles strait and the Gallipoli peninsula.

The Sykes-Picot Drafting

More than a year after the Russian agreement, British representative Sir Mark Sykes and French representative Francois Georges Picot authored the secret agreement regarding the spoils of the Great War. Picot sought French control over Syria, while Sykes raised British demands to balance regional influence. Significantly, the agreement largely failed to account for the future growth of Arab nationalism, which the British government was simultaneously attempting to leverage against the Turks.