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however, he was always respected by Muhammad and other Muslims. When Muhammad went to Medina the worshippers of many different gods and faiths continuously assisted and supported Muhammad.
The Community: Major Sects of Islam
After the death of Muhammad, there developed a great controversy over the question of his successor. Apparently, he had mad no provision indicating the next leader of the Muslim community. As a result, the followers divided into two groups. One group thought that the rightful successor of Muhammad should be a relative. This group proclaimed Muhammad's sonin-law, Ali, to be the rightful successor. The followers of Ali are known as Shi’ite. Shi’a literally means the group of Ali. According to that tradition, Muhammad gave instructions to Ali which are not present in the Koran.
The second group of followers opposed the idea of the line of succession. They asserted that Abu Bakr, the Prophet's close and faithful friend, should be the successor. This group had greater public support. The follower of this group came to be known as Sunnis. The word Sunni comes from the word sunna which means “the tradition of the Prophet of Islam,” “the tried and true path. This path is believed to be the one that Prophet Muhammad himself journeyed.'
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