Module 13:
Islamic Sects & Diversity

Module 13 explains that Islam is united in its core beliefs but diverse in how it is interpreted and practiced. It introduces the idea of the ummah, the global community of Muslims, and shows that although Muslims share beliefs such as one God, the Qur’an, Muhammad, and the Five Pillars, they differ in areas such as leadership, religious authority, law, culture, and practice. The module emphasizes that Islam is not one uniform system, but a global religion expressed in different ways across different societies and communities.

The module then focuses on the major branches within Islam, especially Sunni and Shia Islam. It explains that Sunnis are the large majority and generally emphasize leadership by community consensus, while Shias place greater emphasis on leadership through the Prophet’s family and the line of Imams. It also introduces smaller branches and traditions such as Ibadi Islam and Sufism, along with other minority groups, to show that Islamic diversity extends beyond the Sunni–Shia divide. Overall, the module presents Islam as a religion with shared foundations but significant theological, legal, historical, and spiritual diversity.