... and eventually divided Islam into two major sects. Sunni Islam accepted the Rashidun caliphs and the caliphs that followed as temporal leaders of the ummah, or Islamic community. Under Sunni Islam, the caliph's were responsible for dictating policy and implementation of the shari"ah, the code of Islamic law gathered from the Quran and three corollary sources that are based in Mohammed's actions and recitations. Shi"a Islam ... does not accord any significance to the caliphs. They regard caliphs as usurpers and hold that Islam is guarded by Imams, chosen successors. The first Imam is sai...

• Word Count: 2157
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Sabbath on Friday, fast during Ramadan, and do not eat pork. They also study the Koran and observe the "Five Pillars of Islam," which include charity, prayer, public acknowledgement, pilgrimage to Mecca, and Ramadan. The Muslims acknowledge some of the same prophets of Christianity and Judaism, but see Muhammad as the "one." Although, it should be understood that Muslims believe that he was only a man chosen by ... internal organs such as the lungs and spleen. Along the same yin-yang balance is the Chinese diet. By eating the right combinations of foods, the correct balance can be maint...

• Word Count: 1426
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate