This leadership position was called the khalifa, which means deputy or successor. Eventually, Islam broke into two main sects Sunni and Shi’a. The Sunnis follow the preaching of the Prophet Muhammed and the shrine given to him by God. They believe in four Caliphs that are holy men who followed Muhammad. They are the Islamic stewards of a caliphate who Muslims consider to be the religious successor of the Prophet Muhammed. Which is a major point of disagreement between the Sunnis and Shi’a, since Sunnis believe that a caliph should be elected by Muslims or their representatives from within their community, and Shi’as believe a caliph should be an Imam chosen by God from the among Muhammad's direct descendants. The Shia, or Shiites also known individually as Shi’I follows Ali, Muhammad’s cousin. They consider themselves holding more authority than the Sunnis due to directly being related to Muhammad’s daughter Fatima. This belief is another reason why the Sunnis and Shias separated into separate sects after Muhammad’s death. …show more content…
The Shia call him Imam Mahdi because they are expecting him to be their 12th Imam, however, both the identity and characteristics of the Mahdi for the Sunnis are significantly different from the identity and characteristics of Shia's Imam Mahdi. Shia’s believe the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam that will rule before the Day of Judgement, and will rid the world of evil. According to Islamic tradition, the Mahdi's tenure will coincide with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah in Islam, which will assist the Mahdi against the Antichrist. Jesus will descend at the point of a white arcade, east of Damascus, dressed in yellow robes with his head anointed. He will then join the Mahdi in his war against the Antichrist where Jesus will slay the Antichrist and unite