Like Christians in the West, there are many different denominations or sects in Islam. The two major Islamic branches, Sunnis and Shi’ites are located throughout the Middle East, and both branches have followers in Saudi Arabia. Officially in Saudi Arabia today, 92% of the population are considered Sunni Moslems and 8% are considered Shi’ite Muslims who live mostly along the coast of the Persian Gulf. Sunnis are considered the “Orthodox” branch of Islam, and the “Shi’ites,” like the Protestants, broke away from Orthodox Islam when Ali’s descendants were slain in Karbala, Iraq, over leadership issues.
In the beginning, leadership of Islam came from the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Then, direction shifted to Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Turkey and other areas. A post was eventually set up in the holy cities in the Arabian Peninsula known as the Sharifate to oversee the holy cities.
Sharifs of Mecca and Medina
Members of the Prophet Muhammad’s clan, the Banu Hashim (a part of the Quraysh tribe from Mecca) were selected to be Sharifs of Mecca and Medina since the time of the Abbasid Caliphate. These were descendants of Muhammad’s grandson, Hassan ibn Ali. They protected the cities of Mecca and Medina and assisted pilgrims during the yearly Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. The Sharifs were known as Hashemites in the West as they were descended from the clan of Hashim. The British set up the Hashemites to rule Iraq and Transjordan following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Up until this time the Arabian Peninsula was generally known as Arabia. Shortly after the British placed the Hashemites in power in 1924, they supported the Saud family in taking over the Hejaz area. The Saud family who now ruled the Nejd area of Arabia also gained control of the important Hejaz (Western Arabia containing Mecca and Medina). The Sauds expelled the Hashemites, doing away with the Sharifate. The ruler from the Saud family was Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, commonly known as Ibn Saud.
