Sect

==In Islam==
{{Main|Islamic schools and branches}}
{{See|Fiqh|Madhhab}}
Islam was classically divided into two major sects, known as [[Sunni Islam]] and [[Shia Islam]]. [[Kharijites|Kharijite]] and [[Murijite Islam]] were two early Islamic sects. Each sect developed several distinct jurisprudence systems reflecting their own understanding of the Islamic law during the course of the [[history of Islam]].

=== Current sects ===
Sunnis are separated into five ''[[maddhab]]s''; [[Hanafi]], [[Maliki]], [[Shafi'i]], [[Hanbali]] and [[Ẓāhirī]]. The Shia, on the other hand, first developed [[Kaysanites|Kaysanism]], which in turn divided into three major groupings known as [[Fiver (sect)|Fivers]], [[Seveners]] and [[Twelvers]]. The [[Zaidiyyah|Zaydis]] separated first. The non-Zaydis were initially called "[[Rafida]]". The Rafidis later divided into two sub-groups known as [[Imamiyyah]] and [[Batiniyyah]].<ref>[[Ahmed Cevdet Pasha]], ''Kısas-ı Enbiyâ,'' vol. II, page 12.</ref>

* The "[[Imami]]-[[Shi'a]]" later brought into existence [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]]. [[Akhbari]]sm, [[Usuli]]sm, and [[Shaykhism]] were all ensued as variations of "Ja'fari fiqh", while [[Alawites]] and [[Alevis]] who are not the strict followers of "Ja'farism" are developed separately from the teachings of ''[[Ithna'ashari]] [[Imām]]s.''[[File:Ghardaia02.jpg|thumb|[[M'zab]] valley in Sahara has been home of the [[Ibadi]] branch of Kharijte sect.]]
* [[Batiniyya]] groups, on the other hand, were divided into two sub-groups known as [[Sevener]]s and [[Ismā'īlī]]s. [[Qarmatians]] who did not follow the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] were branched from the [[Seveners]]. Those groups of [[Batiniyya]] who followed the [[Fatimids]] are the ancestors of today's [[Ismā'īlī]]s. [[Druze]] was emerged as an offshoot of Ismāʿīlism at the beginning of the 11th Century. [[Isma'ilism]] at the end of the 11th Century split into two major branches known as [[Nizārī Ismā'īlī]] ''([[Order of Assassins|Assassins]] of [[Alamut]])'' and [[Musta’li Ismaili]]. As a result of the assassination of [[Fatimid Caliph]] [[Al-Amir bi-Ahkami'l-Lah]], [[Mustaali]] was once more again divided into [[Hafizi]]s and [[Taiyabi Ismaili]]s ''([[Dawoodi Bohra|Dawoodis]], [[Sulaymani]]s and [[Alavi Bohra|Alavis]]).'' 
* The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali Sunnis, the Twelver groups, the Ismā'īlī groups, the Zaydis, the Ibadis, and the Ẓāhirīs continue to exist. In addition, new sects like [[Islam in the United States#African American Muslim movements|Black Muslim movements]], [[Quranists]], [[Salafis]], [[Wahhabis]], and [[Zikris]] have been emerged independently.

=== Former sects ===
* The Khawarij were initially divided into five major branches: [[Sufri]]s, [[Azariqa]], [[Najdat]], Adjarites and [[Ibadi]]s.

=== Amman Message ===
{{main||Amman Message}}
{{further|Islamic denominations}}
An Islamic convention held in [[Jordan]] in July 2005, which brought 200 Muslim scholars from over 50 countries together, announced the official recognition of eight [[Madhhab|schools]] of [[Fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]]<ref>[http://ammanmessage.com/ The Amman Message summary] – Official website</ref> and the varying [[schools of Islamic theology]].<ref name="3Points">[http://ammanmessage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=74 The Three Points of The Amman Message V.1]</ref> The eight recognized [[List of Islamic schools and branches|Islamic schools and branches]] are:
# [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] [[Hanafi]]
# Sunni [[Maliki]]
# Sunni [[Shafi'i]]
# Sunni [[Hanbali]]
# [[Shi'i]] [[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imāmī]] ''(followers of the [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]])''
# Shi'i [[Zaidiyyah|Zaydi]]
# [[Khawarij|Khariji]] [[Ibadi]]
# Sunni [[Ẓāhirī]]