A Comparative Study of Religious Bodies and Communities in the World of Islam

The concepts of sect, religion, church and religious community were used for the first time in the West to analyze the different types of religious communities and organizations in the Christian religious traditions. If we can’t consider Islamic bodies and phenomena in general -as far as possible- in the form of a set of common scientific terms, Islamic studies will remain in scientific isolation. In this regard, firstly, the basis or criteria of common classification about religious bodies are examined, then by reviewing various religious bodies in different Islamic societies and according to their important characteristics and comparing them with common corresponding concepts, the degree of compatibility of common terms with Islamic examples will be evaluated. It will be clear that by considering the use of common words and by applying changes in them, a set of terms with the most common scientific meanings can be provided, which will facilitate the familiarization of the scientific society with Islamic communities and phenomena. Therefore, in Islamic societies, there are types of denominations (religious communities), religious movements, types of sects and religions, the characteristics of each of which are explained and finally compared in two dimensions.