Western media reports often lead us to assume that all devout Muslims favor terrorism. This is definitely not the case. There is a need for more nuanced understanding of the increasing amount of information, much of it still inaccurate, about Islam. The origin of these groups centers more on political viewpoints than dogma. A third category known as the Sufi movement focuses upon the mystical aspects of Islam and is found among both the Sunni and Shi'a communities.
Authority rests in the community, guided by ulama consensus and Islamic law.
Leaders do not take on the mantle of Muhammad. Rather, they protect and defend Islam, seeking to apply God s law to society. The charisma of Muhammad passed on in direct blood lineage through a family dynasty. Religious and political authority rests in imams alone. The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey are Sufis Sufism.