Re: Have you ever felt the fear...
In view of the discussion on SOT.
People should clear the misconception that SOTs started after the 4 imams or during their time. Each Imam has an origin for his teachings, its just that that specific Imam in a sense Codified them.
NO new rulings or prohibitions are introduced in sects, its more like they're organized so more people CAN come into islam without any problem, and those who are already muslims may have a guide as to how to do things.
The origins I speak of go back to the time of the Sahabahs r.a.
You see after the Death of the prophet, IMams such as Ibn Abbas, Ibn Masud, Zain ibn Thabit r.a used to pass rulings, and the 4 SOTs that exist today are due to those Imams after the Prophet pbuh that made Islam easier for laymen to follow.
Nothing new, just in a sense more in tune with the common folk who aren't as learned.