This naturally gives rise to some differences in religious practice between the two groups. First came the rise of the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, which transformed Iran (through force) from a Sunni center into the Shia stronghold of the Middle East. Significant populations of Shia Muslims can be found in Iran and Iraq. Over the centuries, these political differences have spawned a number of varying practices and positions which have come to carry spiritual significance. The death of the prophet Muhammad depicted in a 16th-century Turkish miniature. All Rights Reserved. Despite the long-running nature of the Sunni-Shia divide, the fact that the two sects coexisted in relative peace for many centuries suggests their struggles may have less to do with religion than with wealth and power. This includes rituals of prayer and marriage. This group is also known as Shiites or followers of Ahl al-Bayt or "People of the Household" (of the Prophet). Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin and son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib. “This was important, because by the time he died, he had basically brought all the tribes of Arabia together into a kind of confederation that became the ummah—the people or nation of Islam.”. according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations. In addition to Karbala, the NPR podcast Throughline identified three key milestones that would sharpen Sunni-Shia divisions by the end of the 20th century. But starting in the late 20th century, the schism deepened, exploding into violence in many parts of the Middle East as extreme brands of Sunni and Shia Islam battle for both religous and political supremacy. “The essence of the problem is that Muhammad died without a male heir, and he never clearly stated who he would want to be his successor,” says Lesley Hazleton, author of After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Sunni-Shia Split in Islam. The relationship between politics and Islam made this challenging. This group became known as the followers of Ali; in Arabic the Shiat Ali, or simply Shia. have narrated traditions about the Prophet's life and spiritual practice. In this sense, many people compare the two groups with Catholics and Protestants. Today, about 85 percent of the approximately 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are Sunni, while 15 percent are Shia, according to an estimate by the Council on Foreign Relations. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In the early 20th century, the victorious Allies divided the territory held by the former Ottoman Empire after World War I, cutting through centuries-old religious and ethnic communities in the process. For example, following Prophet Muhammad's death, his close friend and adviser, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph (successor or deputy of the Prophet) of the Islamic nation. At stake was not only control of Muhammad’s religious and political legacy, but also a great deal of money, in the form of taxes and tributes paid by the various tribes united under the banner of Islam. It is in areas of the world where Sunni and Shiite populations are in close proximity that conflict can arise. Sunni Islam vs. Shia Islam: Understanding the Difference Between the Two HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. While most of Muhammad’s followers thought that the other elite members of the Islamic community should choose his successor, a smaller group believed only someone from Muhammad’s family—namely his cousin and son-in-law, Ali—should succeed him. Sunni Islam and Shia Islam are the two major branches of Islam or, in other words, two of the main sectarian divisions. They contend that leadership of the community is not a birthright, but rather a trust that is earned and may be given or taken away by the people. A common thread in most of these conflicts is the ongoing battle between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran for influence in the oil-rich Middle East and surrounding regions. They also adhere to ​ the five pillars of Islam : shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, and hajj. Spiritually, both groups practice the Five Pillars of Islam that is Shahadah (Faith), Prayer, Zakat (Charity), Fasting and Pilgrimage. Coexistence in Iraq and Lebanon, for example, is often difficult. These are fundamental practices in the Islamic faith. These differences touch all detailed aspects of religious life: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and more. For example, in Saudi Arabia, Sunni Wahhabism is a prevalent and puritanical faction. Iran is a good example in which the Imam, and not the state, is the ultimate authority. Fundamentally, they share some common beliefs but practice in different manners. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images. Though the two main sects within Islam, Sunni and Shia, agree on most of the fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam, a bitter split between the two goes back some 14 centuries. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of the Islam religion. Sunnism is the largest and most orthodox branch of Islam. The division among Muslims is rooted from differences in political beliefs. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical Shia't-Ali, or "the Party of Ali." Why and When Do Muslim Girls Wear the Hijab? “It was obviously intended by the Ummayads to put the definitive end to all claims to leadership of the ummah as a matter of direct descendence from Muhammad,” says Hazleton of Hussein’s death, and the death of all the surviving members of Muhammad’s family, at Karbala. Sunni Muslims agree with many of the Prophet's companions at the time of his death: that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. “But of course it's not what happened.” Instead, Hussein’s martyrdom at Karbala became the central story of Shia tradition, and is commemorated yearly as Ashoura, the most solemn date on the Shia calendar. The word Shia in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. Within the century after Muhammad’s death, his followers had built an empire that stretched from Central Asia to Spain. It is important to remember that despite these differences in opinion and practice, Shia and Sunni Muslims share the main articles of Islamic belief and are considered by most to be brethren in faith. These are fundamental practices in the Islamic faith. They comprise about 85% of Muslims, while Shia Muslims are the second largest denomination at over 10% of Muslims. A massive Sunni army waited for them, and by the end of a 10-day standoff with various smaller struggles, Hussein was killed and decapitated, and his head brought to Damascus as a tribute to the Sunni caliph. Instead, it is a conflict between two governments who, respectively, abuse Sunni and Shia Islam for their own political agendas. Sunni Muslims counter that there is no basis in Islam for a hereditary privileged class of spiritual leaders, and certainly no basis for the veneration or intercession of saints.

sunni islam vs shia islam

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