Sunni muslims are the followers of abu bakr whereas shia muslims are the followers of ali. An ancient religious divide is helping fuel a resurgence of conflicts in the middle east and muslim countries. The fundamentals of the islamic faith are agreed upon by all muslims. The division has its roots in a rift between the sunni and shia disciplines of islam that opened 1,400 years ago. Sunni and shia islam are the two largest branches of islam with significant similarities, as well as major differences, between their beliefs.
The differences between sunnis and shiites christian. What is the problem between the shiite and the sunnis. What is the difference between sunni and shiite muslims. The shia view of the quran differs from the sunni view, but the majority of both groups believe that the text is identical. I found that i learned more about the differences in belief between sunni and shia muslims from this short synopsis than anything else ive read. What is the difference between sunnis and shias the hindu. Understanding the divisions within islam by charles river editors isbn. Modern sunnishia tensions council on foreign relations. What are some good and reliable books on shiasunni divide.
The heirs of the prophet by barnaby rogerson goes back to analyze the most basic division and its roots from the first generation of muslims. This article serves as a brief overview of the similarities and differences between the two groups. This split in the religion stems from a political and spiritual difference of opinion about who should have succeeded prophet muhammad after his death in 632 ce. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals saudi. The divide between sunnis and shia is the largest and oldest in the history of islam. Saudi arabias execution of shia cleric sheikh nimr alnimr could escalate tensions in the muslim world even further. What are the differences between sunni sufi and shia. Whats the difference between sunni and shiite muslims. Born in 570 ce in mecca, saudi arabia and died in 632 c. Sunni and shia muslims share the most fundamental islamic beliefs and articles of faith and are the two main subgroups in islam. A difference between sunni and shia has originated from political and spiritual grounds. In the wake of that rupture, nasr explains, shiites and sunnis.
Opinion the sunnishiite conflict explodes in iraq the. Sunni and shia muslims share many aspects of islamic teachings in common and also have their differences. When the prophet died, the followers of muhammad couldnt agree on the issue of who should become the first caliph after muhammad. The differences between shia and sunni muslims business. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim countries and is threatening to fracture iraq and syria. Difference between sunni and shia difference between.
Feb 12, 2007 the origins of the shiite sunni split. Ignorance may be bliss, but it makes for bad policy. One is the book of allah, and the other is my tradition zaheer 1985, 10. Jan 05, 2016 what is difference between sunni and shia. The other differences are on the basis of religious practices and rituals people follow. Whats the difference between shiite and sunni muslims. What is the difference between sunni and shia muslims. But even if this belief is truly of the shia, one can do research, one can consider and in the end, it is between them and allah. Will bring about the kingdom of god on earth after the apocalyptic battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. After all, wouldnt british counterterrorism officials responsible for northern ireland know the difference between catholics and protestants. First of all let me give introduction of important persons from the history of islam so that you can understand what exactly is the dispute. Ancient rift brings fear on streets of baghdad the new york times.
Some of the other differences between shia and sunni namaz are the use of word amen. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals. Difference between shia and sunni namaz difference between. Jan 05, 2016 howard adds that sunni and shiite groups have clashed over the centuries, sometimes over matters of faith mixed with the politics of the time. Differences between shia and sunni muslims business insider. Sunni is an arabic word which means the one who follows the traditions or sunah of the prophet whereas shia word is derived from shiayat e ali that means friends of ali. The famous shia book alghadir by allameh amini is a collection of evidences and proofs for ghadir events written all from sunni historical books by referring to 100,000 sunni books. Im pretty naive when it comes to the difference between sunni and. The sunni shia and the muslim sunni essay 2382 words. Baghdad, iraq, march 25 the difference between shiites and sunnis is sometimes explained simply as a disagreement over who should. A schism emerged after the death of the prophet muhammad in 632, and disputes arose over who should. The conflict between shias and sunni 959 words 4 pages. Sunni muslims agree with the position taken by many of the prophets companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. The conflicts between shia and sunni muslims go back to the seventh century and the death of the prophet muhammad.
Differences between shiite and sunni muslims free essays. Another difference between the sunni muslims and shiite muslims is with regards to their belief of the mahdi, or the rightfully guided one. The division between shia and sunni dates back to the death of the prophet muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the muslim nation. The book does an excellent job of going into the history of both groups and exactly what led to the split.
These fundamentals include the belief in the oneness of god, the role. Sunni muslims believed muhammad did not name a successor to lead muslims after his death. Approximately 8790% of muslims are sunni while the remaining 10% are shia. Nawm is a must for sunni athan but shia muslims do not say it because it was not said at the time of prophet muhammad and omar. The differences between sunni and shiite are initially ideological, not political. What is the difference between sunni and shiite muslimsand why does it matter. Sep 15, 2009 combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling, after the prophet explores the volatile intersection of religion and politics, psychology and culture, and history and current events. Today, shia islam is more popular in countries such as iraq, iran, pakistan, bahrain, yemen, syria and lebanon.
Understanding the divisions within islam charles river editors on. The epic story of the shiasunni split in islam paperback september 7, 2010. Despite differences between sunni and shia muslims, both respect the quran as the holy book. Why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east. Start studying similarities between sunni and shia muslims. The difference between the shiite and the majority of muslim. Thus in the early 1970s ayatollah khomeini published a landmark book that.
Shia muslims believe in temporary marriage where a couple enters in to wedlock for a preset period of time while sunni muslims believe in a more permanent marriage which ends only in divorce of in the case of the death of a spouse. Although sunni and shiite muslims are both sects of the islamic faith, the differences between these two groups stem from conflicting religious beliefs. Kim ghattass black wave examines the rivalry between saudi arabia and iran that is. Shite books only use sunni books to prove their point and every thing i have said is backed by a sunni book. Oct 04, 2015 the conflicts between shia and sunni muslims go back to the seventh century and the death of the prophet muhammad. 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. Major tenets and beliefs are often similar between the two branches, but some important differences exist. Only seven shia scholars have believed in omissions in the uthmanic codex. Howard also said he traces this current struggle between saudi arabia and iran to the u. With that in mind it is perhaps not surprising that the differences between these communities are frequently blamed for tension between muslims not just in the middle east but elsewhere too. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The name sunni is derived from the word sunnah which means tradition. Mar 18, 2009 sunni muslims trust the region taken by utilizing many of the prophets companions, that the hot chief could desire to be elected from between those able to the interest. Comment, that the split between sunni and shiites in iraq is of relatively recent origin. May 21, 2017 voices donald trump puts us on sunni muslim side of bitter sectarian war with shias. Struggles between sunni and shia forces have fed a syrian civil war that threatens to transform the map of the middle east, spurred violence that is fracturing iraq, and widened fissures in a number of tense gulf countries. Jan 16, 2011 the division between shia and sunni dates back to the death of the prophet muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the muslim nation. If there is a conflict between sunnis and shias, and if it is believed to be primordial in nature, then. Jun, 2014 when the united states invaded iraq in 2003, it effectively destroyed the iraqi government. Jun 18, 2018 differences between sunni and shia muslims. What are the differences between sunni and shiite muslims.
One of the most crucial differences between shia and sunni muslims is the importance that the shiites give to ali, whom the sunni do not recognise as being the prophets rightful successor. In february, a group of sunni muslims bombed the golden mosque in samarra. They do differ, however, and that separation stemmed initially, not from spiritual distinctions, but political ones. Differences between sunni and shia 886 words bartleby. The differences between the major branches of islam. It also goes into some detail about sunni shia relations. The mahdi is already on earth, but is currently the hidden imam, and will reappear at the end of time. Sunnis and shiites national council for the social studies. The distinction between shia and sunni islam began after the death of islams founder muhammad. Shia, shia islam, sunni, sunni and shia, sunni and shia islam, sunni islam. We need support our beliefs by giving reference of traditions of holy prophet saww and quran.
Here is a primer on the basic differences between sunni and shia islam. Donald trump puts us on sunni muslim side of bitter sectarian. Here is a primer on the basic differences between sunni and. Do not accept the mahdi as the shia s twelfth imam.
Shia and sunni muslims both regard athan as a sunah, near wajib or it is a must. Twelver shia believe the mahdi is the twelfth imam. Sunnis and shiias disagree over a marginal historical discrepancy. May 07, 2017 why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east policy and why it shouldnt. Islams internal divisions and their global consequences robert brenton betts on. Difference between shia and sunni compare the difference. They chose sides following the death of the islamic prophet muhammad in ad 632.
There has never been a clash between the shia and sunni on the scale of the thirty years war, which saw christian sects fight each other in 17thcentury europe with great loss of life. The shia, merely by proclaiming their brand of islam, their differenceeven. Parallels the division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. If you regularly visit this site and wish to show your appreciation, or if you wish to see further development of, please donate online. In september 1996 more than 200 people were killed when a gun battle between teenage shia and sunni escalated into a communal war that lasted five days. A fivepart series explores the long history of the divisions between shia and sunni muslims. The differences between shia and sunni muslims business insider. And the conflicts between the sunnis and the shia and the difference between who they. While both sects believe that the mahdi would serve as the global caliph of all islam, the sunni muslims look forward to his birth and coming into the earth. Similarities between sunni and shia muslims quizlet. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jan 04, 2016 here is a primer on the basic differences between sunni and shia islam. The blood shadings between shia and sunni in the history of islamic interfaith differences have affected future generations, since the death of prophet muhammad in a. I am not sure but i think we, or at least part of us and the most important shia scholars, do believe they have a greater position than the other prophets as or most of them.
Oct 05, 2015 one of the most crucial differences between shia and sunni muslims is the importance that the shiites give to ali, whom the sunni do not recognise as being the prophets rightful successor. Shia and sunni islam are the two major denominations of islam. The unraveling of the muslim world the new york times. A complete collapse in iraq could provide a haven for al qaeda operatives within striking distance of israel, even europe. The book provides extensive footnotes so that one can determine the source of the various statements in this book. In terms of religious belief and practice there are more similarities than differences between sunni and shia muslims and the idea that sunnis and shias have been in perpetual conflict is historically inaccurate. In december 2006 the new york times reported that it is not just ordinary americans who find it difficult to remember the difference between sunnis and shiites. Differences between sunni, shia and ibadi islam wikipedia. The site and the dilp are entirely supported by individual donors and well wishers. What caused the split between sunni and shia islam. What are the differences between shia and sunni muslims. Us presidents speech gives a greenlight to authoritarian regimes in the middle east to carry on torturing and. The vicious and devastating cycle of violence in iraq between sunni and shia groups is an all too frequent reminder of the dangers of sectarian conflict. Yet a spotlight has been shone recently on the differences between the two.
What is the difference between sunni and shiite muslims and. The shiite tribes of the south probably only converted to shiism in the past 200 year s. It is an indispensable guide to the depth and power of the shiasunni split. Sufis have a romantic idea of islam and dont really fit anywhere on this spectrum. Irans islamic revolution, which brought shias to power in 1979, and the sunni backlash have fueled a competition for regional dominance. The shia revival by vali nasr is a good book on modern shia political power. In this gripping narrative history, lesley hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the sunni and shia branches of islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever. Jan 05, 2016 what caused the split between sunni and shia islam. Ancient muslim rivalry explained saudi arabias execution of popular cleric sheikh nimr alnimr ignited outrage among shia muslims, causing violent. While some shia disputed the canonical validity of the uthmanic codex, the shia imams always rejected the idea of alteration of qurans text. Analysis of the iraq study group report the islam religion was founded by mohammed in the seventh century. Ancient muslim rivalry explained saudi arabias execution of popular cleric sheikh nimr alnimr.
Members of the two sects have coexisted for centuries and. I see a lot of pundits and politicians saying that sunnis and shiites in iraq have been fighting for a millennium. What is the difference between sunni and shia islam. Difference between sunni and shiite islam difference between.
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