The separation of the two groups started after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The majority believed that his rightful successor was his father-in-law and close friend, Abu Bakr, but a small group believed the Prophet Muhammad's successor should be Ali ibn Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law and father of his grandchildren.
The Sunni majority got their way, as Abu Bakr became the first Muslim caliph and successor of the prophet. Although the divide was at first mostly political , as the minority group was a faction supporting the power of Ali, over time, the divide evolved into a religious movement. 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 recognize as being the prophet's rightful successor.
One of the most important dates for Shia Muslims is the t enth day of the holy month of Muharram the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Shia Muslims celebrate the anniversary of the death of Husayn ibn Ali , the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and son of Ali. The Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Saudi Arabia is one of the countries in the world with the largest proportion of Sunni Muslims. This practice is particular to the Shiites and often draws criticism and protests from Sunnis who do not celebrate that day nor view it as important.
Both groups, however, agree that Muhammad is God's messenger and follow the five ritualistic pillars of Islam, which include fasting during Ramadan, five daily prayers, and the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to Mecca which devolved into a stampede this year, killing more than people.
They also both share the holy book of the Quran. Amid the increasing politicization of Islam and the rise of fundamentalists on both sides of the divide, sectarian tensions intensified in the early 21st century, especially amid the upheavals caused by two Persian Gulf Wars, the chaos that followed the U. Sunni-Shia divisions would fuel a long-running civil war in Syria , fighting in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere, and terrorist violence on both sides.
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. 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. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. The tradition in this case refers to practices based on what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, agreed to or condemned. All Muslims are guided by the Sunnah, but Sunnis stress its primacy.
Shia are also guided by the wisdom of Muhammad's descendants through his son-in-law and cousin, Ali. Sunni life is guided by four schools of legal thought, each of which strives to develop practical applications of the Sunnah.
They claimed that Ali was the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad as leader imam of the Muslim community following his death in Ali was assassinated in after a five-year caliphate that was marred by civil war.
His sons, Hassan and Hussein, were denied what they thought was their legitimate right of accession to the caliphate. Hassan is believed to have been poisoned in by Muawiyah, the first caliph of the Sunni Umayyad dynasty, while Hussein was killed on the battlefield by the Umayyads in These events gave rise to the Shia concept of martyrdom and the rituals of grieving.
The Ithna Asharis are the largest group and believe that Muhammad's religious leadership, spiritual authority and divine guidance were passed on to 12 of his descendants, beginning with Ali, Hassan and Hussein. The 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is said to have disappeared from a cave below a mosque in Ithna Asharis believe the so-called "awaited imam" did not die and will return at the end of time to restore justice on earth.
In countries which have been governed by Sunnis, Shia tend to make up the poorest sections of society. They often see themselves as victims of discrimination and oppression.
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