How to Know the Difference Between Sunnis and Shiites

The news about the war in Iraq is filled each day with mentions of the conflict between Sunni and Shi’ite factions of Islam, but most of us know little about how they differ. In fact, few Americans can explain the differences between these two groups and why they have been fighting for centuries.

Instructions

1. Look at the issue historically. With Muhammad's death in the 7th century AD, there was a difference of opinion about who the true leader of the religion should be. At first Islam were led by the caliphs who were not generally related to Muhammad. After the third caliph was murdered, the Shi'ites were formed and backed ‘Ali as the leader of Islam. And they declared that future caliphs, or imams be descendents of ‘Ali and his wife Fatimah. On the other hand, the other major faction in the Islamic world are the Sunnis. They hold that Abu Bakr was Muhammad's rightful successor and that the method of choosing the leaders of Islam be by consensus of the Muslim community.

2. See how the two factions approach Islam differently today. Many Sunnis say that Shi'ites prefer to win over Sunnis to their point of view instead of attempting to sell Islam to non-Muslims. However, Shi'ites believe that they are the true successors of the "house" of Muhammad and they want to see an Islamic world united by such thinking.

3. Notice how they are also alike since the core beliefs of both groups are the same. However, Sunnis continue, to this day, accusing Shi'ites of placing too much faith on 'Ali and Islam’s other early leader Hussein. In fact, Sunnis disavowed that position for centuries by not even recognizing Shi'ism as a legitimate school of Islam until 1959.

4. See how these differences affects our lives today. As too often happens with such differences, the tension between Sunnis and Shi'ites has resulted in much violence in such places as Pakistan and Iraq.

Tips & Warnings

• Separate the religious elements from those that are political.