What are Sunni and Shia?
Hello, today I’ll explain Shia and Sunni. Sunni and Shia are sects of Islam.
With 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, Islam is divided into two major factions: Sunni and Shia. Why did differences emerge within the same religion? Understanding the ideologies of Sunni and Shia clarifies Islam’s structural issues and its unexpected ties to global politics.
Let’s dive in.
Islam, which began about 1,500 years ago on the Arabian Peninsula, remained united for roughly 40 years after its founding due to the belief in Prophet Muhammad’s absolute authority.
The division arose after Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, leading to a dispute over his successor.
Muhammad was not only a religious leader but also the ruler of a vast Islamic state. After his death, a meeting was held to choose his successor.
Two main opinions emerged: one favored Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s father-in-law), and the other supported Ali (Muhammad’s cousin).
Abu Bakr, older and trusted, was chosen as the first caliph in 632 CE over the younger Ali, based on age and respect for elders.
However, Ali’s supporters (“Alids” or “Ali’s faction”) believed bloodline was the most important factor.
Despite their arguments, Abu Bakr and his next two successors (Umar and Uthman) were chosen through discussion, maintaining stability.
Trouble arose with the third caliph, Uthman, who was assassinated in 656 CE due to accusations of nepotism.
Ali became the fourth caliph in 656 CE, but Muawiya (from Uthman’s clan) refused to accept him, leading to war.
Ali accepted a truce with Muawiya in 657 CE to prevent further division, but this angered some of his supporters who later assassinated him in 661 CE.
Muawiya became the fifth caliph in 661 CE. Ali’s followers (Alids) rejected this, emphasizing Muhammad’s bloodline through Ali.
The Alids declared themselves “true Muslims” and split from the mainstream in 661 CE, forming the Shia sect (“Shia Ali” meaning “Ali’s faction”).
The mainstream later became known as “Sunni” (“those who follow tradition”).
Sunni are the majority (around 90%), while Shia are about 10% of Muslims today. The split was over succession: Sunnis favor consensus, Shia favor Muhammad’s lineage through Ali.
Shia rejected the first three caliphs, considering only Ali and his descendants as legitimate leaders (“Ali, Ali, Ali!”).
Shia believe their 12th Imam (a descendant of Ali) is hidden and will return in the future, with proxies leading in his absence.
Sunni chose successors via consensus until the caliphate’s abolishment in 1924 CE. Modern Islamic nations now have secular rulers.
Today, Sunni and Shia coexist, sharing core beliefs and not viewing each other as heretical, though historical succession disputes remain.
Practices can vary widely within both Sunni (e.g., Saudi Arabia vs. Turkey) and Shia communities.
In summary, the Sunni-Shia split originated from disagreements over Muhammad’s successor, with Sunnis favoring consensus and Shia prioritizing bloodline through Ali. This historical division still influences Middle Eastern politics.
Would you like to learn about other religions? I’ve got more prepared, so stay tuned!