There are two main branches of Islam: Sunni and Shia. These terms refer to the majority and minority sects of Islam, respectively. While both sects follow the same core tenets of the faith, there are some key differences between Sunnis and Shias. This blog post will explore these differences in greater detail.
Who is Sunni?
Sunni Islam is one of the two major branches of Islam, along with Shia Islam. Sunni Muslims make up the vast majority of Muslims worldwide, and they are particularly dominant in the Middle East and North Africa. Sunni Muslims believe that the first four caliphs – Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali – were rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad. As a result, they tend to have a more traditionalist approach to Islamic law and practice. Sunni Muslims also place great emphasis on the role of consensus (ijma) in interpretating religious texts. For Sunni Muslims, the Qur’an is the highest authority in religious matters, followed by the Hadith (traditions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad). Sunni Islam has a number of different schools of thought, each with its own distinctive framework for interpreting religious texts.
Who is Shia?
Shia Islam is one of the two main branches of Islam. Shia Muslims believe that Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, was the rightful successor to Muhammad as leader of the Islamic community. Shia make up about 10-15% of all Muslims and are the majority population in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain. Shia Muslims are also found in Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. Shia Islam has a number of different sub-groups which differ in their beliefs and practices. The largest Shia sub-group is known as the Twelvers, who believe in Twelve Imams after Ali. Shia Muslims often dress conservatively and prefer to praying in Arabic. Shia mosques are distinct from Sunni mosques in their decoration and layout. The word “Shia” comes from the Arabic shīʿatu ʿAlī, meaning “followers of Ali”.
Difference between Sunni and Shia
Sunni and Shia Islam are the two largest branches of Islam. Sunni Muslims make up about 85% of the Islamic population, while Shia Muslims make up about 15%. The Sunni-Shia split began immediately after the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. At the time, there was disagreement over who should take over as leader of the Muslim community. The Sunni Muslims believed that leadership should be based on merit, while the Shia Muslims believed that it should be based on lineage. This disagreement eventually led to a split in the community, and the Sunni and Shia denominations have been estranged ever since. Although they share many common beliefs and practices, Sunni and Shia Muslims have different interpretations of Islamic law and tradition. As a result, they often find themselves at odds with each other.
Conclusion
Sunni and Shia are the two main sects of Islam. While they share many similarities, there are some key differences between the two. Most notably, Sunnis believe that the leader of the Muslim community (the caliph) should be elected by the people, while Shias believe that this position should be inherited through bloodlines. There is also a disagreement over who should succeed Muhammad as the rightful leader of the Muslims – Sunnis say it should be anyone who is righteous and capable, while Shias say it should be one of Muhammad’s descendants. These religious differences have led to violence throughout history, most notably during the sectarian wars in Iraq and Syria.
