Difference between Sunni and Shiite?

[Preacher Man 10]

What is the difference? Is it seperate strands of the same religion ala Catholicism and Protestantism or is it to do with race or class??

[chem1st 10]

Separate strands, there are also a couple of others...

[WeX 10]

Everything you need to know can be found here: http://bit.ly/10pTVje

[maxmaximus 10]

What is the difference? Is it seperate strands of the same religion ala Catholicism and Protestantism or is it to do with race or class??

 

It started as a difference of opinion on who should succeed Mohammad after his death which resulted in battle.

[Crosser 10]

In summer the weather is Sunni, but in winter it's ....... ;-)

[samshe 10]

It started as a difference of opinion on who should succeed Mohammad after his death which resulted in battle.

 

 

 

This is essentially correct. Sunni Muslims believe that the next leader of the faith after Mohammed should be democratically elected. Abu Bakr was elected the first Caliph (think Pope but with less covering up of child sex abuse and less Nazi sympathising). Shia Muslims believe that the right to rule was inherited (as was the popular belief in that era, and still is now) and so feel that Alu bin Abu Talib, Mohammed's Cousin and Son in Law (don't judge, these were different times) should have succeeded Mohammed

 

Sunni Muslims (those democratic cats) are by far the most populous Muslims in the world. Where it gets complicated is in the existance of the Haddiths. Think of these of a similar thing to the Gospels (to those who know what I am talking about I am aware that this isn't a perfect analogy, but I am putting this in Laymans, Western speak). Abu Bakr (the elected guy) and those that followed him wrote down traditions and things that Mohammed was supposed to have said/done that isn't in the Koran. The Sunni's see these as almost on a parallel with the Koran whereas the Sunni's see Abu Bakr and his followers as usurpers and disavow everything in the haddiths.

 

 

That is correct to the best of my knowledge. However, I am a athiest that was brough up in an Irish Catholic household. If any (neutral) Muslims here would like to educate me and everyone else, please do

[Plain Talker 11]

It started as a difference of opinion on who should succeed Mohammad after his death which resulted in battle.

 

That's right. The Sunni said that the Succession down the line from the Prophet Mohammed should be a Meritocracy, that is "the person best fit for the role" being the leader.

 

The Shia thought the role should be hereditary, and passed down from father to son, like with royalty. (whether the successor was fit to rule or not)

[SevenRivers 10]

Everything you need to know can be found here: http://bit.ly/10pTVje

 

Jesus Christ so all the killings every day of Sunni slaughtering Shias and Shias slaughtering Sunnis is down to who they thought should have succeeded Muhammed about 1400 years ago. You'd think they'd have had enough time to get over it wouldn't you.

[Marx 10]

Jesus Christ so all the killings every day of Sunni slaughtering Shias and Shias slaughtering Sunnis is down to who they thought should have succeeded Muhammed about 1400 years ago. You'd think they'd have had enough time to get over it wouldn't you.

 

You would. Just like the Protestants and Catholics got over it in Northern Ireland.

[maxmaximus 10]

Jesus Christ so all the killings every day of Sunni slaughtering Shias and Shias slaughtering Sunnis is down to who they thought should have succeeded Muhammed about 1400 years ago. You'd think they'd have had enough time to get over it wouldn't you.

 

A series of star trek come to mind in which two peoples from the same world had been at war for thousands of years, there disagreement was over how many spheres were is there solar system, they couldn’t see them all and believed they had been built by god. The Enterprise crew settled their argument by taking them to each of the spheres and explained that they hadn't been build by a god, the two peoples then just found another reason to be at war with each other.

[SevenRivers 10]

That's right. The Sunni said that the Succession down the line from the Prophet Mohammed should be a Meritocracy, that is "the person best fit for the role" being the leader.

 

The Shia thought the role should be hereditary, and passed down from father to son, like with royalty. (whether the successor was fit to rule or not)

 

Strange that the most Sunni country on the planet is a hereditary absolute monarchy then.

[Plain Talker 11]

Strange that the most Sunni country on the planet is a hereditary absolute monarchy then.

 

The monarchy is different from the Prophethood.