Sunni And Shia Essay

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While the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam use the same teachings and practice, this is where the similarities end. Sunni and Shia Muslims are the largest sects in the Middle East and their divide has been present since the death of the Prophet Mohammed. Throughout history, the region has seen turmoil, violence, and suffering due to the split. To understand the divide, one must have a basic knowledge of the history that dates back to the death of Islam’s founder in 632. Every year Mohammed would retire to a cave in Mecca, present day Saudi Arabia. In 610 a.d. he had a revelation later to be known as the Koran. The Prophet Mohammed founded Islam in the 7th century. In 622, he founded the first Islamic territory in a city in western Saudi…show more content…
Sunnis agree with the position taken by almost all of Mohammed’s companions that the new leader should be from those capable of the work. Abu Bakr the one of Mohammed’s closest friends became the first Caliph of the Islamic country. Shia’s believe Ali, Mohammed’s cousin who later became the fourth Caliph and only shortly ruled, should lead the caliphate. Another major difference between Shias and Sunnis has to do with the Imam Mahdi, whose responsibility is to bring a just, worldwide caliphate into being. "The major difference is that for Shia’s he has already been here, and will return from hiding and for Sunnis he has yet to emerge.” Upon his death Arabic followers split on who would inherit as the next Caliph, the title given to successors of Mohammed. In Karbala now a modern city in Iraq, the split further divided when Sunni Soldiers killed Ali’s son Hussein. Both sects agree that Allah is the only God and Muhammad his messenger. Both sects follow the five pillars of Islam, including Ramadan, which is the holy month of fasting, and study the Koran. However, Sunnis rely heavily on

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