NationStates Jolt Archive

We're hearing about the Shia vs. Sunni fighting. What is the real difference between the two sects?

How similar is this to issues between Protestants and Catholics? Christans and Jews?

I am familiar with the basics of Islam (comparative relgion course in college), but not real deep into any religion. Any background info is appreciated.

For an overview of the differences, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Shi%27a-Sunni_relations

Shias record the start of the schism with the death of Muhammad, and in their view, a violent coup d'état against Ali in his first day as caliph, which they argue was automatic without recourse to an election or a formal investiture. After that, Shias contend that they were systematically persecuted and killed by the first three Caliphs of Islam, with a brief respite ensuing during the caliphate of Ali, although he was at constant war with those the Shia regarded as their enemies. Sunnis hold that the schism did not begin at the accession of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, since Ali ultimately swore allegiance and served all his predecessors before his own accession. Sunnis in general reject dynastic claims of the Prophet's household to the Caliphate. They hold that First Islamic civil war between Ali and the Umayyad Muawiyah I, whose 20 year rule Shias regard as the most difficult in early Islam, marked the beginning of the breach. For more detailed information, see Succession to Muhammad.

So if I'm understanding the Wiki correctly, Shias and Sunnis are more akin to Christians and Jews. The religions had similar origins but there was a significant divergence. Then it festered into a real conflict through misinterpretation and abuse by religious leaders.

So if I'm understanding the Wiki correctly, Shias and Sunnis are more akin to Christians and Jews. The religions had similar origins but there was a significant divergence. Then it festered into a real conflict through misinterpretation and abuse by religious leaders.

Religious and political leaders. You see, the question was, who will be in charge of Islam? And which Islam is the real Islam.

The heterodoxy is more complex and deep than simply Sunni and Shia. It is also the source of most of the blood spilled in the name of Islam (much as Christians spent most of their history killing each other rather than everyone else).

It's why I say if Israel disappeared tomorrow, without a trace, the Sunnis and Shias would be developing and using nuclear weapons on each other the next day.

I think the closest match to the Shia-Sunni split in christendom would be the Catholic-Orthodox break. In both cases the religious/doctrinal issues are a lot less intransigent than either side would like you to believe, and the real deal breaker was political.

I think the closest match to the Shia-Sunni split in christendom would be the Catholic-Orthodox break. In both cases the religious/doctrinal issues are a lot less intransigent than either side would like you to believe, and the real deal breaker was political.

Less blood was spilled, though.