Compare Shia and Sunni Islam

In Islam, there are two main sects: Sunni and Shi'a. Sunni Islam is the largest sect, although in some countries it is a minority. Sunnis have their historical roots in the majority group who followed Abu Bakr, an effective leader, as the successor of Muhammad, instead of his cousin and son-in-law Ali. The Sunnis are so named because they believe themselves to follow the sunnah or "custom" of the Prophet. Shi'a Muslims or Shi'ites are those Muslims who followed Ali, the closest relative of Muhammad, as Muhammad's successor. The following chart compares some basic facts about Shi'a and Sunni Islam.

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Shi'a Islam Sunni Islam Name Means "party" or "partisans" (of Ali) "well-trodden path" or "tradition" Adherents 120 million 940 million Main Locations Iran, Iraq, Yemen most Islamic countries Branches Ithna 'Ashariyah (Twelvers; the largest), Isma'iliyah and Zaydiyah none, but four major schools of Muslim law are recognized History c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in 680 CE is major event c. 632 CE; theology developed especially in 10th cent. Successor of the Prophet 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet) Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by people of Medina) Messiah (Mahdi) was born in 869, is currently the "hidden imam" who works through mujtahids to intepret Qur'an; and will return at the end of time will come in the future; identity is known only to Allah Imams infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an human leaders Religious Authority Qur'an, then infallible imams Qur'an, then ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community Taqiya emphasized affirmed under certain circumstances Mut'ah still practiced practiced in the Prophet's time, but now rejected Places Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem Holidays Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr

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Article Info Title Compare Shia and Sunni Islam Published March 17, 2004 Last Updated April 10, 2017 URL www.religionfacts.com/ charts/ shia-sunni-islam Short URL rlft.co/1852 MLA Citation “Compare Shia and Sunni Islam.” ReligionFacts.com. 10 Apr. 2017. Web. Accessed 18 Sep. 2020. <www.religionfacts.com/ charts/ shia-sunni-islam>

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