What are the differences between the Islamic sects?

Question

Between Shiite and Sunni, etc. I would like to have insight as to why all the violence against one another in Iraq.

Answer 1

The religion is the same although I am sure some will tell you the Shiite are more fundamental in their faith. That fundamental feeling meaning they interporate the Koran more literally. Iraq is an interesting spot because for one before Saddam it was democratic and for another it was Sunni dominated. The Muslim faith for the middle east is mostly Shiite dominated. That is actually one of the reasons we like Iraq is because it was democratic at one time and we are trying to bring that back. Saddam like most tyrants was democratically elected at one point. So the Sunnis ruled but the Shiite population has had years to expand in Iraq and their numbers are starting to draw even. Iraq at one point was the most modern nation in the middle east and was west leaning (liked the US and GB or at least liked by) which the Shiites don't much like anyway. So the language is the same, the religion is close enough, but the Sunnis had been incharge and very oppressive during Saddam's reign. So there is animosity. Now we role in and take out the oppressor that held Iraq from civil war for years. We don't want to oppress them but their numbers are so close and the sides both have militant factions that feel might makes right. So they are kind of waging political based genocide attacks ran by Iraqi versions of stupid rednecks which are hard for either side to control. So we are kind of stuck playing referee hoping the moderate factions on both sides make the deal and make it work. The militants just always tend to be better at being agressive then moderates have ever been at making deals so we have to give them time paid for by American Soldier's blood. We are actually doing an amazing thing and should be very proud but it is not an easy thing and to expect our troops to leave early if we are serious about it working is kind of nuts. Our troops realize this but get lonesome like anyone else. Mother's want their kids home and safe no matter where they go. And war or war zones are scary for everyone. We have never fought a war with so few deaths. Most people forget that. Along those lines the news is funny to me "Major fighting in the city of Bagdad today 5 soldiers dead." 90 years ago " Major fighting in the Somme today 100,000 soldiers dead" War has never been so cheap in lives and yet so terrible in its reporting as it is now.

Wow I digressed big time but I think I did answer your question.

Answer 2

Shiites and Sunnis are not as different as one might think. They are not as different as say, the different branches of Christianity. Shiites believe that the leaders must be decendents of the Prophet, and are also believe in a different line of succesion than the Sunnis, believing that after the Prophet's death, leadership passed to the Imam Ali.

Sunnis on the other hand believe that the criteria for leadership within the relgions is not so strict.

The two sects fight against eachother in Iraq, not so much becasue their beliefs are different, but because Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, pitted the Sunnis against the majority Shiites. Then when the US invaded that gave much of the power to the Shiites. This upset cause most of the tensions that exist today.

I'm sure there is someone hear who can answer this question better than I can since I myself am not a Muslim. There are also a plethora of books written on the subject that can be found in any bookstore or library.

Answer 3

There are three major denominations: Sunni, Shi'a, and Sufi.

"Sunni
Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam - the Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'ah. According to most sources, present estimates indicate that approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 15% are Shi'a. [1]

Unlike the Shia belief, Sunni believe that Muhammad died without appointing a successor to lead the Muslim community. After an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr, the Prophet's close friend and father-in-law, as the first Caliph.

Sunnis initially believed that the position of Caliph should be democratically chosen, but after the first four Rightly Guided Calliphs the position turned into a hereditary dynastic rule. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, there has never been another Caliph.

Shi'a
Shi'a Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam.
Shi'a Muslims believe that Ali was appointed by Muhammad to be the direct successor and leader of the Muslim community. They regard him as the first Imam, which continued as a hereditary position through Ali's descendants. The largest group of Shi'a Muslims believe in a total of twelve Imams. The twelfth Imam is believed to have gone into occulation, and will appear again just before the end times. The Shi'a Hadiths include the sayings of the Imams.

Sufi
An umbrella term for the ascetic and mystical movements within Islam, Sufism is the school of esoteric Islamic philosophy, based on the pursuit of spiritual truth as a definite goal to attain. This is not precisely a branch of its own since there are Sufis who are primarily Sunni-oriented and others who are primarily Shia-oriented. The primary trait that all Sufis share in common is the mystic, esoteric view of faith and God."

Just like Christianity and Judaism have different denominations within it, Islam does at well. See the source for additional information.

Answer 4

There exists great differences between the Sunni and the Shee'ah. The Shee'ah have deviated in their beliefs of Islaam. The Shee'ah are split into two main groups, the Zaydee Shee'ah and the Raafidah Shee'ah. You will find the Zaydee's in Yemen, while the rest of the Shee'ah are Raafidah. They are given the name Raafidah (rejectors) because they Rejected Zayd ibn 'Alee ibn al-Husayn, the grandson of 'Alee (may Allaah be pleased with him).

The Shee'ah were started by 'Abdullaah ibn Saba, a Jew from Yemen who began spreading the beliefs of the Shee'ah and the false concepts that they hold.

The differences are extreme in the belief system. They believe in Imaamate, which is a concept that states there will be a certain number of Infallible Imaams (leaders) and we have to follow them. However no where from the Quraan can this be found, the Shee'ah merely use their deviated interpretations to justify this.

As per the Sunnis, they follow the Quraan and the Sunnah (way) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

It is not to say that everyone in Iraaq that claims to be sunni is upon the truth. Not everyone who claims to be sunni is truly following the Sunnah. The Sufis claim to be sunni, the Khawaarij (the likes of Bin Laden and other than him) claim to be sunni, but the Truth is not known by way of men, men are known by way of the Truth.

Answer 5

Well very minor
Shiyats : respect one of the prophet's close friends [among 4] more then the other, and some times goes too far based on the blood relationship as Islam denies all the blood relationship.

Sunni's: accept all 4 friends equal, respect the blood relatives but belive the blood relations have no privilege or place in Islam.

hope you will find that useful

Answer 6

The type of bullets they use.