what is the difference between Sunni & Sheite brands of Islam?

Answer 1

Muhammad never designated who should be his successor as leader of Islam. After his death, Muslim leaders quickly decided that Muhammad's friend and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, should be caliph (chief executive, commander-in-chief, chief justice and leader, imam, of public worship). Abu Bakr was one of the first converts to Islam. The first four successors of Muhammad are called the "rightly guided caliphs." The fourth, 'Ali, was Muhammad's cousin. Ali was assassinated by fanatics in favor of Mu'awiya of the Umayyad family being the leader. Hasan and Husayn, sons of 'Ali and Muhammad's daughter, Fatima, were the surviving male heirs of Muhammad. Because of special interest in the family of Muhammad, there had been a "faction (shi'a) of 'Ali" that felt he and his descendants were the obvious successors. The Shi'ites call their leaders imams rather than caliphs, tracing them down through a number of generations from Imam 'Ali.
In all other important respects, the Shi'ites share the same story with the Sunnites, the majority group in Islam that looks to the four rightly guided caliphs as the proper successors to Muhammad.

Answer 2

The Islam religion was founded by Mohammed in the seventh century. In 622 he founded the first Islamic state, a theocracy in Medina, a city in western Saudi Arabia located north of Mecca. There are two branches of the religion he founded.

The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors--rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War.

Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed. In 931 the Twelfth Imam disappeared. This was a seminal event in the history of Shiite Muslims. According to R. Scott Appleby, a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, "Shiite Muslims, who are concentrated in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, [believe they] had suffered the loss of divinely guided political leadership" at the time of the Imam's disappearance. Not "until the ascendancy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1978" did they believe that they had once again begun to live under the authority of a legitimate religious figure.

Answer 3

I just read some answers this is just junk. Not any muslim can agree. Navi is quoating the kinder, softer side and acceptable verse and number. Navi your cool. demand your Imoms and mullas, leaders to shape up evict the iintorelant teachers. KILL them for sucking your culture into terrorism.

To me they are brothers and sisters for thousands of years.
Inbred spit heads. (h)

Then they had a sicker oops (soccer) game and someone lost. (sunni ?) and decided to kill each other, burn the carts and crops or the automobiles, blow up houses.
OR something like that. Yea! dance in the street, set fires, burn flags. Kidnap people shoot missiles at innocent bystanders then claim they used too much force in the retaliation. they get their cities destroyed and 1000"s killed and declare victory. what jerks
You know!!! we see the TV coverage. The brothers then come over here and killed 3000 of us and destroy our cities.
Stupid illiterate killers.
WELL NOT ALL muslims. But the good folk don't dare to interfere. Cowards! They'll get killed also. I'm glad I have no Muslim neighbors close by. I fear them too.
I have done some study as they have requested. I see nothing.
Not as long as their doctrine allows them to kill me.
I am less than a dog to them. But here in America, they know I am FREE of muslim evil.
But they continue to plot and someday try to kill me. SO I will vote a strong, aggressive, defensive government.

Answer 4

Well, I am shi'ite, and unfortunately the differences which separate the two very similar branches of Islam are the main reason for the civil war in Iraq. Sunnis (and Shi'ites of course) believe in Muhammed, our Prophet, and believe his Prophetship was taken over by friends and companions. Shi'ites believe this task was upheld by blood relatives, known as the Ahlul-Bayt (Prophet's family).

Answer 5

there are many sects in islam and shia and sunnis are the two prominent sects both are nice with little difference .sunni s pray 5 time a days and shias they prey 5 times of pryayers in 3 times .but both are good with a bit differencs but there shold not be the enmity all are muslims and good muslims not hate each other God bless all of us sunnis are shiaas.

Answer 6

the adaptation isn't non secular yet political The branch between Shia and Sunni dates returned to the dying of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who became into to take over the management of the Muslim us of a. Sunni Muslims believe the placement taken with the aid of many of the Prophet's companions, that the recent chief would desire to be elected from between those able to the interest. that's what became into accomplished, and the Prophet Muhammad's close buddy and consultant, Abu Bakr, became the 1st Caliph of the Islamic us of a. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word which skill "one that follows the traditions of the Prophet." on the different hand, some Muslims share the concept management would desire to have stayed in the Prophet's own kin, between those specially appointed with the aid of him, or between Imams appointed with the aid of God Himself. The Shia Muslims have confidence that following the Prophet Muhammad's dying, management would desire to have handed directly to his cousin/son-in-regulation, Ali. for the era of historic previous, Shia Muslims have not known the authority of elected Muslim leaders, determining on somewhat to stay with a line of Imams which they suspect have been appointed with the aid of the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word "Shia" in Arabic skill a team or supportive social gathering of persons. the many times-generic term is shortened from the historic "Shia-t-Ali," or "the social gathering of Ali." they are additionally generic as followers of "Ahl-al-Bayt" or "human beings of the kin" (of the Prophet).

Answer 7

Creating Sects in Islam is prohibited:

1. Muslims Should be United


It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that such divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers.

The Glorious Qur’an says:

"And hold fast,
All together, by the rope
Which Allah (stretches out for you),
and be not divided among yourselves;"
[Al-Qur’an 3:103]

Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.

Qur’an further says,

"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger"
[Al-Qur’an 4:59]

All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves.


2. It is Prohibited to make sects and divisions in Islam


The Glorious Qur’an says:

"As for those who divide
Their religion and break up
Into sects, thou hast
No part in them in the least:
Their affair is with Allah:
He will in the end
Tell them the truth
Of all that they did."
[Al-Qur’an 6:159]

In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.

But when one asks a Muslim, "who are you?", the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.


3. Our Prophet was a Muslim


One may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?" No! He was a Muslim, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.

It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of Al-Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.

Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, Al-Qur’an says that Ibrahim (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.


4. Qur’an says call yourselves Muslim


If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say "I am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33 says
"Who is better in speech
Than one who calls (men)
To Allah, works righteousness,
And says, ‘I am of those
Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’ "
[Al-Qur’an 41:33]

The Qur’an says "Say I am of those who bow in Islam". In other words, say, "I am a Muslim".

The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64:
Say ye: "Bear witness
That we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing
To Allah’s Will)."
[Al-Qur’an 3:64]


5. Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam


We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with them all). They were great scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hardwork. One can have no objection if someone agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi, etc. But when posed a question, ‘who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am a Muslim’.

Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet from Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My community will be split up into seventy-three sects."

This hadith reports that the prophet predicted the emergence of seventy-three sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, and do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.

According to Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171, the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in Hell fire except one sect." The companions asked Allah’s messenger which group that would be. Where upon he replied, "It is the one to which I and my companions belong."

The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.

If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere to Sahih Hadith, Inshallah most of these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim Ummah

Answer 8

I believe the split occurred in the Islamic religion after Mohammad died. There was a rift between who was to be the rightful heir to his throne.

Answer 9

Kinda of like the difference between Catholic and Protestant....

One group beleives Mohammed wanted one thing, the other group disagrees and beleives Mahammed wanted something else for his followers and heirs to his "throne".

Great reason to kill each other, huh?

Answer 10

The difference is just like The earth and sky


if u can understand