My family and I were discussing this w/e the war and how each of the groups was killing each other. We find it hard to understnad how they rationalize killing a fellow Muslim. I know a little bit about the Main diff btwn the two sects - Shiite Belief that a descendent of Muhammed and the Twelfth Imam must rule in a Theology (Iranians Believe The Ayatollah Was A Descendent)
Comments?
2006-10-25 07:59:48 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
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.
2006-10-25 08:03:31 · answer #1 · answered by MishMash [I am not one of your fans] 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow, I'm impressed you know as much as you do.. that's more than 90% of America knows.. the reason they are killing each other isn't in their religion though, it's in the society.. ... backlash from oppression and fanaticism.. Christianity is not without it's similar events.. it's just that right now in the spin of time it's happening in front of our eyes in some of the Muslim world.. not all of the Muslim world is up in flames like that. they have plenty of realistic people.
2006-10-25 15:05:03 · answer #2 · answered by pip 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not much difference. its like protestant and catholic in christianity. they both have diffrences in some belives but they are very minute and why they are fighting because clergy man from both side bring those diffrences into prime light and they start fighting each other. when muslims get rid of those celrgy men the fighting will stop automatically
2006-10-25 15:20:25 · answer #3 · answered by Eccentric 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋