What is the difference between a Sunni and Shiite muslim?

Answer 1

There are a number of differences in the Shi`ah (Shiite) and the Sunni Juristic opinions. However, not all these differences can be termed as the "basic differences" in these two major sects of Islam. The basic difference in the two sects is that of the Shiite faith of the system of "Imamah". The Shiite faith of "Imamah" implies that after the Prophet (pbuh), there shall be no other prophet, but the only true leader of the Muslims, at any given time, is an "Imam" who, like the prophets of God, is directly appointed by God. The appointment of the first "Imam" was made by God through the last Prophet (pbuh), while every subsequent "Imam" is appointed through the "Imam", who precedes him. Another qualification of the "Imam", according to the Shiite belief is that he shall belong to the family of the last Prophet (pbuh). The Shiite belief holds that the "Imams", like the prophets of God, are "ma`soom" (sinless, innocent) and, therefore, should be obeyed in all matters and under all circumstances. The "Imams", according to the Shiite faith, are thus not just the political leaders of the Muslims but also their religious leaders and clergy. The Sunni school, on the other hand, does not ascribe to any such belief.

This may, at first sight, seem to be a trivial difference between the two schools. However, a close analysis reveals that it amounts to a difference in the basic sources of religion and religious knowledge information and directives for the two schools. The Sunni school, because of its lack of belief in the institution of "Imamah" holds the last Prophet of God and the book revealed on him as the two primary sources of Islam, while the Shiite school, because of the importance and position it gives to the "Imams" holds them to be an autonomous source of their religion. Anything that an "Imam" says, anything that he does and anything that he narrates is "religion" for the Shiite school. Differing with an "Imam" in any matter is of about the same consequence as differing with a prophet. Not submitting to the directions of an "Imam" is as grave a sin as refusing to submit to the directions of a prophet of God.

As can be seen from the above explanation, the difference between the Shiite and the Sunni schools are not trivial. On the contrary, these differences are "very" basic. Nevertheless, the thing to do is not to condemn each other; or call each other "Kaafir" (infidel) or non-Muslim"; or air the fire of hatred and promote each other's killings, but to try and convince the other person as well as one's own self to accept whatever is right in the light of the Qur'an and the true teachings of the Prophet (pbuh), to promote empathy for each other's points of view and to try and stress the common points in each other's beliefs.

It should be interesting to note here that although these two sects have co-existed for centuries, yet the extent and gravity of sectarian violence has never been felt more than during the present times. The basic reason for this change in the situation is that a number of prominent scholars and knowledgeable personalities of both these sects have changed the roles that they played in the past. In the past, the differences of both the sects were a matter of intellectual debate between the scholars of these sects. The gravity of these differences was also fully known, but the scholars never promoted violence against each other. The situation has tremendously changed during the past few decades. The scholars of these sects now sit on their respective pulpits and use these differences as flames to burn the emotions and feelings of their addressees against the people of the other sects. They promote the killings of the followers of other sects by labeling these followers with various derogatory terms. They call such killings a part of Jihaad and they promise their followers the everlasting bliss of jannah (paradise) if they take part in such killings.

...Yes, I do agree that the difference in the Shiite and the Sunni sects are quite basic and not trivial, but I think there is still no need to fire each other's emotions to such great extents, even on differences that are so grave.

Answer 2

They the two stay via Islam, yet Iran is Shiite. the only way i will clarify this they supposedly stay from the Qur'an (koran). yet they are sects, comparable too a number of our faith would be like the Baptist and Methodist, we would have self belief a sprint distinctive yet below the comparable God. They shiite and sunni Muslims are scuffling with for who're the proper sect to rule Islam. Islam isn't a non violent faith that's chaotic and misery. In essences they kill one yet another, their very own human beings, with the aid of fact in certainty they are at a loss for words.

Answer 3

These are just two different sects of Islam.

Mainly, Sunni & Shiite both believe that there is only one Allah, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is has last prophet. Holy Quran is the true and last book of Allah and Islam is the final religion. They both believe in being submissve to Allah and being good to all fellow beings. Both believe in day of Judgement, concept of right acts and wrong acts according to will of Allah, Heaven and hell.

Differences are merely historical. Shiite believe that Prophet Muhammed's( PBUH) son in law Ali ( RAA) and two grand sons Imam Hasan & Hussain (RAA) have a special value and role in Islam, by virtue of which they further define Islam after Quran & Prophet Muhammed's ( PBUH) sayings. On the other hand Sunni, though respect Ali and his sons very much, do not accept this rationale and believe that Islam and Allah's will is defined only by Quran & Prophet Muhammed's (PBUH) sayings ( Hadith).

Essentially both have agreed to main rules of Islam and its 5 main pillars alike. But they do differ quite a bit in how to practice Islam. If you watch both sects, you will notice that like catholics, Shiite dramatize ( not in wrong or offensive way) the concept more by virtue of rituals, making paintings of Ali ( RAA) and his sons. Every year they will celebrate the birth / death of these personalties and recreate those centuries old events. Moreover, Shiite believes that centuries ago Sunni Kill Ali and his sons (RAA) for political gains. On the other hand Sunnis believe that the whole Shiite sect was created by Iranians to undermine the upper hand of Arabs in Islam as Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was born is Arab penninsula and Quran is in Arabic.

As far as true, more educated and more modern muslims are concerned ( they are growing in number every year) they consider both Sunnis and Shiites as nut cases who live in past and play their differences for political reasons. True Islam is well above these petty differences and is about Allah being the one and only creater and his love for humans. May Allah bless us all! Peace

Answer 4

I assume you don't know much about the Muslim faith, if anything, so I'll be brief:

These groups (along with one other) are groups that followed different people after the death of the prophet Mohammed. I think the different leaders were his brothers... it was handed down to them after the prophet died.

Since these leaders belived in slightly different things, (and the religion was so young) they evolved into slightly different versions of the same religion over approximately 1800 years.

Answer 5

Sunni Muslims follow the CONTINUED preachings of the son of Mohammed
Shia' Muslims follow the CONTINUED preachings of Mohammed's Brother-in-law.
For Christians it's sort of like saying are You a "Paulist" or "Mathewist". Except in Islam, the 2 different sects do preach different things as far as Islamic Law is concerned.

Answer 6

sunni muslims follow strickly the example of prophet mohammed and the Quran exclusively..
shia's feel there are living prophets now who are decendents of Mohammed through his childen, namely Ali..
each have different practices and dont always agree with each other.. I would equate them as different as say.. a baptist, a methodist, catholic, etc in christianity.. different interpretations of one religion..

Answer 7

conflict over who the successor of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) should have been.

shiahs wanted the successor to be from the prophet's cousin and brother in law, Sunnis wanted a vote.


peace.

Answer 8

In Islam all over the world They agree about the oneness of God They follow the same book - Quran(same words and letters all over the world). They follow the same prophet Muhammad . offer their prayers five time a day. fast in the month of Ramadan.Give charity (Zakat) which is the poor-due on the wealth of the rich go for hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca ...but they may have differnt opinions not on the basics

Those who follow some sayings and views of Ali (one of the early muslims leaders), as the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad , are called Shia. Shia means a partisan (party of Ali) and it started more as a political party to help Ali in his conflict with his political adversaries.

About 90% of Muslims are Sunni, the word Sunni is based on the word Sunnah which is an Arabic word means the Prophet's Doctrine. Sunnis believe in (GOD) as the One Creator and Mohammad is His last and final Messenger.

but you have to know that the sects in islam not like the sects in other religions in other religions1- they can change in their books for example the Catholic Bible contain 73 books while the Protestant Bible has only 66 in Islam no one can change any thing There is not even one word of difference between two Arabic Qur'ans, anywhere in the world. There has been no disagreements in history among Muslims as to what should and should not be in the Qur'an

The Sunnah or Hadith consists of the teachings, sayings, and actions of Prophet Muhammad. This information was meticulously reported and collected by his Companions. It is essentially an elaboration of the Qur'anic verses that shows how they are to be implemented in one's daily life ALLthe true muslims agree about that

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The original, unchanged revelations given to Abraham and other prophets(like Moses and Jesus ) reaching back to Adam all came from the One True God(The Creator). This common origin explains their similarities in many beliefs and values


However, over time the teachings of the various religions, due to a variety of reasons, have become distorted and mixed with made-man ideas.


The last Prophet and Messenger of God, Muhammad , who is a direct descendant of Abraham through his first born son, Ishmael, was sent with the Last Guidance, Revelation and Testament, the Holy Qur'an(koran) to amend and correct the changes and corruption made to the the "Torah" which was sent to Moses and theTrue Gospel of Jesus.To say the truth ,God preserved all the other Holy Books plainly by preserving His Last Book the Holy Qur'an(koran)which contains the right and the truth of all that was changed in those other Books.


This is why this last Revelation which was sent 1423 years ago has remained unchanged, not even a word or a letter has been altered.


There is not even one word of difference between two Arabic Qur'ans, anywhere in the world. There has been no disagreements in history among Muslims as to what should and should not be in the Qur'an. However, in the case of the Bible, even the most ancient manuscripts conflict with one another so that no two are identical. Footnotes in all modern versions of the Bible prove this fact.


These revisions serve as concrete proofs that all the Biblical books are not at all divinely inspired. This is because it is beyond man's ability to correct the work of his Creator, who alone is Almighty and perfect



It was only natural for Almighty God to preserve the scripture revealed to Prophet Muhammad, because he was the last Prophet and Final Messenger of God.


Islam teaches us that we must pray directly to God without an intermediary and no soul can bear the burden of another and that the nature of humanity is good, and we did not inherit sin from Adam. Each soul comes into being free of sin.in Islam there are no priests or clergy -- each worshipper, man or woman, has a direct relationship with their Merciful Creator -- Almighty God. Since God is the Owner and Sustainer of everything, as well as the only one who can provide true and complete forgiveness, it is completely futile to try to approach Him through anyone else.


The oneness and universality of God's message requires that people accept all the messengers of God. Rejecting one of them amounts to rejecting them all. The Jews reject Jesus's mission and Muhammad's mission; the Christians reject Muhammad's mission; whereas the Muslims accept them all, but reject incorrect historical interpretations and human elements in these missions.


As the Qur'an is the final revelation and Muhammad is the final prophet, humanity is obligated to accept it: "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost all spiritual good" (3:86).


The Final Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is messenger of God, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven."


you can do that now as you are reading these lines is to pronounce the two confirmations and attestations of faith, here it is




I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH ( ARABIC WORD MEANS ONE GOD-THE CREATOR). AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER. I BEAR WITNESS THAT JESUS IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER.



The right picture of lslam is conveyed in the Qur'an, which is exemplified by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The reality is that it is not fair to judge a religion by the actions of its followers alone because there are good and bad followers in every religion. The correct thing to do is to judge a religion by its documented revelation from God and the prophet who brought that revelation.

I encourage Christians and other religions to learn about Islam from Muslim sources and The Basis Of The Muslim Belief and not rely on second hand information which in many cases is distorted or contains a deep seated anti Muslim agenda. This is indeed a more scholarly approach


For more info


http://www.islamdoor.com

http://www.thetruereligion.org


BestWishes

Your brother in humanity

Answer 9

politics

Answer 10

nothing religious just political