What is the difference between SHIA and SUNNI Muslims?

Question

Do they have different religous functions/festivals? How to distinquish between the two? How the Muslim world is divided between these two sects? I understand that Iran is mostly Shiaite.
What about other Muslim countries.

Answer 1

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed not from spiritual differences, but political ones. Over the centuries, however, these political differences have spawned a number of varying practices and positions which have come to carry a spiritual significance.
The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr (R.A), became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet."

On the other hand, some Muslims share the belief that leadership should have stayed within the Prophet's(pbuh) own family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself.

The Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's(pbuh) death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) or God Himself. The word "Shia" in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali." They are also known as followers of "Ahl-al-Bayt" or "People of the Household" (of the Prophet).

Answer 2

The difference between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam do not exist to the dramatic degree many Western's assume. While there are slight variations in the way they view their religious leaders and attach meaning to the history of Muhammad's family, cultural and political differences hold the most divisive power. Both sects emphasize the Five Pillars of Islam, read the same Quran, and consider each other Muslims.

The split between these two significant sects of Islam can be traced back to the 600s, soon after Muhammed's death in 632. Muhammed's son-in-law, Ali, gained support as the inheritor of the duty to spread Islam. Thus, "Shia" is an abbreviation of "Shiat Ali," or the people of Ali. Not all Muslims believed in Ali's place as a leader. Yet this group respected Muhammed's relative as a holy man. He was not a Messiah, as there is only one Messiah. Rather, the Shi'ites regarded him as the first in a series of Imam, or the direct descendents of Muhammad who act as messengers of God. There were 12 Imams before the bloodline died out in the 800s. Each of these Imams now has subsects devoted to their worship within Shia Islam. Shi'ites comprise 10-15% of all Muslims as the second largest sect, but that number is higher in certain countries such as Iran.

The majority of Muslims are Sunni, the largest and more orthodox sect of Islam. Sunnis do not attach any special power to the Imam, but have a rather less structured hierarchy of religious leaders. Some have compared their system as similar in spirit to Protestantism, where ministers are important advisers and community leaders, but they are neither infallible nor chosen by God. These leaders, called Caliphs, teach Islam. They bring peace, dignity, and goodwill to their members and encourage following the laws and guidelines laid out in the Quran. Also, they do not rule the place of worship in the sense of excluding other kinds of Muslims. All mosques are nondenominational, and can receive prayers from any sect.

Some exaggerated differences between Sunnis and Shi'ites are their organization of community religious leaders and their method of prayer. It's true that Shi'ites focus more on the torment of martyrdom suffered by the Imams, and voluntarily submit to physical pain in order to sympathize with them. Yet Sunnis, too, respect the martyrs. Also, Shi'ites might combine the five daily prayers into three or four, if they work long hours, but this does not necessarily indicate a lesser amount of devotion. Since their respective country's government does not always distribute funds in a way Shi'ites agree with, they might pay their zakat (a form of alms or tithing) directly to the poor, while Sunnis pay to the state. It's largely apocryphal that Shi'ites promote a temporary marriage known as muttah for men travelling far from home, as this would run counter to the obligation of chastity..

Answer 3

theres actually many different sects of Muslims but Sunnis and Shias are the main two, rather like in Christianity where you have Catholicism and protestanticism. But the two main Muslim sects: Shi'ism and Sunni'ism are not different in their doctrination [aside from the few extreme clerics]. Both sects use the Holy Quraan and follow prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They both accept that there is only God etc. the segregation lies when the prophet (peace be upon him) died and many were divided on who was to lead the Muslims. The leader or Khalif in Arabic that was elected at the time was perhaps the most suitable for the job but he was not one of the prophet's descendants. The Shi'as (as we call them now)believed that the bloodline of the prophet was infallible to sin (though this is not true as no human is) and insisted that the leader to follow must be his Cousin, Ali. Shi'ism was not around at the time.. just these feelings of disagreement actually came later. Ali was actually the fourth Khalif but shi'as felt he should have been first. the descendants of Ali, were then their 'Imams'. Ali's son, Hussein died a terrible death and suffered. though sunnis too sympathise for this, Shi'as nowadays beat themselves attempting to suffer the way he did.

generally they lay more emphasis on the prophet's family line than anything else. i think that they miss the concept of Islam. The mainstream Islam is Sunni'ism. The difference evident nowadays lies in how they pray. [they also use pieces of the clay in the place where Hussein died and bake it into tablets and use it to pray]. they open their fast later than Sunnis, they join their prayers instead of praying five times a day, they pray three times. they believe in Mut'aah (temporary marriage... marriage thats supposed to last a period of time declared from day 1) while Sunn'is view this as ***** (forbidden). i hope that answered your question.

Answer 4

The main dispute was regarding immediate succession as Khalif after death of Muhammad to lead the Islamic community. Those who supported Ali, the husband of muhammad's daughter Fatima are called Shia and those who killed him, his two sons and little grand son are known as Sunni. To day the majority are the Sunnies because the Shiites have been killed since those days in 630 A.D. The blood thirsty Sunnies have been after the other sect in Islam and how long this will continue even Allah does not know.

Answer 5

well shia's basically believe in the 12 imams & that hazrat ali ws the khalifa after the holy prophet
but the sunni's dont believe that! they believe the prophets companion abu bakr was the khalifa (decendent) after prophet muhammed (p.b.u.h)
yesss v do have different festivals like now in a few dayz muharram will strt 4 the shia's n they celebrate "navi" after that....
the sunni's dont celebrate them
n yea iran iraq r majority shia'as n india itself have a lot of shia's n then pakistan.........even saudi arabia!

hope u get wat ur lookin 4........!
good luck

Answer 6

Shia means real Muslim
Sunny means who listens and believe

Answer 7

There are differences between Lebanese/other Shia's and Iranian Shia's, one must note that. http://www.islamawareness.net/Deviant/Shia/

Answer 8

Why not do a Yahoo Answers search? This question has been asked/answered about a million times this week alone.

Answer 9

they believe in different prophets and the sunnis are better cooks

Answer 10

YOU WOULD NOT DIVIDE THE SOCIETY.