what is the difference between sunni and shiite?

Question

and why do they hate each other

Answer 1

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 2

The difference is simply a political one - over who should suceed the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) as leader of the Muslim community - the Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr the Prophets close companion was elected to be calpih while the Shias believe the brothers son-in-law Ali (who sunnis say was the fourth caliph and who they love alot ) was chosen by the Prophet (pbuh)

these give some of the more detailed differences

http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm

"and why do they hate each other"

They dont - only extremists in either sects do - the vast majority of sunni and shia scholars and non-scholars consider the other fellow Muslims and believers

example Iran which is Shia always speaks of the sunni Muslims as its brothers and fellow Muslims

and Sunnis have always been in control of Hajj and have always allowed to Shias to perform it - something that is only permitted to Muslims

The sectarian violence in say Iraq has as much to do with political power as anything else

Sunnis and Shias are Muslim brothers and sisters forever

Answer 3

Sunnis trust that Muhammad become the merely correct prophet and extremely last messenger of Allah (God). The Shiites even trust this yet they say that Ali become meant to be the merely correct prophet. that is the traditional huge difference between both. another huge difference is that in Shia Islam the Mahdi (messiah-like figure) is extra emphasised contained in the concept than in Sunni Islam, notwithstanding theoretically Sunnis even trust contained in the Mahdi.

Answer 4

It is a historical issue that started almost 1400 years ago,based on a political crisis that happened at that time ,where some people supported one governer and anotyher group ssupported another one,then it turned ugly and messy ,and from that time muslims have divided int two groups.
They hate each other because every group have a solid faith that she is the right one.

Answer 5

Same reason Catholics and Protestants blew each other up in Ireland. Religion always dehumanizes the other guy, so you don't have to feel bad when you kill him.

god loves the smell of napalm in the morning, it smells like victory. Yes, that makes Robert Duvall god.

Answer 6

Abraham in the Bible, had two sons. And I think they split up for some reason. They both had their own followers. The Shites follow one brother and the Sunnis follow the other one. But you gotta google it for more accurate information

Answer 7

one group thinks Mohammed is the special only one and the other group thinks his cousin took over when he died. I am not sure which is which.

Answer 8

I hope this helps, this article does a good job at explaining it all:

http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

Answer 9

One group likes to blow up planes.
The other group likes to blow up buildings.

Not sure which is which though.

Answer 10

I believe it is body odour, that's why they hate each other.