What is there such a conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

Question

I understand that each sect of Islam follows the teachings of two different leaders after the prophet's death. Why do these two groups have such a growing problem with each other in the Middle East nowadays? Are their interests really that different even when they are two groups of the same religion?

Answer 1

Like the catholics and protestants in the UK during the reformation only this one has gone on a lot longer and will go on a lot longer..............

Answer 2

They see an extremely major conflict in their beliefs. The basic argument is over who is the legitimate heir to Mohammad? There's no similar comparison in the Christian religion. The Protestant/Catholic conflict in Northern Ireland had stronger, direct political issues..i.e., should Northern Ireland remain British or be re-united with the Republic of Ireland? In customs and practices, the Sunnis and Shiites are not very different.

Answer 3

I would like to add to Thorgirl's comment that Catholics and Reformers massacred each other by the thousands in most of Europe. They used horrible torture techniques, too. Maybe you should expand your question and ask what makes "holy men", i.e. people who believe in some kind of religion, kill each other in the name of their religions, which are basically made to bring peace and order into people's lives.

As an answer, I am guessing that believers of each religion or sect seeks to rule everybody's lives, and can't stand the idea of multi-religious societies. Each society has a number of rules and codes that make it a society. I can't guess what will happen to the idea of society once every individual wants a different set of values to govern his/her own life.

When the society is laicist, the constitution becomes the new set of rules of the society, but as we all know, only France is laicist in Europe, and USA still defines itself as a Christian nation. Maybe the world as a whole should add laicism into their constitutions.

Answer 4

The Sunnis and the Shiites have conflicts in beliefs that cannot be reconciled. Thus, they want to dominate each other resulting to a civil war.

Answer 5

Sunnis believe Prophet Mohammed was the last one and the true one. Shia believe Prophet Ali something was the last one at a later date after Mohammed.

Answer 6

Sunnis base their ideals by this order=critiques of shaikhs, critiques of khalifas, hadith, qur'an Shia base their ideals by this order =Qur'an, hadith, 12 imams, critiques of marjas(shia scholars who can subject fatwas) Muhammad suggested Ali substitute into to rule the ummah(usa) after his dying. it fairly is even in sunni hadith. instead some human beings have been given together in the time of Muhammad's funeral and elected Abu Bakr to be the khalifa, hence going against what Muhammad ordered. additionally Muawia rebelled against 2 khalifas and overthrow the Islamic state that Muhammad based and created the Ummayad dynasty(a monarchy) and dumped shariah for byzantine regulation. Sunni interpretation of historic previous is senseless and is crammed with holes, they say you are able to not curse murderers, rapists and human beings that insulted the qur'an through fact "they're sahaba so they made a mistake, eh they get a million reward for there mistake" i for my section stumbled on a sunni on right here justifying muawia who killed 1000's of Muslims, broke treaties and murdered a million khalifa, merely through fact "he's a sahabi" Sunnis on the different hand shop on with critiques by human beings which incorporate abu hurara, an oppurtunist and alcoholic who made up many strange memories approximately Muhammad and persons on orders of the Ummayad dynasty.

Answer 7

It"s the same as the Hatfield and McCoys of Tennessee, the Muslims don't even know why they hate each-other they just know they have to like a Republican hating a Democrat.....The difference is, that Bush supplied them with weapons, and they don't believe or have a Democracy Government......result anarchy, and chaos......WAR!!!!

Answer 8

While Islam has only one book and can't agree how to apply it, Christianity has 66 and fight s wars as well, but in this case you want to look at who has the most to gain, hint its not over the shortage of pizza hut table cloths or towels!Killing in the name of God never impressed me , as I figure that the creator is capable of doing his/her own killing

Answer 9

The muslim population in the Middle East is one that does not allow for any difference. They take it as a personal insult if you disagree about anything with them. There is no concept of agreeing to disagree. They think that there is only one way, my way.

Answer 10

They have forgotten they are all sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.