What is the religious difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims?

Question

I see on the news everyday that they are fighting eachother in Iraq and I don't understand why if they are all Muslims. I would like to understand what makes them different.

Answer 1

Nothing as such,there are a few extreme shias,and a few extreme sunniz,both are wrong,majority have no problems between them.Specifically in Iraq civil war has been due to american interference..

Answer 2

salaam the two Sunni and Shia Muslims share the main accepted Islamic ideals and articles of religion. the changes between those 2 considerable sub-communities interior Islam initially stemmed no longer from non secular changes, yet political ones. Over the centuries, although, those political changes have spawned quite a few various practices and positions that have come to hold a non secular importance. The branch between Shia and Sunni dates decrease back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who develop into to take over the management of the Muslim u . s . a .. Sunni Muslims trust the region taken via lots of the Prophet's companions, that the hot chief could be elected from between those able to the activity. that is what develop into carried out, and the Prophet Muhammad's close buddy and consultant, Abu Bakr, grew to become the 1st Caliph of the Islamic u . s . a .. optimistically this helped the full chop up is all politics as your buddy suggested that the shias have self belief that the caliphate could descend throught the prophets blood whilst sunnis dont thats particularly it peace outzz

Answer 3

When Mohamed dies there was a disagreement over who was to take his role within the Muslim community, and so Islam split into Sunni and Shia.

I'm sure there will be a more detailed explanation on Wikipedia, but this is as simplified as I can make it.

As for why are they fighting if they are all Muslims, it's much the same as in Northern Ireland with Catholics and Protestants, they were both Christian.

Answer 4

the sunnis follow sayidina ali, while the shia's follow the teachings of the prophet but in an extreme way. if im not mistaken that is

Answer 5

we both believe in prophet muhammad but for some reason, some people didnt believe him when he said ali is my successor, and those people are sunnis. some sunnis hate prophet muhammad's family, but love him and therefore hate shias who love prophet muhammads family. they are fighting because america is putting ideas into their heads and making them hate each other.

Answer 6

same difference between catholics and protestants who used to kill each other in northern ireland without an invasion from the usa.

Answer 7

Why not do a Y!A search and read one of the...oh, I don't know ... one-million answers to this question that is asked about 50 times a day?????

Answer 8

here's the links


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia