sunni and shiite?

Question

why do these two sects fight each other if each follow the Koran?

Answer 1

Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. They are also referred to as Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h (Arabic: أهل السنة والجماعة) (people of the example (of Muhammad) and the community) which implies that they are the majority, or Ahl ul-Sunna (Arabic: أهل السنة; "The people of the example (of Muhammad)") for short. The word Sunni comes from the word sunna (Arabic : سنة ), which means the words and actions [1] or example of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. They represent the branch of Islam that accepted the caliphate of Abu Bakr because he was chosen by consensus. Most Sunni lawyers define themselves as those Muslims who are rooted in one of the four orthodox schools of Sunni law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii or Hanbali).



Shī‘a, also Shi'ah and Shi‘ite (Arabic شيعة šīʿa), is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith after Sunni Islam. Shias adhere to the teachings of Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family (who are referred to as the Ahl al-Bayt) or his descendents known as Shi'a Imams. Muhammad's bloodline continues only through his daughter Fatima Zahra and her husband Ali ibn Abu Talib, who alongside the Muhammad's grandsons are among the Ahl al-Bayt ("people of the house [of Muhammad]"). Thus, Shi'as consider Muhammad's descendents as the true source of guidance while considering the first three ruling Sunni caliphs a historic occurrence and not something attached to faith. The singular/adjective form is šīʿī (شيعي.) and refers to a follower of the faction of Imam Ali according to the Shia ideology.

Shia Islam, like Sunni Islam, has at times been divided into many branches; however, only three of these currently have a significant number of followers. The best known and the one with most adherents is the Twelvers (اثنا عشرية iṯnāʿašariyya) which have a large percentage in Iran 90% and Iraq; the others are Ismaili, Sevener, and Zaidiyyah. Alawites and Druzes consider themselves Shias, although this is sometimes disputed by mainstream Shias.[1] The Sufi orders among the Shias are the Alevi, Bektashi, Kubrawiya, Noorbakhshi, Oveyssi, Qizilbashi, Hamadani and Fatimid orders and denominations. Twenty percent of Turkey's population is Alevi while Lebanon and Syria have a large presence of Druze and Alawites.

According to most sources, including the US Library of Congress, present estimates indicate that approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 15% are Shi'a. Today there estimated to be between 130 and 190 million Shi'a Muslims[2] (including Twelvers, Ismailis, Zaydis) throughout the world, about three quarters of whom reside in Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and India.


I also asked a question similar to this one check it out.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At7TkRqt62UyBXED8rdp0.3sy6IX?qid=20070118130255AAfk7Le

Answer 2

From what I have learnt and heard, this two sect fights mainly because of the political reason...
Although they fight but the bottomline is they have basis faith in Islam that is Allah as a God.That was the most important thing as a Muslim. To prove that they seek guidance from Quran and believe it is a word directly from God. So As long as they believe there is no God but Allah then they should have no problem live together..
The only thing that make a difference was Shiite consider Saidina Ali as their prophet while Sunni regard the prophet Muhammad as a messenger from God...

Take an example the A and B person was keen on football but A person support the King team and B person support Queen teams...Of course they would fight to prove that the team their support was superior than the other teams but in the meantime they both love football...play football together and got a season hold tickets...
At the end of the day only time and result will tell which teams are better..
Perhaps these things was what really happen to both of them...

Answer 3

Because the two sects follow two different successors of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Shi'a follow the bloodline of the Prophet and Sunni follow a so-called friend that later was responsible for the death of the Prophet's family. Sunni do not believe that Muhammad (pbuh) ever claimed that Ali was his successor so while the Sunni were out doing other things, Ali prepared the Prophet's body and buried him, which makes him the rightful successor.

EDIT: sen b, you may not classify yourself as a Sunni or Shi'a but you are one of the two...Tell me if you pray with your arms crossed in front of you or down to your sides and I will tell you if you are Sunni or Shi'a...

EDIT: The word Sunni isn't in the Qu'ran and the word Sunna is never used to talk about the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The word Shi'a is in the Qu'ran (And most surely Abraham was among the Shi'a of him "(Quran 37:83)) and it means "followers".

Answer 4

Well true Muslims do not put themselves into sects it completely goes against the teachings of Islam. Sunni and shiite lived worked and worshiped peacefully with each other until Bush got involved. I am a Muslim but neither a Sunni or a Shiite, moderate or extremist just Muslim not proceeded with any other word. I weep for my brothers and sisters at war with each other and pray insha Allah all the violence ends for everyone.

Answer 5

Politics is the main reason.

Shi'ism appeals to non-arab muslims because of its history. During the caliphate, it rose in opposition of the ruling Sunni class, an elite Arab group which thought that other muslims were inferior because they didn't speak the prophet's language.

You can see the appeal of Shi'ism to this underclass if you consider this line of reasoning: under the caliphate, only Arabs can rule. According to the Shi'ite idea, only the prophet's family can rule. Since 99.999 percent of all muslims are unrelated to the prophet, this system effectively levels the playing field. Arab Muslims are no longer considered superior on non-Arab muslims because, anyway, neither group is a decendant of Mohhamed.

Answer 6

Fight? as in whats going on in Iraq? Thats political stuff i guess, you don't see it happenin everywhere..From my personal experience, sunnis and shiites get along really well..It's the sick people who take these minorities to the extreme..its sad really.

Answer 7

after prophet Muhammad death. muslims split, sunni put Abu-Bakr as 1st khalifah (leader) as an ordered by prophet Muhammad. however Shia argued that whoever take the lead should be from prophet Muhammad family which refer to Ali.

but neither Abu bakr was sunni, neither was Ali was shia, but there were muslim brothers. Ali had no problem for Abu bakr to take the lead as Abu bakr was like very close friend to prophet Muhammad and older in age, while Ali was younger in age. Ali become the leader # 4

1st Abu-Bakr >> Omar >>> not sure >>>> Ali

and sunni and shia do not fight each other in anywhere in the world, except in Iraq and God knows who is behind it.

Answer 8

Political differences.

Answer 9

We translate the Quran differently. This happens to all religions not just Islam. The reason a religion has different sects is because of a dispute.

Answer 10

I think Muslim should be united. As ALLAH revieled Quran on Muhammad (PBUH). Quran is complete guideness for the everyone. We should pass our life in accordance to Quran and as Muhammad (PBUH) teaches us.