Does any one know why the Sunni and Shi'te are really fighting?

Question

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1592849,00.html

It is the product of centuries of social, political and economic inequality, imposed by repression and prejudice and frequently reinforced by bloodshed. The hatred is not principally about religion. Sunnis and Shi'ites may disagree on some matters of dogma and some details of Islam's early history, but these differences are small--they agree on most of the important tenets of the faith, like the infallibility of the Koran, and they venerate the Prophet Muhammad. Despite the claims by some Arab commentators, there is no evidence that Iraq's Shi'ite extremists are trying to convert Sunnis, or vice versa. For Iraqi fighters on both sides, "their sect is nothing more than a uniform, a convenient way to tell friend from enemy," says Ghanim Hashem Kudhir, who teaches modern Islamic history at Baghdad's Mustansiriya University. "What binds them is not religion but common historical experience: Shi'ites see themselves as the oppressed, and they see Sunnis as the oppressors."

Sunnis and Shi'ites are fighting for a secular prize: political domination. The warring sects, says a U.S. official in Baghdad, "are simply communities ... striving to gain or regain power." Without an understanding of the roots of the rage that drives people like Muslawi and Hussein, any plan--American or Iraqi, military or political--to stabilize Iraq is doomed to failure. And that power struggle in Iraq, whether it draws neighboring countries into a wider sectarian conflict or forces a realignment of alliances, has the potential to radically alter the Middle East.

Answer 1

Almost all sustained conflicts are based on a goal of political domination.

The Sunni-Shiite conflict is about which lineage is the proper inheritor of the authority of Mohamed -- i.e who should be in charge.

The Sunni believe the caliphates (secular elected leaders) hold greater authority, while the Shiite believe the imams (religious leaders) hold greater authority.

There are many other issues in contention between the two groups, but this seems to be the primary reason for the split.

Answer 2

The Shiites believe that only the descendants of Mohamed should be their leaders. The Sunnis are more Democratic. They believe that their leaders should be elected. The Shiites, therefore, believe that they should have a jihad against the Sunnis, because the Prophet Mohamed doesn't like anyone else other than his descendants running the show. It is ironic that Saddam Hussein was a Sunni. How George W. thinks he can bring Democracy to these people is ludicrous.

Answer 3

All true. I've read up on it before.
An important point is that the shi'ite represent a 60% majority and must 'win out' in the end for democracy to take root. Also, the Kurds support the shi'ite over the sunnis. It's a democracy, majority rule, therefore the shi'ite need to govern.

Answer 4

The Druz faith could be seen Muslim. For some reason, they are very secretive approximately their ideals, so i'm no longer able to truly remark further. Shi'ites are plenty stricter. don't be fooled by the propaganda you hear in the states. There are not extra screwballs in Islam than in the different custom. The hype is all approximately politics. i've got study the koran and it has some stable issues in it, even in spite of the shown fact that i'm no longer Islamic myself.

Answer 5

Shiites are fighting the Sunnis over influence over the Mideast that the Sunni have dominated for over 1,000 years.

The leaders of this fight are Saudi Arabia (Sunni) & Iran (Shiite) and it's been especially heated ever since the Iranian revolution in 1979 that put radical Islamists Shiites in power for the first time. The Iraq war just turned that battle up a few notches.

Answer 6

To see which faction will rule the Mid East........in a Religion Based government

Answer 7

Land of the middle east and who should be the leader.

Answer 8

Because the only thing a Muslim hates more than a complete infidel.. is another Muslim who believes slightly different.

Answer 9

Proof that without Jews, Blacks, and gays, people can still find someone to hate.

Answer 10

Sometimes, shiite happens.