Why are the Shia still split?

Question

The Ali line have all died off, they can't have a descendent of Ali hold a Caliphate because there are none.

Answer 1

It is more complicated than just the calipha ( al-quada is not blowing up shiite mosques because
of that.) Wahhabis and salafist types think Shiites are apostates, who pervert islam.

Sunni fundamentalists (esp. Wahhabi / salafist types) think Shia are perverting Islam, so they are apostates. (to give you an idea: here is an anti-shia web site, so you can see what they think: http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/histor... ) That will give you the best idea of what a typical anti-shia sunni thinks:
"From their false beliefs are:
a) Declaring all but three or five of the Sahaba to be Kafir,
b) The belief that their Imam’s have knowledge of the Unseen past, present and future,
c) Considering the Imaamah to be one of the main pillars of Iman
d) The incompleteness of the Qur’an."


Best to get it from the horses mouth:


More anti-shia propaganda from Ibn Nasser al-faarisse :
http://www.shiaexposed.blogspot.com/

Here is an article from an al-quada supporter on the issue (how they see it):
The title of the articals are : Hating the Shia:
http://inshallahshaheed.wordpress.com/2007/01/29/al-walaa-wal-baraa-part-7-hating-the-shi%e2%80%99as-the-origins-of-shi%e2%80%99asm/

http://inshallahshaheed.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/al-walaa-wal-baraa-part-8-hating-the-shi%e2%80%99as-statements-of-the-salaf-against-the-raafidah-shi%e2%80%99a/

when people say it is all about successor to the calipha (which does not exist anymore) over a thousand years ago is over simplifying the situation.

Answer 2

Caliphate is not necessarily bestowed from father to son. A Calipha is to be chosen because ones character and virtues especially spiritual.
And doesn't all religions have factions.

Answer 3

there are different sects, both religous and radical