Muslims, why do sunni's and shiite hate each other so?

Answer 1

Why do Crips hate Bloods?

Answer 2

Because they both believe their brand of faith is correct, and everything else is apostate. Shiites believe that the twelfth imam vanished down a well near Jamkaran, Iran, in A.D. 941. According to their beliefs, he went into a state of "occultation," like the sun being hidden behind the clouds; and, after a stormy period of apocalyptic wars, the clouds will part, and the "sun" (the Mahdi) will be revealed. They believe that when he is released from his imprisonment, the entire world will submit to Islam. It is their goal to destroy all faiths that go against their teaching.

Sunnis don't adhere to the Shitte doctrine , and feel threatened by these radical Muslims. That is why Saudia Arabia would possibly be an allie to America against Iran, even though they both hate America.

Answer 3

Not all of them hate each other. Although I don't associate myself to some sect, but as I was born in a sunni family, I never saw hatered around me about Shias. Actually, I hate Shia relatives. I think only the people who do not have real knowledge of Islam, and those who are very narrow-minded, do these things.

Answer 4

It depends on the country.

In Iraq, the US initially turned Shias against Saddam to overthrow him. Later on, that backfired. President Bush, the elder, only asked Shias to overthrow Saddam, which prompted Sunnis to see Shias as "traitors." Saddam actually did favor his own Tikriti tribe, which was predominantly Sunni, but it's difficult to argue that he only oppressed Shias and Kurds. He was ruthless towards any group that opposed him irrespective of their religious faith. When the US took over, they didn't see 'Iraqis." They only saw Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, thus creating even more sectarian divisions in Iraq.

In Pakistan, Shias insist on condemning and cursing companions of Prophet Muhammad for whom Sunnis have very high regard. They even do it in public, using loudspeakers during the month of Muharram. Shias also take out processions during that period, beating their chests and even using blades to cut themselves to mourn the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis find all that highly offensive.

I agree with Khan and even in Iraq and Pakistan, most Shias and Sunnis do not hate each other. In other Muslim countries, Shias and Sunnis have mostly lived in peace.

ANSWERING JONATHAN
Not all Shias are "Twelvers." Unlike Sunnis, Shias have many sub-sects.

The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran actually goes back to WW1 when the British played a policy of "divide and rule" and created suspicions between Arabs and Iranians/Turks. The British then offered themselves as protectors of Gulf Arabs against Iranians, which allowed them to build permanent military bases in the Gulf, most of which still exist. To make things worse, the Shah of Iran laid a claim on Bahrain, which confirmed Arab suspicions. Although the population of Bahrain is mostly Shia and originally came from Arabic-speaking southern Iran, there was never any danger of Iran attacking the country. Iranians have not invaded another country in more than 250 years.

Answer 5

They don't. Most of the skirmishes are tribal, not religious.