After Muhammad died, Muslims had a difficulty finding a new leader
Muhammad never planned for a successor; he was the last Prophet.
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The Dividing Issue
Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims share the same Islamic beliefs.
The division is political and revolves around the succession of Muhammad.
Should the successor be of “bloodline…or leaders most likely to follow the tenets of the faith,” is the question and conflict.
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Sunni
Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs - Muhammad's successors - should be close advisors or companions of Muhammad.
“Sunnis chose Abu Bakr, the prophet’s adviser, to become the first successor to lead the Muslim state.”
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Shi’ite
Shia Muslims believe leadership should be based on bloodline and “passed directly to Muhammad’s cousin/son-in-law, Ali.”
“Ali and his successors are called imams,” and are considered to be descendants of Muhammad.
“Ali was martyred during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.”
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How did the violence start?
“In 656, Ali’s supporters killed the third caliph. Soon after, the Sunnis killed Ali’s son Husain.
Fighting continued but Sunnis emerged victorious over the Shiites.”
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Populations and Spatial Distribution
Sunnis account for about 85 percent of the world's Muslims.
Shi’ites account for about 15 percent of the world's Muslims.
Shiites are dominant in Iran and are also the largest sect in Iraq.
Pockets of Shiite Islam also exist in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
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Shia & Sunni - Today
In countries like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, there have been disagreements and fighting between Sunni and Shia groups.
This often happens because of political, historical, and social reasons, not just because of their religious beliefs.
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Islamic Peace
It's important to remember that most Sunni and Shia Muslims live together peacefully and share many common beliefs and practices.
These conflicts do not represent the feelings of all Muslims, and many people work for peace and understanding among different Muslim groups.
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Iran
The 1979 Iranian Revolution was a significant historical event that resulted in the overthrow of Iran's monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic.
Muslims overtook Iran’s government and imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law on all of the country’s citizens.
Since then, they have worked hard to remove all influences of western society.