Difference between Sunni and Shiites.

[Helm]

Hence the title.
Can someone summarize the the core difference between the two Muslim sects?

[sephodwyrm]

One is largely in Iraq and Iran while the rest occupies the rest of the Muslim heartland. Geographical and political difference is the fundamental issue between the two sects.

[Helm]

I'm sure there must be more to it than geography.

[Katsumoto]

http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

Google is your friend.

[MaximiIian]

Doctrinally, it's based on recognising the Caliphs after the first few. Sunni do, Shia don't. Before the unfortunate dissolution of the Caliphate in 1924, it was mostly based on who recognised the authority of the Ottoman Caliphs.

There are other minor differences, though. You should try wiki, they have extensive articles on both sects.

[cenkiss]

Doctrinally, it's based on recognising the Caliphs after the first few. Sunni do, Shia don't. Before the unfortunate dissolution of the Caliphate in 1924, it was mostly based on who recognised the authority of the Ottoman Caliphs.

There are other minor differences, though. You should try wiki, they have extensive articles on both sects.

Why was the dissolution of Caliphate was unfortunate?

[Helm]

Whoever made the thread about the difference between Protestants and Catholics didn't get told to look it up on Google.

[MaximiIian]

Yeah, but they're not you.

[finsternis]

As far as I know it is a "who should be the leader" problem. One believes that the son of Prophet Mohammed while the other thinks that it should be elected from the people.

Which one wants what? I am not sure.

[Heinz Guderian]

The difference is that Sunnis are going to hell and Shia are going to heaven.

Wait...it could be the other way round.

You can also tell by the way they fire an RPG. Shias do it from cover, Sunnis like to stand in open ground with a clear LOS to the target and then slowly reload when they inevitably miss.

[Markas]

The difference is that Sunnis are going to hell and Shia are going to heaven.

Wait...it could be the other way round.

You can also tell by the way they fire an RPG. Shias do it from cover, Sunnis like to stand in open ground with a clear LOS to the target and then slowly reload when they inevitably miss.

That's cos the Sunnis in their eyes.

Sorry.

[LSJ]

There are a few important differences common to all Shia and Sunni sects.

Shia muslims believe that Imams should have been appointed by God or Muhammed. They only recognize the validity of Imams believed to be related to descendants of Muhammed, or people Muhammed appointed as leaders, or those who were appointed by God. Whereas Sunni muslims recognize any Imam appointed by the people or government, as they have don't believe in hereditary religious leadership, and some don't think God has appointed Imams since the days of Muhammed.

Another is the treatment of the hadiths. Shia muslims ignore the six major hadith collections and do not base their practices upon them. Whereas the six big ones serve as guidance for Sunnis, and dictate many of their practices. The Shia rejection of certain hadiths is based on their authors being men who did not support Ali as the successor to Muhammed. The different treatment of the hadiths has a big effect.

[MaximiIian]

Sunni muslims...don't believe in hereditary religious leadership

That statement is quite wrong. Sunni Islam was led throughout most of its history by hereditary Caliphates.

[Babur]

That statement is quite wrong. Sunni Islam was led throughout most of its history by hereditary Caliphates.

however the first four Caliphs were elected, under the Shiah view the Imams are hereditary as well since they belong to the Ahl Al Bayt (family of the Prophet Muhammed).The Shiah also affirm that at the Prophet's last sermon,he mentioned the Ahl Al Bayt.

however a main focal point for Twelver Shiahs (who are a majority) is the awaited return of the 12th Imam who along with Jesus would preside over a new age of justice and peace, he is known as the Mahdi.

[Adhamh Ashashi]

That's cos the Sunnis in their eyes.

Sorry.

If I could rep I would.


Shia are crazy

[Caduet]

The core difference is that Hezbollah is Shia (and win) while Hamas is Sunni.

[Chlodwig I.]

after they can't stop killing each other there can only be very small diffrences

[Каие]

Islamic Civil War.
Winners = Sunni.
Losers = Shia.

As a result the Shia refuse to listen to the directives set by the first 3 caliphs after the Prophet rejecting their ways.
That simple.

[Theseus1234]

There's also the Sufi sect, which is more mystical

[Babur]

The Shiah recognise only the legitimacy of Ali and his 11 successors (which all Twelver Shiah believe in).

They view Abu Bakr as having denied Ali his rightful place as Caliph after the Prophet's death, and this was also apparent with Umar Bin Al Khattab and Uthman Ibn Affan, however with Uthman there was also resentment at how the Umayya clan began to grow in power,taking many key positions in government etc,Ali would face this challenge as would his son Imam Hussain at Karbala whose last stand against Yazid's son has become a source of legend and grief for Shiah ever since.

The Shiah also grieve the death of Imam Hussain ever year in a manner which makes them unique during Ashura.The Shiahs also believe in the Imams as holding considerable authority in Muslim tradition,they also pray slightly differently to Sunnis

The Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs were legitimate,however many Sunni also share mixed feelings toward the Ummayads.The Sunnis take their name from the "Sunnah" the tradition of Islam a fair bit of which derives from Hadiths.There are many schools of Sunni Islam but the one predominant in South Asia is the Hanifa school for example.

I personally think that the division grew out of political divisions between the companions of the Prophet,from June 632 onwards.