There is no god but allah, muhammad is the messenger of allah, ali is the friend of allah. The divisions date back to the years immediately after the prophet mohammeds death. Combining meticulous research with compelling storytelling, after the prophet explores the volatile intersection of religion and politics, psychology and culture, and history and current events. The split that divided them is almost as old as the. An example of an early shia sunni fitna shootout occurred in kurram, one of the tribal agencies of the northwest pakistan, where the pushtun population was split between sunnis and shia. The origins of the sunnishia split in islam by hussein abdulwaheed amin, editor of introduction the shia shahadah declaration of faith states. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim countries and is threatening to fracture iraq and syria. The history of the sunni and shia split quotes showing 14 of 4 cemetery of albaqi in medina, they utterly destroyed the tombs of the imams hasan, ali ibn husayn, muhammed ibn ali, and jafar, as well as the tomb of fatima, the daughter of muhammad.
The story of that small shrine is one key to a better understanding of the sunnishia schism in islam, which has a powerful influence on tensions in the middle east. In islamic history, these first fours caliphs are also known as t. After the death of the prophet, abu bakr became the leader of the umma the caliph. Arabic plaque at the great mosque in xian paul louis, photographer editors note. There were nine explosions in all, 30 minutes of car bombs, suicide bombs, grenades, and mortar fire. Iqra the origins of the sunnishia split in islam by. The split between the sunni and shia sect is almost as old as islam itself. From a political viewpoint the history of the shia was in several stages. Historians dispute the origin of shia islam citation needed, with many who. Sunnis thought the leader should be chosen on the ways in which the person lived his life devotion to religion.
But a debate over succession split the community, with some arguing that. Based on overwhelming historical facts, the split of the muslim community into shia and sunni occurred immediately. Feb 12, 2007 the origins of the shiite sunni split. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals. The term shia or shiite derives from a shortening of shiat ali or partisans of ali.
So within shia islam it makes no difference to the imams position whether he is chosen as a caliph or not. The way that muslims are positioned throughout the world 70% sunni, and 20% shia has heavily. What are some causes and effects of the shiasunni split. The reason there is this great mix in iraq is that it is for iraq that the shiasunni split was made.
No verse of quran or hadith suggest that as far as i know. Pdf this article is about the shiasunni split in the context of khyber. What cause islam to split into the sunni and shia branches see answers 1 ask for details. The sunnishia split after mohammeds death there is a conflict over who should lead the religion of islam. As americans try to figure out the quagmire in iraq, we have heard a great deal about factional differences between sunni muslims and shia muslims. Jan 04, 2016 news world middle east sunni and shia muslims. Jul 11, 2016 the first map shows shia shiite iraqis with green, sunni iraqis with yellow, and iraqi kurds sunni with blue. The natural process of conflict and struggle between action and reaction was now at work.
The origins of the sunnishia divide iakovos alhadeff. What cause islam to split into the sunni and shia branches 2010071 1. Understanding the divisions within islam charles river editors on. Shia islam, like sunni islam, has at times been divided into many branches. Shia islam rejects sunni islams kutub alsittah, or the five allegedly original hadiths, and rejects hadiths attributed to muhammads wife, aisha, who shias feel defied ali. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim. Why did shia and sunni split after the prophet mohammeds. Sep 16, 2014 the history of the sunni and shia split. After the prophet is not a novel, it is narrative history, that is, the story of things that happened and of things that people say happened, told in a highly compelling way. Sunni and shia islam whats the origin of the split. The successor of the messenger of allah and his first caliph. Thus, shias consider muhammads descendants as the true source of guidance. Shia and sunni islam are the two major denominations of islam. Here is a primer on the basic differences between sunni and shia islam.
Why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east. History ali is the central figure at the origin of the shia sunni split which occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the prophet in 632. What is the origins of the sunnishia split in islam. Can anyone tell me about the origins of shia and sunni division. The first map shows shia shiite iraqis with green, sunni iraqis with yellow, and iraqi kurds sunni with blue. The sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. The words sunni and shia appear regularly in stories about the muslim world but few people know what they really mean. Mohammed bin salman apoffice of the iranian supreme leadergettymark wilson why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east policy and why it shouldnt is. It is true that there are minor variations in the way they take their respective religious heads and attribute meaning to the history of the family of muhammads, however, cultural and political differences hold the most divisive power over the religious forces.
The origins of the shia sunni islam split flashcards. How the shiasunni split in 632ad led to iran and saudi arabias. Start studying the origins of the shia sunni islam split. This caused a dispute over the succession to muhammed which led to the battle of siffin. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals saudi arabia and. The epic story of the shiasunni split in islam book online at best prices in india on. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The origin and philosophy of shiites vanguard news.
Oct 18, 2016 the sunni shia split occurred when the islamic prophet muhammad died in the year of 632. To see more differences in shia and sunni hadith collections, visit this wikipedia category and its subcategories. The division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. Parallels the division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. The differences between sunni and shia islam are political in origin, and remain so to this day.
It is an indispensable guide to the depth and power of the shiasunni split. Sunnis and shia believe that muhammad is a perfect example to follow, and that they must imitate the words and acts of muhammad as accurately as possible. What is the difference between sunnis and shias the hindu. Sunnishia split the mideasts new great divide the star. The split between the two main sects within islam goes back some 1,400 years. Aug 19, 2009 introduction sunni and shia mosaic tiled columns in a mosque. The following is a list of suggested reading about the shiitesunni conflict. Arabs descend from the ottoman empire, which existed from the 15th through the 20th century. The history of the sunni and shia split quotes by jesse. I would like to clear one at the start of my response that shiite was a reformist movement in islam which later became a sect due to number of differences in religious practices and beliefs. However, sunni are split ethnically among arabs, kurds and turkmen. Sunni shia split and conflict islamic history events.
Saudi arabias execution of shia cleric sheikh nimr alnimr could escalate tensions in the muslim world even further. Nov 02, 2011 the split essentially occurred due to disputes over who was the rightful successor to the prophet. Why did shia and sunni split after the prophet mohammeds death and who is to be blamed for the split. A fivepart series explores the split between shia and sunnis, from its origins shortly after the death of muhammed in the seventh century to the modernday. The following is a list of suggested reading about the shiite sunni conflict. Iran, on the other hand, descends from the 16th century persian empire. The epic story of the shiasunni split 2009 lesley hazelton prologue. Likewise, sunnis reject shia islams the four books. Shia islam originated as a response to questions of islamic religious leadership which became. In arabic, assunnah literally means principle or path. The split essentially occurred due to disputes over who was the rightful successor to the prophet. This video is part of the council on foreign relations infoguide presentation, the sunnishia divide.
The sunniled saudi arabia and the shia iran each have intense difficulties. In september 1996 more than 200 people were killed when a gun battle between teenage shia and sunni escalated into a communal war that lasted five days. However many of these shias come from sayyid families with origins in tribes from iraq. All muslims believe the prophet mohammed unveiled a new monotheistic religion to the people of mecca around 1,400 years. Sunnis, meaning followers of the sunna, or way in arabic. Origin and differences it is a great irony that quran speaks about unity and rejects the division of religion in sections among muslims however fact is that muslim community has many divisions and subdivisions like shia and sunni which evolved after the demise of. Sunni shia split and conflict history after the death of prophet muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam, muslims came under the rule of a caliphate system and stayed united under the initial four caliphs for a period of about 30 years. Hazleton succeeds in bringing out the truly epic character of the shiasunni split, telling the story with great empathy. Its a complex topic, but ill try my best to give you a quick overview of it. The sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism between middle east countries. The epic story of the shia sunni split in islam hazleton, lesley on.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The white areas are mostly under populated deserts controlled by the sunnis. Sep 24, 2017 the sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. Mohammed bin salman apoffice of the iranian supreme leadergettymark wilson why the myth of sunnishia conflict. Mar 18, 2020 the sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism between middle east countries. In mecca, they destroyed the cemetery of mualla, where the ancestors of muhammad and his. Here is a primer on the basic differences between sunni and.
Islams fi rst century and the origins of the sunnishia split new. Struggles between sunni and shia forces have fed a syrian civil war that threatens to. The epic story of the shiasunni split in islam hazleton, lesley on. How conflicts within islam will shape the future, by vali nasr, w. Little is more contentious in history than problems over succession. The words sunni and shia appear regularly in stories about the muslim world. Introduction sunni and shia mosaic tiled columns in a mosque. Basic simplified explanation the split between the shiites and the sunni came about after the prophet mohammed died in the 7th century there were disputes about who should succeed him as caliph which is a ruler in the islamic community. After the death of prophet muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam, muslims came under the rule of a caliphate system and stayed united under the initial four caliphs for a period of about 30 years. Explain the split between the shiites and the sunnis.
The difference between sunni and shia sects of islam are not to the gigantic proportions as most western literature assume. The origins of the shia sunni islam split flashcards quizlet. I as a sunni has always admired the sacrifices of ahl. However many of these shias come from sayyid families with origins in tribes from iraq, lebanon. Sunni muslims supported abu bakr as the first caliph of the muslim faith the first group of shia were a small group who opposed bakr and wanted a man named ali to take control the sunni shiite split. Though the two main sects within islam, sunni and shia, agree on most of the fundamental beliefs and practices of islam, a bitter split between the two goes back some 14 centuries. With the shia, a further incentive for cohesion is their status as a minority. Sep 22, 2016 saudi arabias execution of shia cleric sheikh nimr alnimr could escalate tensions in the muslim world even further. The reason there is this great mix in iraq is that it is for iraq that the shia sunni split was made. Origin and differences it is a great irony that quran speaks about unity and rejects the division of religion in sections among muslims however fact is that muslim community has many divisions and subdivisions like shia and sunni which evolved after the demise of prophet muhammad. The general western reader will come away from this book with a newfound respect for the depth and power of the early schism in islam and of what happened at karbala.