Menu Close

What led to the division of Islam into Sunni and Shia?

What led to the division of Islam into Sunni and Shia?

A disagreement over succession after Mohammed’s death in 632 split Muslims into Islam’s two main sects, Sunni and Shia.

What do Sunni and Shia have in common?

Sunnis and Shiites share the belief that there are five pillars of Islam: (1) the unity of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad, (2) the five obligatory prayers, (3) fasting, (4) charity, and (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca.

What is the conflict between Shia and Sunni?

Shia and Sunni Islam are the two major denominations of Islam. The origin of their separation can be traced back to a dispute over the succession to the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community.

What are the Shia beliefs?

Shi’a Muslims believe that imams are inspired by God, are without sin and are infallible, which means that they can interpret the teachings of the Qur’an without making any errors. Today, Shi’a Muslim communities are led by imams, who are seen as having been chosen by God.

Why do Shia say Ya Ali?

“Ya Ali” (Arabic: یاعلی‎ “O Ali”) is an Arabic phrase used by Muslims to invoke the memory or intervention of Ali Ibn Abu Talib. Shia Muslims use this phrase in an act called Tawassul (Intercession). They call upon Ali believing that the intercession of Ali will allow their prayer to be granted.

Why was there division between Sunni and Shia Muslims?

The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. This event raised the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation.

Who are the Shia Muslims after the death of Muhammad?

Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad’s death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin and son-in-law, Ali bin Abu Talib.

Who was the leader of Sunni Islam in the 15th century?

In these times the Caliphs, in contrast to the first four, were temporal leaders only, deferring to religious scholars (or uleama) for religious issues. Sunni Islam continued through the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties to the powerful Mughal and Ottoman empires of the 15th to 20th centuries.

When did the two main sects of Islam split?

The split between the two main sects within Islam goes back some 1,400 years. 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.