Religion paper
Malikbinn
SUNNISHIA.pptxSUNNI, SHIA
Similarities & Differences
Commonalities
Five Pillars
Most holidays & common calendar
Most customs (e.g., no alcohol, gambling)
Divine nature of the Qur’an
Differences: Part One
Sunni much larger (ca. 85%), Shia ca. 10%, others (Sufis, etc.) 5%
Sunnis take democratic approach to leadership
Shi’ites follow hereditary line of headship by imams beginning with Ali (cousin & son-in-law of Muhammad)
Because of the martyrdom of Ali’s son Hussein, martyrdom is highly prized by Shi’ites & the holy day Ashura commemorates Hussein’s death
Twelve Shia Imams followed Muhammad (both branches first four). A separate group of Shi’ites accept only seven of these hidden imams
12th imam, M. ibn Hasan (867-) is in a mystical state (“occultation”) and will reappear at end of time as the Mahdi, a messiah figure
DIFFERENCES: PART TWO
Shi’s believe that verses in the Qur’an referring to Ali were removed from the text, apparently to minimize is significance
For Sunnis an imam is a religious leader but not a mystical figure, as in the Shia branch
Shi’ism is the majority branch in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain & Azerbaijan. Sunni Islam is predominant every else in the Muslim world
In periods of political and economic stability, followers of the two branches live side by side in relative harmony
