What’s The Difference?
All this talk lately of Shia and Sunni muslims has puzzled me: what, exactly, is the difference between the two “branches” of the same religion? From the History News Network comes this brief explanation:
The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs–Mohammed’s successors–rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War. Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed.
There are other smaller groups within the Islamic community, too. The Sunni branch is the largest, worldwide, but the Shia branch is dominant in Iran.
Shia/Shitte is also the closest branch of Islam that can be compared to Christianity. You can find pictures of Jesus in their houses.
The split between Shia and Sunni so early in Muslim history seems strange until you realize that Christanity split in each of the early “Ecumenical Councils.”
Does this mean I can bring back my “IF YOU AIN’T MUSLIM, YOU AIN’T SHIITE” bumper sticker?
Are the Muslims who live in the U.S. predominantly of one branch or the other?
lmao CG.
I think … there are various branches of Islam and practioners who live here. I can think off the top of my head that most of them are Shitte because of the massive immigration after Hussein tried to kill everyone of them in Basrah, restricting their right to practice their faith in public (just like he did to the Iraqi Christians).
Shias do not make up a majority in the US up to mykowlendge im afraid to say, as a Shia myself.