| I guess I need to admit how ignorant I am about the internal structure of of the Islamic religion. When we hear about Iraq, for example, the Shiites and Sunnis sound more like warring ethnic groups than sects of a religion. And in Iraq, there’s a third group, the Kurds, which are an actual ethnic group that occupy an area that extends outside of Iraq. While the Kurds are also Muslims, primarily Sunni, they wear their religion more lightly, and are apparently a unified group separate from either of the Iraqi sectarian groups. While we all know that the Iraqi Sunni and Shiite sects are traditionally at odds and that the Shiite Iranians are presumed to be supporting the Iraqi Shiite Militias, it’s unclear to me if these sectarian loyalties cross other national boundries. | COUNTRY | SHIA | SUNNI |
| IRAN | 89% | 9% | |
| IRAQ | 65% | 20% | |
| SYRIA | 15% | 74% | |
| SAUDI ARABIA | 15% | ~85% | |
| LEBANON | 40% | 20% | |
| PALESTINIANS | 5% | 90% | |
| The only thing I’ve known about the religious difference between the Shia and Sunni Sects is that they differ over authority and governance. Here’s a chart I found describing their religious differences. Since we hear about them daily, I guess it’s time to try to figure out what they’re about: | |||
There are two main sects in Islam: Sunni and Shi’ite. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination, although in some countries it is a minority.Sunnis have their historical roots in the majority group who followed Abu Bakr, an effective leader, as Muhammad’s successor, instead of his cousin and son-in-law Ali. The Sunnis are so named because they believe themselves to follow the sunnah or "custom" of the Prophet. Shi’ites are those Muslims who followed Ali, the closest relative of Muhammad, as Muhammad’s successor.
Sufi Islam is not exactly a sect, but the mystical expression of Islam. It is therefore not included in the chart below. Sufism might be compared to Christian monasticism, in that both emphasize a quiet, simple life focused on obeying and experiencing God. Opinions of Sufis differ within the Muslim community.
The following chart compares the similarities and differences between the major Islamic sects. Please note that, as with all charts of this kind, information is generalized and should not be used as the only basis of information.
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Sunnah
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Shia (or Shi’ah)
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adherents called
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Sunnis
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Shiites, Shi’i
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meaning of name
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"well-trodden path" or "tradition"
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"party" or "partisans" of Ali
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current adherents
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940 million
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120 million
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percentage of total Muslims
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90%
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10%
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primary locations
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most Muslim countries
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Iran, Iraq, Yemen
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subsects
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none, but four major schools of Muslim law are recognized
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Ithna ‘Ashariyah (Twelvers; the largest), Isma’iliyah and Zaydiyah
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origins
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c. 632 CE; theology developed especially in 10th cent.
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c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali’s son Husayn in 680 CE is major event
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did Muhammad designate a successor?
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no
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yes
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true successor of the Prophet
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Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet’s favoured wife, ‘A’ishah (elected by people of Medina)
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‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet)
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qualifications for ruler of Islam
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tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any qualified ruler
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family of the Prophet
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current leaders
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imams
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mujtahids
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identity of imams
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human leaders
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infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur’an
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Al Mahdi
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will come in the future
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was already on earth, is currently the "hidden imam" who works through mujtahids to intepret Qur’an; and will return at the end of time
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religious authority other than the Qu’ran
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ijma’ (consensus) of the Muslim community
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infallible imams
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concealing faith for self-protection (taqiya)
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affirmed under certain circumstances
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emphasized
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temporary marriage (mut’ah)
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practiced in the Prophet’s time, but now rejected
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still practiced
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holy cities
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major holidays
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