What are they? What is the difference between a shiite muslim and sunni muslim?
I will just try to explain it in simple terms, although with 1,400 years of contested history between these two, there are a lot of things which are disputed amongst them. Where I am making a mistake, I am sure plenty of other members will be willing to give their input and correct it.
In summary, Shias and sunnis are two major sects in Islam. Though both of them believe in Allah and the finalty of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallalah O Alaihai Wassalam - Peace and Blessings be Upon him), they differ on some of the sources of Islamic laws.
Both the sunnis (Ahl-e-Sunnat) and the shias follow the Quran and the words and conduct of the Prophet. From there on, the sunnis follow the conduct of the Companions (the earliest muslims), whereas the shias claim that priority should be given to the words and conduct of the actual family of the Prophet, over the Companions. Both have separate sets of literature where they have documented the words of the Prophet.
Most suspect, that in the early years after the Prophet, it was more of political struggle. Prophet's son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (Razi Allah Tallah) was the fourth khalifa (ruler). Shias claim he should have been the first, so they discount the conduct of the first three khalifas. Sunnis, on the other hand, claim that all four khalifas, including Hazrat Ali, must be revered, because they were the ones closest to the Prophet.
Anyway, since those early days, there has been this divide, which has grown bigger and bigger, due to persecution, differing ideologies, and bitterness. However, in core matters of faith, monotheism, Prophethood and Day of Judgement, among other things, both sunnis and shias have the same beliefs. There are many sub-groups amongst both shias and sunnis, and exceptions to the above statements will be easy to find, though majority still adheres to what I wrote above.
By some estimates, sunnis comprise 65-75% of all muslims, whereas shias are about 20%. In terms of influence, Iran is definitey the spiritual capital of shias, though they are in large numbers in Iraq, some countries in the middle east and in Pakistan. For sunnis, their main centres are in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India and remaining places in the middle east and Africa.
Yes i think faisal has summed it up very well. Fundamentally the difference is political. The differences especially today can also be said to be Fiqhi i.e. jurisdictional. Our basic sources are the same but they differ in interpretations. The ideology is one and same.
aa, this is what a Shia brother said in response to an MPAC alert also below..any thoughts/comments?
Re: Mirror Scandal “Ritual of Blood”
Salamun alaikum,
Just out of curiousity, was this article written by a shia? I would firstly like to say please get your factual informations correct regarding
your stats before sending emails of this nature.
Zinjeer and Tatbeer is praticed by majority of shias, rangings from Lebanon to the far east and is allowed by the majority of shia Mujtahids
and Shia clerics. Many sunnis in Pakistan also partake in this act and other places also take part in Muharram processions. Please dont use
such terms as "hideous" or "misguided" in this conjuction with those who practise this on Ashura. Please also note The most explicit proof
of self inflicted injury comes Owais Qarni, the great Muslim Sahaba, praised by both Shia as well as Sunni erudites, had an immense love
for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w). When the news reached him in Yemen that two teeth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) were broken in the battle of
Ohad, he extracted all his teeth. When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) got the news in Medina that Owais had struck down all his teeth, he (s.a.w)
exclaimed, "Indeed Owais is our devoted friend." This event can be found written in 'Tazkeratul Aulia' by Sheikh Fariddun Attar, also
'Ihsanul Uyun' commonly known as 'Seerate Halbia' vol II, page 295. It should also be noted that breaking one's teeth is a thousand
times more painful than the beating of one's chest for a few hours.
I can give you many historic reference and evidence to prove that this action is in line with Islam and is part of Azadari that is if you
wish to pursue with this discussion. If it is image that concerns you please also note that there are other aspects that is also distorted by
the media such things that are wajibat:
1.Hijab; The kufr and non- Muslims see this as oppression of women, and question why a person should cover herself?
2 Jehad; The Kufr and non-Muslims see this as radicalism and fundamentalism.
3.Sacrificing of an animal, lots of blood spill, and the manner which non-Muslims see portray this.
4.How about going around the Kaaba? Kufar find it funny and question why do Muslims circulate around a stone?
5. Running between "Safa" and "Marwa". Etc?
6.Circumcision: Obviously a Fardh, is looked as a cruel act by the non-Muslims which we do to new born babies.
I hope this clears the issue and perhaps you can refrain from using such language as "misguided" in the future.
Thankyou for you time.
Wasalam
MPAC alert: SCANDALOUS REPORTING BY THE MIRROR
On today’s (Friday 14/3/03) inside front page The Mirror ran a shocking/sensational piece entitled “Ritual of Blood” in which they spoke of how Muslims slit their heads and their children's with swords on Ashura' day, in which the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) the Prophet’s (saw) grandson who was martyred in the 7th century CE is commemorated. The article identified the pictures of a man apparently cutting a child's head, another bloody young boy and a similarly injured man to be from Lebanon. Whilst true that millions of Muslims worldwide venerate the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (as) only a tiny minority of misguided Muslims engage in such self-harm. However by using the generic term 'Muslim' it was implied that the 1.2 billion Muslims across the globe practice this hideous ritual. In fact only a small percentage of 'Shia' Muslims self harm in such a way, - although in Iran a majority Shia state the use of knives and blood letting is forbidden and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni has passed a fatwa stating that such practices are haram (illegal) - the vast majority of Muslims condemn this practice as unIslamic.
One sister at MPAC phoned The Mirror to express her indignation at such sloppy, inaccurate journalism and was rudely and abruptly dismissed, below is an excerpt from the letter she then immediately sent to The Mirror.
'The Mirror's ignorant article failed to point out these details, and branded all Muslims as violent abusers of themselves and their children!!! I cannot express how offended and incensed I was by this. It does not help the plight of Muslims in the current Islamophobic climate.'
My rage was not helped when I phoned up to complain and was rudely rebuffed by a Mirror employee who smugly said I was the only one to complain (it was only ten o'clock, rest assured you will receive other complaints).
The Mirror’s opposition to the forthcoming war on Iraq has impressed me however this will undo much of the good opinion Muslims held of the Mirror. I intend never to buy your paper and will encourage others to do the same, unless an apology and clarification is forthcoming.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
We want you to contact The Mirror and re-iterate the points made above and demand clarification from them and an apology for such slap-dash, shoddy and imprecise journalism. Don’t let them get away with this. Remember we have shown time and again that lobbying works, help us to help yourselves, contact The Mirror by one of the means below
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 020 7293 3000
Both are muddled a little. The Shia guy in my view is giving the right explanation for the wrong reason. Mostly zanjeer zani of this sort is carried out by Indian and pakistanis and there are huge debates on whether this should be “allowed”. Lebanon (and I think in one or two places in Iraq) has a very small percentage of people who engage in the hitting of head with sword ritual. These acts do not again in my view have religious significance. The ritual is probably more customary and traditional in a symbolic sort of way. If it WAS religious or had specific religious significance the practise would have been universal and it is not. No scholars engage in this practise. In Iran this has been prohibited by Ayatollah Khamenai but then again these acts weren’t a significant part of traditional/customary Muharram commemorations in Iran anyway.
Here’s my reply on a similar topic
http://www.gupistan.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=96879&pagenumber=2 The crux of the matter is commemorating the tragedy of Kerbala is sunnah of the Prophet pbuh and the ai’mmah (as) who were very visually found to be in a state of grief when muharram approached. How you commeorate is upto the individual. In trinidad they have the “festival of Hosay” in Iran they enacts the martydom with dramas and stage shows in pakistan they have zakiri in india they have marsiya khwani and so forth. But how one commemorates shouldn’t detract from what they are commemorating or the truth of the message of the commemoration and the actual event.
As for the Mirror I haven’t read the stated article but being a tabloid, it WILL sensationalise so no surprise there. As long as they have mentioned it is a minority within the Shia faith who carry out these acts with the mention of Ayatollah Khamenai forbidding these acts to balance the article it should be fine. If they haven’t, they should be asked to add this crucial information. Mpacuk should take it upon thmselves to see to it the matter is clarified objectively.
****e and Sunni
Does it really matter if we are Shia or Sunni, has long has we are good Muslim and respect each other, which is more important than what sect you are.
It is because of this differences that we have the situation of a divide Muslim world, you read and hear in the press how the US is hoping the Shia's of Iraq will rise up against the sunni, so even the west are exploiting this divide in us.
I think we should worry less about been a Shia or a Sunni but more about been a good Muslim and helping each other no matter what sect you are.
the kurdish ppl in iraq are sunni rite and so is saddam hussein.
Faisal :k: you summed it up very well!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
I will just try to explain it in simple terms, although with 1,400 years of contested history between these two, there are a lot of things which are disputed amongst them. Where I am making a mistake, I am sure plenty of other members will be willing to give their input and correct it.
In summary, Shias and sunnis are two major sects in Islam. Though both of them believe in Allah and the finalty of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallalah O Alaihai Wassalam - Peace and Blessings be Upon him), they differ on some of the sources of Islamic laws.
Both the sunnis (Ahl-e-Sunnat) and the shias follow the Quran and the words and conduct of the Prophet. From there on, the sunnis follow the conduct of the Companions (the earliest muslims), whereas the shias claim that priority should be given to the words and conduct of the actual family of the Prophet, over the Companions. Both have separate sets of literature where they have documented the words of the Prophet.
Most suspect, that in the early years after the Prophet, it was more of political struggle. Prophet's son-in-law, Hazrat Ali (Razi Allah Tallah) was the fourth khalifa (ruler). Shias claim he should have been the first, so they discount the conduct of the first three khalifas. Sunnis, on the other hand, claim that all four khalifas, including Hazrat Ali, must be revered, because they were the ones closest to the Prophet.
Anyway, since those early days, there has been this divide, which has grown bigger and bigger, due to persecution, differing ideologies, and bitterness. However, in core matters of faith, monotheism, Prophethood and Day of Judgement, among other things, both sunnis and shias have the same beliefs. There are many sub-groups amongst both shias and sunnis, and exceptions to the above statements will be easy to find, though majority still adheres to what I wrote above.
By some estimates, sunnis comprise 65-75% of all muslims, whereas shias are about 20%. In terms of influence, Iran is definitey the spiritual capital of shias, though they are in large numbers in Iraq, some countries in the middle east and in Pakistan. For sunnis, their main centres are in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India and remaining places in the middle east and Africa.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks bhai, cleared a few things up for me too.