What's the difference between shiite an Sunni?

[Ducimus]

Looking at the news, it looks like Iraq might be coming close to a civil war. Assumably between Shiite and Sunni muslims.

Now ive always heard theres a disagreement there, but with the latest news im very curious. Whats the difference between the two and why don't they get along?

[TLAM Strike]

The Shi'a don't belive the 1st three Caliphs (The 1st three guys who took over after Muhammad died) had the right to rule, the Sunni do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_background_of_the_Sunni-Shi%27a_split

[Ishmael]

The breakdown is traced back to the leadership of Islam in the days after the death of Mohammed.

Sunni refers to al-Sunna. This means that the leaders of the religion were to be elected by the congregation of Muslims. After Mohammed's death, his top general became the Caliph or leader leading to a schism with the group below.

Shi'ite refers to Shiat-Ali or Party of Ali. this group believes that only the descendants of the prophet could lead the religion. Ali was the son of the prophet. His son, Hussein, was killed along with his army while fighting the Sunni Caliph on the 12th of Muharram near Karbala. That's the muslim holiday where you see the Shi'ites beating themselves with chains to demonstrate their willingness for martyrdom like Hussein. That chain passed through to the 11th imam Hassan al-Iskari who is buried in the golden mosque blown up a few days ago in Iraq. His son, the 12th & final imam, al-Mehdi is supposed to appear inside that mosque and lead the Shi'ite people to salvation. Most Iraqi Shi'ites along with the vast majority of Iranian Shi'ites are twelver Shi'ites. The vast majority of Shi'ite holy places are in southern Iraq near and around Basra. Basra is also where, in the 12th century, the grand vizier of the Turkish Sultan, the Arab writer Omar Khayyam and Hassan-I-Sabah, the first head of the Nizari Ismaili Shi'ites who became the original Assassins were educated together under the Brothers of Sincerity.

[CB..]

Yikes--same old story---

seems to me that religious fanatics are far too busy being offended by differing things to have time to believe anything these days--

i think we should instigate a new "theme day"
"offend a religious zealot day"
see-ing as they want us to behave as they do and believe as they do lets all blow something significant up---lets have a "blow something significant up day" l-- why not.. every-one lets party--kill maim destroy all in the name of peace----wonderfull---aint religion great!?

i've seen football hooligans with more intelligence--

[Ducimus]

All i can say is wow.

Very deep history, and very deep roots. On one hand, im thinking, "no wonder they're at each others throats".

On the other hand im thnking "geez, this is ancient history, why can't they let it go and move forward?"


Anyway, thanks for the info. It helps to understand background of some of the things you can read about these days.

[sonar732]

Look into Skybirds post on the religion of Islam. :up:

[Skybird]

Nice that I can leave this one as it is. :P

Sonar, that essay of mine did not say much about the big black-and-white-game between Sunnis and Shias. I think I also - by too much-fast-typing - mixed up the son with the father :lol: ...

[Skybird]

All i can say is wow.

Very deep history, and very deep roots. On one hand, im thinking, "no wonder they're at each others throats".

On the other hand im thnking "geez, this is ancient history, why can't they let it go and move forward?"

I think the same when looking at Protestantic and Catholic Irishmen going after it again. those battles they celebrate are - how long ago?

History of Islam is not deeper than that of many others as well. In a way it is even shallower, since much ideological streamlining took place.

[STEED]

Are we ever going to have one week off the subject of Islam & Muslims. Just one week if possible? :hmm:

[CB..]

the puzzling thing for me with highly religious societys is that most religions teach their devotees to practice self restraint and consideration of the greater whole over the individual need--

and yet it takes far more self restraint and consideration to live in a secular democracy --we have to wait untill an election before we can have our say-- and no government has ever pleased every-one--nor will it ever do so--it's only because folks generally tend to just shrug and accept the bad with the good as part and parcel of the complexity of living amoungst millions of other individuals all with differing views--
takes huge self restraint and consideration of the common good--
even if it is rarely thought of in this light--

secular society follows the basic tenants of religious thought far more dillegently than most major religious groups--who generally speaking are more noise than substance--perhaps that's what annoys them so much about the west?/

it's this collective compromise in secular society that most likely allows the generation of a far greater and fairer collective prosperity---even if it takes many generations to achieve and is never devoid of glaring injustice
but we can't hide behind religious doctrine when attempting to justify those injustices--so eventually they tend to get addressed-- albiet very very slowly

[tycho102]

Are we ever going to have one week off the subject of Islam & Muslims. Just one week if possible? :hmm:

If they could just deign themselves to live with everyone else in the world, sure. I'd like to talk about other things.

I'd like to talk about the Fairtax. And our southern borders. And all the drugs going to Hollywood, who in return, speak out against securing the southern border and the War against Islam.

I'd like to talk about blimps station-keeping at 30km altitude, providing 5ms pings to everyone in a 500km radius.

I'd like to talk about European beer, Carlsburg and Czechvar in particular.



However, the Greater Jihad makes all of this much less significant in comparison...

[STEED]

I'd like to talk about European beer, Carlsburg and Czechvar in particular.

What is to stop you?

Start this one going new subject new thread looks good :yep:

[Spent]

On the other hand im thnking "geez, this is ancient history, why can't they let it go and move forward?"

Because the way of life in the middle east is very ancient. Maybe they have come a little bit forward with technology but their traditions and beleifs are very old. And you really cnat change a giant group of people like that's beleifs.

[bradclark1]

Are we ever going to have one week off the subject of Islam & Muslims. Just one week if possible? :hmm:

You can't be serious. :huh:

[STEED]

You can't be serious. :huh:

I was only asking well if you want to carry do so.

[XabbaRus]

Catholics and Orthodox seem to get along...yea lets start this one up again.


Mucho stupidos.....ach no wonder the world is going to rat's pish.

[Oberon]

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4905/religion1su1nx.png

[Ishmael]

Now that is eloquent & succinct. Bravo Oberon :up: