The division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. The split between the two major branches of islam sunni and shia had its genesis in the homicide of muhammad. Prince alwaleed bin talal center for muslimchristian understanding. Whatever the truth was behind these organizations, these accusations were fully used to divide the grow ing shiite opposition. Even as muhammad lay dying, the battle over who would take control of the new islamic nation had begun, beginning a succession crisis marked by power grabs, assassination, political. The sunni divide foreign policy research institute. Sunnishia tensions are more about politics, power and privilege than theology. The way that muslims are positioned throughout the world 70% sunni, and 20% shia has heavily. This demographic dominance has not, however, been translated into economic and political power. The hajj pilgrimage in mecca, when both shia and sunni muslims come together to pray.
Prophet muhammad died in the evening of june 8, 632 a. For the latter, select the pages you wish to extract. An example of an early shiasunni fitna shootout occurred in kurram, one of the tribal agencies of the northwest pakistan, where the pushtun population was split between sunnis and shia. The sample essay on sunni and shiite split deals with a framework of researchbased facts, approaches and arguments concerning this theme. Even assuming there are hidden hands behind this anarchy, the carnage is historic in its magnitude and can only result in the death of a nation. The epic story of the shiasunni split in islam imam ali shrine in najaf. In some countries, sectarian conflicts are more likely to occur between different. The islamic split between the sunni and shia have had profound effects on the politics of islam and the middle east. They believed that the successors to muhammad must be chosen by the muslim community. The report also relates sunni and shiite religious beliefs to discussions of terrorism and sectarian violence that may be of interest during the 111th. Sep 24, 2017 the sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. Click split pdf, wait for the process to finish and download.
The term shia or shiite derives from a shortening of shiat ali or partisans of ali. The sunni believe muhammad was poisoned by the jewess zaynab. To see the essays introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion, read on. History ali is the central figure at the origin of the shia sunni split which occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the prophet in 632. In this gripping narrative history, lesley hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the sunni and shia branches of islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever. Look at each document and complete the analysis questions below. The split between the sunnis and shia can be traced back to the death of the prophet muhammad, and the dilemma of the successor of muhammad as the leader of the muslim nation. A history of the shiite sunni split the division of islam into sunni and shiite branches goes far back in muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the prophet muhammad. Split in sunnis who backed up the umayyad and the shia who backed up with ali. Why did shia and sunni split after the prophet mohammeds.
A history of the shiitesunni split mike shuster i the division of islam into sunni and shiite branches goes far back in muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the prophet muhammad. After the prophets death in 632 ce, different views emerged about who should succeed him as. Based on overwhelming historical facts, the split of the muslim community into shia and sunni occurred immediately. Sunni and shia differences have their origin in a dispute about who should lead after the death of the prophet muhammad. In light of the current fighting in iraq, which is along sectarian lines, npr is republishing the series. Husayn with a small party was killed at karbala in 680. The difference between sunni and shia religious orders of islam are non to the mammoth proportions as most western literature assume. This reading looks at the history of the split, as well as the characteristics of sunni and shiite denominations. A history of the shiitesunni split the division of islam into sunni and shiite branches goes far back in muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the prophet muhammad. Time period 656 to 661 ce conflict type religious underlying causes resentments began to build over how the booty from the conquests should be divided among the tribal groups that made up the islamic community which came from sudden successes of muslim armies and the sudden rise of the arab empire. The history of the sunni and shia split quotes showing 14 of 4 cemetery of albaqi in medina, they utterly destroyed the tombs of the imams hasan, ali ibn husayn, muhammed ibn ali, and jafar, as well as the tomb of fatima, the daughter of muhammad. Mar 18, 2020 the sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism among middle east countries. Is the sunnishia split in islam comparable in any way to the.
This part takes readers through the years of ottoman and safavid imperial rivalry to the sunni shia convergence during european colonial years chapter two is entitled. On facial similarity the sunni shiite split in islam is comparable to the protestantcatholic split in christianity to the extent that there was one religion and after a theological disagreement, there were two religions. Shia islam holds that ali ibn abi talib was the appointed successor to the islamic prophet muhammad as head of the community. Is the sunnishia split in islam comparable in any way to. This caused a dispute over the succession to muhammed which led to the battle of siffin.
The sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism among middle east countries. On facial similarity the sunnishiite split in islam is comparable to the protestantcatholic split in christianity to the extent that there was one religion and after a theological disagreement, there were two religions. Separate one page or a whole set for easy conversion into independent pdf files. The sunni arabs were considered to reap this is because the split is between two organized islam groups who differ in several elements of their ethnoreligious elements1. For shias, the month also is a time to mourn the events that sparked the centuriesold schism between shia and sunni muslims. As a result, a strong argument can be made that the. Lingering shiite resentment and sunni fears associated with this shift have helped transform local and individual political or economic disputes into broader sectarian confrontations in. The shia are concentrated in iran, southern iraq and southern lebanon.
Included in this product is a lesson plan that allows you to differ. Prepared by emily hawley, research associate after the death of the prophet mohammad in 632 ce, the muslim community diverged over how to select the next leader of the islamic community they had formed on. Arabs descend from the ottoman empire, which existed from the 15th through the 20th century. The history of the sunni and shia split traces the origins of the split and the historic effects of the main divide within islam. But that appears to be giving way to a new period of spreading conflict in the middle east between shiites and sunnis. This conflict has led some observers to see the entire. Over the last decade at least, the socalled sunnishia divide has been a defining characteristic of the middle east for pundits and other nonexpert observers of. The history of the sunni and shia split quotes by jesse. Shiasunni divide is well on its way to displacing the broader conflict between muslims and the west as the primary challenge facing the islamic societ. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional. In addition, refugee flows from iraq to syria during recent years have increased the share of the twelver shia but there are no statistics available on these numbers. In iraq and syria, shia powers fight off largely sunni opposition.
Instead, sunni arabs have traditionally formed iraqs elite. The division between shia and sunni dates back to the death of the prophet muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the muslim nation. Why did shia and sunni split after the prophet mohammeds death and who is to be blamed for the split. Shia islam holds that ali ibn abi talib was the appointed successor to the islamic prophet muhammad as head. In iraq, not a day goes by when rival shiasunni groups take the lives of hundreds of innocent people. Jun 30, 2014 the origins of shia anglicized shiite and sunni islam begins with the question of who should lead the muslim community. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Sunnishia split the mideasts new great divide the star. Islams 1,400yearold divide explained 14 pilgrimage to the saudi arabian city of mecca is one of many rituals that are shared by both sunni and shia muslims. What caused islam to split into sunni and shia branches. The history of the sunni and shia split quotes by jesse harasta. After the death of prophet muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam, muslims came under the rule of a caliphate system and stayed united under the initial four caliphs for a period of about 30 years. In september 1996 more than 200 people were killed when a gun battle between teenage shia and sunni escalated into a communal war that lasted five days.
The sunnishia split occurred when the islamic prophet muhammad died in the year of 632. The book does an excellent job of going into the history of both groups and exactly what led to the split. Any discussion featuring the middle east and any analysis of politics in the region inevitably touches on the sectarian state of islam and the long standing conflict between sunni and shia believers. The split occurred soon after the death of the prophet muhammad, nearly 1,400 years ago. May 07, 2017 over the last decade at least, the socalled sunni shia divide has been a defining characteristic of the middle east for pundits and other nonexpert observers of the region. Thats a passage in the persian gulf through which 20% of the worlds oil passes. The sunnishia divide into the 21st century in addition to karbala, the npr podcast throughline identified three key milestones that would sharpen sunni shia divisions by the end of the 20th century. The conflict between sunnis and shiites is often portrayed as strictly about religion. Iran, on the other hand, descends from the 16th century persian empire. All sunni muslims believe they are required to pray five times a day, but shias can condense those into three. Therefore, it is crucial that social studies educators teach not only the core beliefs, rituals, and history of islam but the differences between sunni and shiite muslims.
The split between the two main branches of islam is nearly 1,400 years old, and started with a fight over who should lead the faithful after the prophet muhammads death in 632. Our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be done. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the history of the sunnis and shias like never before, in no time at all. Its repercussions have rippled through history, with periods of peace and periods of war. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim countries and is threatening to fracture iraq and syria. But there are significant shiite communities in saudi arabia and syria, afghanistan, pakistan and india as well. His followers disagreed over issues of succession and authority. Sunnishia split essay example topics and well written. The differences between sunni and shia islam are political in origin, and remain so to this day. There would be a resurrection, as there had been with the last great prophet, jesus. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals. The schism that led muslims to split into two main denominations, sunni and shia, dates from the 7th century it is almost as old as the religion itself.
Thus, we do not know how, and to what extent, interreligious dialogue and peacemaking occur across the shiasunni divide. The sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. Bbc news middle east long path to iraqs sectarian split. Sunni muslims agree with the position taken by many of the prophets companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. The sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic.
This knowledge is vital if americans are to make prudent decisions regarding support for specific foreign policy positions and decisions regarding islam and muslim countries. Feb 12, 2007 the division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. Sunni and shia islam whats the origin of the split. Although the origins of the sunni shia split were violent, over the centuries shia and sunnis lived peacefully together for long periods of time. Shiasunni divide is well on its way to displacing the broader conflict between muslims and the west as the. Shias claim that before muhammads death in 632, he appointed ali, his blood relative, to lead the community. Healing of the shiasunni split politicscurrent events. The origins of shia anglicized shiite and sunni islam begins with the question of who should lead the muslim community.
A page turner that reads like an incredible cross between a suspense thriller. But its also an economic battle between iran and saudi arabia over who will control the strait of hormuz. Choose to extract every page into a pdf or select pages to extract. Feb 12, 2007 the shia are concentrated in iran, southern iraq and southern lebanon. Why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east. Sep 06, 20 sunnishia split the mideasts new great divide. The sunni shia split occurred when the islamic prophet muhammad died in the year of 632. Sunni and shia muslims are struggling for power while religious intolerance rises violently in egypt. One current member of saudi arabias council of senior religious. This video is part of the council on foreign relations infoguide presentation, the sunnishia divide. Yet, many people have hazy notions of what the divide is. Sunnishia split learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The shiasunni split takes its deadly toll even today. Although the origins of the sunnishia split were violent, over the centuries shia and sunnis lived peacefully together for long periods of time.
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