Sunni muslims supported abu bakr as the first caliph of the muslim faith the first group of shia were a small group who opposed bakr and wanted a man named ali to take control the sunnishiite split. What are some causes and effects of the shiasunni split. In recent years in iraq, saddam hussein led a sunni government that actually oppressed the shia majority. Shia versus sunni, the worlds longest running feud by professor nazeer ahmed a hundred years from today, when a chronicler writes about the presence of islam in north america, he may well record that one of the principal achievements of this presence was the healing of the shiasunni split. 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. Its a complex topic, but ill try my best to give you a quick overview of it. An example of an early shia sunni fitna shootout occurred in kurram, one of the tribal agencies of the northwest pakistan, where the pushtun population was split between sunnis and shia. Arabs descend from the ottoman empire, which existed from the 15th through the 20th century. This essay is excerpted from his book divisions within islam, part of a 10volume. The split occurred soon after the death of the prophet muhammad, nearly 1,400 years ago. The shia are concentrated in iran, southern iraq and southern lebanon. The ultimate breaking point came when soldiers of the first sunni dynasty massacred seventytwo warriors led by alis son, hussein, at karbala in iraq, forging the shiasunni split in blood. What is the difference between sunni and shiite muslims.
Qatilehussain kon they sunni ya shia internet archive. While the second fitna is widely believed to have led to the crystallization of the sunnishiite schism, shiites first emerged following the death of prophet muhammad in 632. What is the real first cause of the sunni and shia splitting. Explain the origins of islam and the growth of the islamic empire. Being played out through proxy wars saudi arabia sunni is bombing the houthi rebels in yemen shia who are being supported by iran. Meaning of name tradition or welltrodden path partisans of ali current adherents. 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. 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 way that muslims are positioned throughout the world 70% sunni, and 20% shia has heavily. They believed that the successors to muhammad must be chosen by the muslim community.
Bbc news middle east long path to iraqs sectarian split. In many countries it has become common for members of the two sects to intermarry and pray at the same mosques. From the price i expected a 200 to 300 page history of the sunni shia split from the death of hussein to present day. 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. Look at each document and complete the analysis questions below. 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. This week sunni and shia muslims ushered in the islamic new year and the beginning of the holy month of muharram. The sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism among middle east countries. The succession to muhammad is the central issue that split the muslim community into several divisions in the first century of islamic history, the most prominent among these sects being the shia and sunni branches of islam. Working document for islam, intended for ks3 or ks4 islam. Shia islam holds that ali ibn abi talib was the appointed successor to the islamic prophet muhammad as head of the community. What was the ultimate issue that caused the split between sunni and shia. 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. Sunni shia distribution map write one generalization about the information the map is providing.
Husseins ordeal would quickly become the passion story at the core of shia. After the prophet is not a novel, it is narrative history, that is, the story of things that happened and of things that people say happened, told in a highly compelling way. The book does an excellent job of going into the history of both groups and exactly what led to the split. Sunni islam and shiism only assumed their current forms in the ninth century, after the collection of the prophets sayings hadith and the end of the line of shia imams. Although the origins of the sunnishia split were violent, over the centuries shia and sunnis lived peacefully together for long periods of time. After the death of the prophet, abu bakr became the leader of the umma the caliph. 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 epic story of the shiasunni split 2009 lesley hazelton prologue. 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. 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.
While there was hardly any overlap between sunni, shia, and kurdish constituencies in 2014, the three were internally fragmented, with the shia vote dominated by three lists, and the sunni vote split mostly among four lists, in addition to smaller lists across the spectrum. Prophet muhammad died in the evening of june 8, 632 a. For shias, the month also is a time to mourn the events that sparked the centuriesold schism between shia and sunni muslims. Explain the reasons for the split between sunni and shia muslims. 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 the arabian peninsula. Explain the origin of the division between sunni and shia muslims. There was no warning from amazon that the ad was pushing a 20 page pamphlet that aims at a child in grade three in its scope and detail. Although shia muslims only constitute between 10% and % of the global muslim population, they. The report also relates sunni and shiite religious beliefs to discussions of terrorism and sectarian violence that may be of interest during the 111th. Be able to relate the shi asunni split with issue in the contemporary middle east. Sunni and shia islam whats the origin of the split. The current iraqi leader, nuri kamal almaliki is shia and there is great mistrust on the part of sunnis. But there are significant shiite communities in saudi arabia and syria, afghanistan, pakistan and india as well.
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. But what id like to suggest here, first, is that your question is not quite right. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim countries and is threatening to fracture iraq and syria. Sunni and shia muslims have lived peacefully together for centuries. There were nine explosions in all, 30 minutes of car bombs, suicide bombs, grenades, and mortar fire. What students need to know by john calvert april 2010 vol. The sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. Associate professor of history at creighton university in omaha, nebraska.
The sunni and shia split because after the death of muhammed, muslims couldnt agree on who should lead islam the sunni branch accepted abu bakr because he was agreed to be the best candidate to be caliph. Identify the muslim trade routes to india, china, europe, and africa and assess the economic impact of this trade. This reading looks at the history of the split, as well as the characteristics of sunni and shiite denominations. However, dividing the middle east along sectarian lines is not an accurate way to assess the loyalties or predict the actions of various regional actors. They wanted ali ibn abi talib, the prophets cousin and soninlaw, to succeed him as the first muslim caliph, instead of abu bakr, who was the prophets close. Ottoman defeat in world war i did not end sunni dominance.
Gps standard ss7gs8 the student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in southwest asia middle east. The shiite tribes of the south probably only converted to. I see a lot of pundits and politicians saying that sunnis and shiites in iraq have been fighting for a millennium. Download as an editable word document and as a pdf, for. Looking at the icon of the book, i expected nothing less. Why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east. In the 1920 mandate of iraq, the british worked to check the shia majoritys power by keeping sunni arabs in senior positions in government and the. I have already composed some responses to questions around the issue of succession to the prophet muhammad s, and will share links at the end of this piece. Download as an editable word document and as a pdf. The split essentially occurred due to disputes over who was the rightful successor to the prophet. Sunnishia distribution map write one generalization about the information the map is providing. The history of the sunni and shia split traces the origins of the split and the historic effects of the main divide within islam.
The term shia or shiite derives from a shortening of shiat ali or partisans of ali. Part of the strain certainly goes back to the violence and betrayal associated with the seventh century split. The islamic split between the sunni and shia have had profound effects on the politics of islam and the middle east. The differences between sunni and shia islam are political in origin, and remain so to this day. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals. Iran, on the other hand, descends from the 16th century persian empire. The ascendancy of iraqs sunni community began under the sunni ottoman turks, whose empire ruled the middle east for nearly 400 years. Comment, that the split between sunni and shiites in iraq is of relatively recent origin. 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. Included in this product is a lesson plan that allows you to differ. The origins of the sunnishia split in islam by hussein abdulwaheed amin, editor of introduction the shia shahadah declaration of faith states. The division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east.
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