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Comparing Shia and Sunni Islam
Islam is one of the primary religions in the globe, attracting adherents from different parts of the world. Besides, it is one of the fastest growing religious sects. Ideally, Islam is a monotheistic religion characteristic of the approval of the doctrine of submission to Allah and Muhammad, the prophet of God. Muslims fall into two distinct denominations namely, Sunni and Shia. The Sunni Islam covers approximately 85 to 90 of the global Islamic population (Hassan 13). On the other hand, the Shia Muslim sect assumes the remaining percentage of the Islamic population. The Sunni and Shia Muslims share a broad range of similarities and differences, stemming from their historical conceptions to their contemporary practice and beliefs. A great deal of comparison between the two groups is critical in understanding some of the instances of unfortunate violence experienced between the Sunni and the Shia. The differences have sparked some conflicts among the Muslim community since the inception of the religion. The differences witnessed between the two denominational sects stems from historical underpinnings and current issues arising between both denominations over the years.
One of the fundamental disagreements between the Sunna and Shia Muslim is the overall conception of the idea of succession of Prophet Muhammad. Apparently, it is posited that the differences between the two sects rose from their historical background regarding as to whether Prophet Muhammad, the chief and las prophet of Allah appointed a successor. The point of contention rests upon who was the rightful heir or successor to the prophet. The division of the Muslim religion into two major branches, the Sunni and the Shiites, arose after the death of Muhammad in 632 (Blanchard 17). The adherents of the Islamic faith differed on the legitimate caliph (successor). One religious side favored Ali, the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law. However, others considered him too young to lead them, resulting in the eruption of a dispute that culminated in an all-out war. The scheme ushered in a great rift between the two groups.
Therefore, the conception of the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad is an essential difference between the Sunni and Shia Muslims. The term Sunni is an Arabic word denoting the one who follows the traditions of the Prophet whereas the term Shia refers to a group or supportive party of people (Nasr 47). It is clear that the Sunni Muslims believed there was no rightful successor to the throne of Prophet Muhammad. Therefore, they advocated for the election of a new leader by the people to take over from him. On the other hand, the Shia Muslims were of the view that Mohammad's cousin and cousin and son-in-law, Ali should have been his legitimate successor. When measured on a scale of modernism, the Sunni Muslims appear too liberal in the context of the succession. The Sunni Muslims are of the view that any person, whether from the tribe of the Prophet or elsewhere was capable of being their leader, provided he demonstrated the requisite ability and requirements required of a leader. On the other hand, the Shia Muslims comprise of mild conservatisms who believe that the prophet or leader must come from Prophet Muhammad’s family, regardless of any circumstances.
The other aspect that draws a striking difference between the Sunnis and Shia Muslims is the manner in which they conceptualize leadership outside the traditional setting. The Sunnis are considered to harbor a less elaborate religious hierarchy compared to the Shiites have. The difference stems from the adoption of a different interpretation of Islam's schools of thought between the sects. For instance, the Shiites accord human beings an exalted status, only comparable to the one accorded to the prophets in the Quran (Nasr 71). Therefore, they venerate clerics as saints whereas the Sunnis do not. Similarly, the notion of leadership is entirely different. The Sunnis perceive Imams as prayer leaders who harbor human attributes and qualities. Moreover, they harbor no hierarchical inclinations in their leadership conceptions. However, the Shiites consider the position of Imam a highly exalted position in the leadership hierarchy. Ayatollah is the title used to refer to the highest ranked imams in the leadership circles. Similarly, Imams depict an infallible manifestation of Allah, as well as the perfect interpreters of the Holy Qur'an. Therefore, the conception of the contemporary leadership of the two religious sects depicts some differences in the manner in which the groups advance their religious courses.
Some other differences between the Sunnis and the Shiites stem from their overall approach to Islam, bringing about varied conceptions on their general religious practices. The Sunnis believe that the Qur'an applies to the entire life of an individual, implying that individuals approach God directly. On the other hand, the Shiites assume a more orthodox approach, purporting that the Qur'an and laws are meant to be interpreted by the clerics (Blanchard 22). Similarly, another difference stems from the interpretation the brad notion of free will. The Shiites purport that Muslims are created with an inherent free will to choose between good and evil in their daily undertakings. The Sunni Muslims opine that they were created to worship Allah, the creator of the world. Many Sunnis believe that good and evil are the inherent creations and will of Allah; hence, he decides everything before it materializes. Therefore, the Sunnis do not believe in the idea of free will.
The practices of the Sunnis and the Shiites harbor some inherent similarities in the propagation of their religious faith. Notably, the differences witnessed between the Sunnis, and Shi’a is more of a political nature, as opposed to creed or doctrinal inclinations. Virtually, there exist minimal dogmatic differences between the Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims (Ameli and Molaei 37). The similarities tend to portray the fundamental tenets of the Islamic religion and its dominance in the world as a dominant religion. The similarities are so intense to the extent that they outweigh the differences depicted between the two groups. In some settings, it is quite difficult to distinguish between the groups. However, clear differences only exist in areas where their distinctions erupt into full wars such as Iran and Syria among others.
The first similarity between the Sunnis and Shi’as is that they all subscribe to the belief of one God (Allah). Moreover, they believe in similar religious aspects, including the angels, scriptures, prophets, messengers, the divine decree, and eternal destiny. Such aspects bind them together in the face of their foundational differences. Similarly, they share identical scripture, the Qur’an for spiritual guidance and strengthening of their faith. Despite the fact that there might be differences in the manner in which the Sunnis and Shi’as worship, they tend to adhere to universal practices in their walks of faith (Ameli and Molaei 32). For instance, some of the identical practices include praying five times a day as per their religious requirements, fasting during the month of Ramadan, paying the obligatory charity (commonly referred to as zakah), and visit Mecca for religious pilgrimage among others. Other acts of unison comprise the directing of their faces towards Mecca during prayers and adhering to the five tenets of Islam namely; praying, fasting, pilgrimage, giving and preserving their faith. It is worth noting that their practices are identical with minimal variations. Ideally, they all believe in the Islamic laws but with differing applications.
The other aspect of comparison that brings about a striking similarity between the Sunni and the Shia Muslims is the general portrayal of culture, art, and architecture. According to the Islamic culture from the two divides, any form of depictions or portrayal of the human form in religious centers resonates well with idolatry. Both sects denounce idolatry in equal measures, avoiding any depictions that might allude to idol worship in their settings. The art and architecture attributable to the Sunni and Shia holy sites are identical. It is quite difficult to differentiate between a holy or worship site of the Shia or Sunni Muslim because they embrace a similar design in constructing their structures. In their construction, no representations or images of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, or any other figure as the case in other religious settings such as Catholic Christian churches and the Hindu temples. Instead, the Sunnis and Shias decorate their mosques and places of worship with intricate geometric patterns and quotations in Arabic calligraphy, as opposed to idol drawings. Further, they all share holy cities such as Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem
From a theological viewpoint, the Sunnis and Shias are similar in nearly all aspects of the Islamic faith. The Sunni sub-sects and adherents vary from each other largely as they do from the Shia sects and vice versa. However, the massive scale of differences remains significantly political, as opposed to theological. In the modern context, Sunnism and Shia’ism exist as the remnants of a historical and political movement, which aimed at preserving the political or theological entitlements of Muslim leadership within or outside the Prophet’s exclusive family respectively.
Works Cited
Ameli, Saied Reza, and Hamideh Molaei. "Religious affiliation and intercultural sensitivity: Interculturality between Shia & Sunni Muslims in Iran." International Journal of Intercultural Relations vol. 36 no. 1 (2012): 31-40.
Blanchard, Christopher M. "Islam: Sunnis and Shiites." Library of Congress Washington Dc Congressional Research Service, 2009.
Hassan, Hussein D. "Iran: Ethnic and Religious Minorities." Library of Congress Washington Dc Congressional Research Service, 2007.
Nasr, Vali. The Shia Revival (Updates). WW Norton & Company, 2016.
