What Is The Difference Between Shia And Sunni Muslims?

Some time ago, on the day of Muharram, a close Hindu friend of mine asked me that why was I not “celebrating” Muharram or participating in Tazia. I replied stating that I am a Pathan, a Sunni Muslim, and that is why I do not participate in Tazia, the mourning process of Muharram. This answer of mine was immediately followed by another question from him,

“What is the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims?”

This is probably the most confused and misunderstood topics of Muslim world. Not many people, including Muslims themselves, know the exact differences or why there is even a difference in the first place. Before we go into this any further, it is very important to know that this difference is not based on religion at all. The division of Muslims into Shias and Sunnis was only because of political reasons and over a question of succession. Both the communities are followers of Prophet Muhammad, believe in one god, believe in Quran and none is superior or inferior to another.

The division of Muslim world into Shia and Sunnis started soon after the death of Prophet Muhammad in year 632 over the question of who was going to succeed him as “caliph” and “Khalifa”, the religious and political leader of the Islamic community. Majority of the Muslims back then agreed that the method of choosing or electing leaders as taught by Quran is the consensus of the community. This part of the community was later known as Sunnis and through the process of mutual agreement; they all elected Abu Bakr, the father of Prophet Muhammad’s wife Aisha, as the rightful successor.

A smaller part of the Muslim community, later known as Shia, however believed that Prophet Muhammad divinely ordained his son-in-law Ali to be the next Caliph and his direct descendants as Muhammad’s successors. Ali was married to Fatimah, Muhammad’s daughter from his first wife Khadijah. This dispute over succession became so big that it eventually led to the first Muslim civil war, historically recorded as Battle of Siffin. The dispute intensified greatly after the Battle of Karbala, in which Hussein ibn Ali and his household were killed by the ruling Umayyad Caliph Yazid I, and the outcry for his revenge divided the early Islamic community forever between Shia and Sunnis.

The word “Sunni” comes from “Ahl-al-Sunna” which literally means “the people of tradition” so in a way they are the orthodox and traditionalist branch of Islam. The word “tradition” here refers to practices based on precedent or reports of the actions of the Prophet Muhammad and those close to him. These reports in Islamic world are known as “Hadith”. Around 89-90% of the world’s Muslims are Sunni and 10-11% is Shia.

The word “Shia” comes from “Shiat Ali” or “the party of Ali”. Most of the Shia’s are from the “Twelver” tradition and the rest are divided between many other groups. The “Twelver” tradition here refers to the Shia belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as the Twelve Imams, and their belief that the “Mahdi” will be the returned Twelfth Imam who disappeared and is believed by Twelvers to be in occultation. “Mahdi” here, as per Muslim mythology, refers to the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will rule for seven, nine, or nineteen years before the Day of Judgment and will rid the world of all evil.

This division that started over the question of succession has over the period of time led to several other differences in beliefs and practices. Sunnis follow the first four caliphs, [Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali Ibn Abu Talib] who ruled after the death of Muhammad. These four Caliphs are called “Rashidun” meaning “rightly guided Caliphs”. Shia theology however states that Ali is the second-most divine man after Muhammad and those spiritual qualities were not only granted to Muhammad but also to Ali. Shias believe that Ali and his descendants are the sole legitimate Islamic leaders. Ali’s descendants or the “Imams” are also believed by Shias to have possessed spiritual qualities and are immaculate from sin and human error. They are believed to be capable of understanding and interpreting the hidden inner meaning of the teachings of Islam and in this way becoming the trustees (wasi) who bear the light of Muhammad (Noor Muhammadin).

Another difference is over the belief of “Mahdi”. Sunnis believe that “Mahdi” will be named Muhammad, be a descendant of Muhammad, will revive the faith but will not necessarily end the world. Shias on the other hand believe him to be the final of the twelve Imams who will appear at the end of the world to bring about a perfect and just Islamic society.

Mainstream Sunnism has been said to be “about” Sharia, sacred law. In contrast, Shia also follow Islamic law with great “vigilance”, but their belief is added with Ijtihad “Research” in the light of teachings of the Quran. There are also differences between both the communities over “Hadith”. The Shias accept some of the same Hadiths used by Sunnis as part of the Sunnah to argue their case. In addition, they consider the sayings of Ahl al-Bayt that are not attributed directly to Muhammad as Hadith. Shias do not accept many Sunni Hadith unless they are also recorded in Shia sources or the methodology can be proven of how they were recorded. Also, some Sunni-accepted Hadith are less favored by Shias; one example is that because of Aisha’s opposition to Ali, Hadith narrated by Aisha are not given the same authority as those by other companions. Another example is Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, who is considered by Shias as the enemy of Ali. The Shia argument is that Abu Hurairah was only a Muslim four years of his life before Muhammad’s death. Although he accompanied Muhammad for four years only, he managed to record ten times as many Hadith as Abu Bakr and Ali each.

Apart from the beliefs, there are also several distinctions in ways that Islam is practiced by both the communities. During Sajda in Namaz, Shias place their head on a naturally occurring material, like a clay tablet often obtained from Karbala while Sunnis usually perform Sajda on a prayer rug. Sunni belief also recommends prostrating on earth but they do not give it so much importance. Shia sometimes perform prayers back to back, sometimes worshipping two times consecutively, instead of five prayers at different times with a minimum of one hour gap as required by Sunni belief. Shia holds their hands at their sides during Namaz while Sunnis clasp their hands. Sunnis do not at all agree to the Shia concept of “Nikah mut‘ah” — “fixed-term temporary marriage”.

It is important to remember that despite these differences in opinion and practice, Shia and Sunni Muslims share the main articles of Islamic belief and are considered by most to be brethren in faith. In fact, most Muslims do not distinguish themselves by claiming membership in any particular group, but prefer to call themselves simply, “Muslims.”