Download Sunni v Shiite Islam - Lomira School District

Sunni v Shiite Islam
Fall 2011
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/sunnisshiites.html
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm
http://www.yuhsg.org/webpages/hurst/files/Difference%20between%20a%20Sunni%20Mus
lim%20and%20a%20Shiite%20Muslim.pdf
Sunni v Shiite
• After Mohammed’s death in 632, leadership of the
Islamic community passed to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, one
of Mohammed’s closest companions.
• Not everyone believed this was legitimate
• title of caliph really belonged to Ali ibn Abi Talib –
Mohammed’s cousin, his adopted son, his first
convert (at the age of nine), and husband of his
daughter Fatima.
• Both sides believe that Mohammed specifically
designated their man: Supporters of Abu became the
Sunnis, those of ibn Ali the Shiites.
Sunni v Shiite
• Sunnis
– “oral interpretations of
the Koran” “tradition”
– Mohammed did not
designate a successor
– believe that the position
of Caliph should be a
position to which one is
elected by the religious
leaders of the Islamic
community
• Shiite
– "the party (of Ali)."
– Mohammed did
designate a successor
– certain direct
descendants of Ali - the
Imams - infallible and
the true inheritors of
Mohammed
• Shiite = blue
• Sunni = green
Sunni v Shiite
• Muslims, both Sunni and Shiite kneel, bend and
touch their foreheads to the ground when praying.
• Traditional Islam favors men over women and
according to the Quran; women are not equal to
men so they must pray at home.
• Men and Women are not even allowed to mix
together in public places or schools on any occasion.
– Note: today, this is changing as equality is more acceptable
Sunni v Shiite
• In peaceful and prosperous times, there is little conflict
between them.
• But both have more extreme factions as well.
– Some Shiites have a tradition of valuing martyrdom that
came out of their early experiences of conflict with the
Sunnis.
• The most famous Sunni extremist faction is the Wahhabi sect, of
which Osama bin Laden (wa)s possibly a member.
• Radical fundamentalism:
– The Koran is not to be interpreted but rather taken literally.
– No prayers or other appeals to prophets, saints, or any entity other
than God.
– No images of or monuments to any supposed Islamic leaders, not even
elaborate tombs for famous Moslems. And the Koran is to be the soul
source of secular as well as religious law.
The Burqa or Hijab
• Devout women of the Shiia traditionally wear
black as do male religious leaders.
• Mainstream Shiia and Sunni women wear the
burqa differently.
– Some Sunni scholars emphasize covering of all
body including the face in public whereas some
scholars exclude the face from burqa.
• Shiias believe that the burqa must cover around the
perimeter of the face and up to the chin