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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