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Sunni and Shiite Muslims
(AFP News Agency, YouTube, 2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hzk8d9uYiw&feature=share_email
There are two main branches of Islam: Sunni and Shiite. Their differences date back to a leadership dispute following
the death in 632 of the founder of Islam, the Prophet Mohammed. Most of the Prophet’s companions supported his
friends and father-in-law, Abu Bakr, as his successor. But others believed power should have passed to Ali, the
prophet’s cousin and son-in-law and Ali’s sons and their descendants.
Despite contrasting theological and religious practices, the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are united in agreement that
Allah is the only god and the Prophet Mohammed is his messenger. Both branches also believe the Muslim sacred text,
the Coran, is as the word of God.
Sunnis are the majority across the Islamic world representing eighty percent of Muslims. In the Middle East, Saudi
Arabia is widely considered the most powerful Sunni country while Iran is the Shiite Muslim powerhouse.
Staying in the Middle East, Shiites are also the majority in Iraq and Bahrain. In addition, there are significant Shiite
communities in Pakistan, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf (states).
Differences between the two, often fueled by politics, have led to violence in a number of countries recently, including
Syria and Iraq.
In Syria Sunnis have increasingly dominated the opposition to president Bashar Al Assad’s regime. Assad belongs to the
Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. During the three-year conflict, Shiite Iran has backed the Damascus
government. Sunni Saudi Arabia has helped fund the rebels.
In Iraq, meanwhile, the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Sadaam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated regime led to a dramatic
shift in power as the long-oppressed Shiite majority took over. This triggered sectarian fighting, which has again
engulfed the country.
Iraq’s Sunni minority feels disenfranchised by the Shiite-led government. Extremists have taken advantage of this
discontent spurred on by advances made by Sunni militants fighting in neighboring Syria, while a radical Sunni jihadist
group in particular has gained power and influence.
Known as the Islamic State, it has amassed considerable resources: money, weapons and oil through its brutal Iraq
offensive. IS has declared a strict Islamic regime in territories it controls in Syria and Iraq and seeks to expand to other
Muslim countries.
Vocabulary
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12.
dates back
father-in-law
son-in-law
while
powerhouse
significant Shiite communities
fueled by politics
have led to violence (lead, led, led)
have increasingly dominated
belongs to
an offshoot
has backed
remonte à
beau-père
gendre
tandis que
une puissance
importantes (en nombre)
alimenté, aggravé
ont conduit à la violence
ont de plus en plus dominé
appartient à
un dérivé
a soutenu
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13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
meanwhile
a shift in power
took over
this triggered
has engulfed
have taken advantage of ..
spurred on (spur, spurred, spurred)
in neighboring Syria
weapons
through its brutal Iraq offensive
seeks to expand (seek, sought, sought)
entre temps
un transfert de pouvoir
a pris le contrôle
ceci a déclenché
a englouti
ont profité de ..
encouragé, attisé
dans la Syrie voisine
des armes
par moyen de
cherche à s’étendre
Sunni and Shiite Muslims
(AFP News Agency, YouTube, 2014)
Exercise: fill in the blanks with the correct words
There are two main branches of Islam: Sunni and Shiite. Their differences d
b
to a leadership dispute
(remonte à)
Following the death in 632 of the founder of Islam, the Prophet Mohammed. Most of the Prophet’s
companions supported his friends and friend and f____________, Abu Bakr, as his successor. But others
(beau-père)
and Ali’s sons and their descendants.
believed power should have passed to Ali, the prophet’s cousin and s
(gendre)
Despite contrasting theological and religious practices, the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are united in agreement that
Allah is the only god and the Prophet Mohammed is his messenger. Both branches also believe the Muslim sacred text,
the Coran, is as the word of God.
Sunnis are the majority across the Islamic world representing eighty percent of Muslims. In the Middle East
Saudi Arabia is widely considered the most powerful Sunni country w
Iran is the Shiite Muslim p
.
(tandis que)
(puissance)
Staying in the Middle East, Shiites are also the majority in Iraq and Bahrain. In addition, there are s
.
(important)
Shiite communities in Pakistan, Lebanon Yemen, Syria and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf (states).
Differences between the two, often f
by politics, have l
to violence in a number of countries recently,
(alimentées)
(ont conduit à)
including Syria and Iraq.
dominated the opposition to Bashir Al Assad’s regime. Assad b
In Syria Sunnis have i
(de plus en plus)
(appartient à)
to the
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Alawite sect, an o
of Shiitie Islam. During the three-year conflict, Shiite Iran has b
the Damascus
(dérivé)
(soutenu)
government. Sunni Saudi Arabia has helped fund the rebels.
In Iraq, m
, the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Sadaam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated regime led to a
(entre temps)
dramatic s
power as the long-oppressed Shiite majority t o . This t
sectarian fighting, which has
(transfert de)
(a pris le pouvoir)
(a déclenché)
again e
the country.
(englouti)
Iraq’s Sunni minority feels disenfranchised by the Shiite-led government. Extremists have t
of
a
(ont profité)
this discontent s
o by advances made Sunni militants fighting in neighboring Syria, while a radical Sunni jihadist
(encouragé)
group in particular has gained power and influence. Known as the Islamic State, it has amassed considerable
resources: money, w
and oil t
its brutal Iraq offensive. IS has declared a strict Islamic regime in
(des armes) (par moyen de)
territories it controls in Syria and Iraq and s
to e
(cherche à s’étendre)
to other Muslim countries.