Time period 656 to 661 ce conflict type religious underlying causes resentments began to build over how the booty from the conquests should be divided among the tribal groups that made up the islamic community which came from sudden successes of muslim armies and the sudden rise of the arab empire. Husseins ordeal would quickly become the passion story at the core of shia. Sunni and shia muslims have lived peacefully together for centuries. After the death of the prophet, abu bakr became the leader of the umma the caliph. The split between the sunnis and shia can be traced back to the death of the prophet muhammad, and the dilemma of the successor of muhammad as the leader of the muslim nation. Part of the strain certainly goes back to the violence and betrayal associated with the seventh century split. There was no warning from amazon that the ad was pushing a 20 page pamphlet that aims at a child in grade three in its scope and detail. Sunni muslims supported abu bakr as the first caliph of the muslim faith the first group of shia were a small group who opposed bakr and wanted a man named ali to take control the sunnishiite split. Explain the origin of the division between sunni and shia muslims. Sectarian conflict is becoming entrenched in a growing number of muslim countries and is threatening to fracture iraq and syria. The differences between sunni and shia islam are political in origin, and remain so to this day. Sunni and shia islam whats the origin of the split.
The succession to muhammad is the central issue that split the muslim community into several divisions in the first century of islamic history, the most prominent among these sects being the shia and sunni branches of islam. While there was hardly any overlap between sunni, shia, and kurdish constituencies in 2014, the three were internally fragmented, with the shia vote dominated by three lists, and the sunni vote split mostly among four lists, in addition to smaller lists across the spectrum. Be able to relate the shi asunni split with issue in the contemporary middle east. What students need to know by john calvert april 2010 vol. Sunni islam and shiism only assumed their current forms in the ninth century, after the collection of the prophets sayings hadith and the end of the line of shia imams. Shia versus sunni, the worlds longest running feud by professor nazeer ahmed a hundred years from today, when a chronicler writes about the presence of islam in north america, he may well record that one of the principal achievements of this presence was the healing of the shiasunni split. The split essentially occurred due to disputes over who was the rightful successor to the prophet. This essay is excerpted from his book divisions within islam, part of a 10volume. In this gripping narrative history, lesley hazleton tells the tragic story at the heart of the ongoing rivalry between the sunni and shia branches of islam, a rift that dominates the news now more than ever. Associate professor of history at creighton university in omaha, nebraska. The ultimate breaking point came when soldiers of the first sunni dynasty massacred seventytwo warriors led by alis son, hussein, at karbala in iraq, forging the shiasunni split in blood. But what id like to suggest here, first, is that your question is not quite right. Explain the origins of islam and the growth of the islamic empire.
From the price i expected a 200 to 300 page history of the sunni shia split from the death of hussein to present day. A history of the shiitesunni split the division of islam into sunni and shiite branches goes far back in muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the prophet muhammad. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the history of the sunnis and shias like never before, in no time at all. The islamic split between the sunni and shia have had profound effects on the politics of islam and the middle east.
The sunnishia split is complicated by the nationalistic schism among middle east countries. Bbc news middle east long path to iraqs sectarian split. However, dividing the middle east along sectarian lines is not an accurate way to assess the loyalties or predict the actions of various regional actors. What are some causes and effects of the shiasunni split. Working document for islam, intended for ks3 or ks4 islam.
The book does an excellent job of going into the history of both groups and exactly what led to the split. Sunni shia distribution map write one generalization about the information the map is providing. But there are significant shiite communities in saudi arabia and syria, afghanistan, pakistan and india as well. The shia are concentrated in iran, southern iraq and southern lebanon. Tensions between sunnis and shias, exploited by regional rivals. Looking at the icon of the book, i expected nothing less. Included in this product is a lesson plan that allows you to differ. The way that muslims are positioned throughout the world 70% sunni, and 20% shia has heavily. Being played out through proxy wars saudi arabia sunni is bombing the houthi rebels in yemen shia who are being supported by iran. I see a lot of pundits and politicians saying that sunnis and shiites in iraq have been fighting for a millennium. What was the ultimate issue that caused the split between sunni and shia.
The report also relates sunni and shiite religious beliefs to discussions of terrorism and sectarian violence that may be of interest during the 111th. Qatilehussain kon they sunni ya shia internet archive. For example, in 2006 israel went to war with hezbollah in lebanon and in 20082009 with hamas in gaza. The split between the two main branches of islam is nearly 1,400 years old, and started with a fight over who should lead the faithful after the prophet muhammads death in 632. They believed that the successors to muhammad must be chosen by the muslim community. The shiite tribes of the south probably only converted to.
The epic story of the shiasunni split 2009 lesley hazelton prologue. The sunni and shia split because after the death of muhammed, muslims couldnt agree on who should lead islam the sunni branch accepted abu bakr because he was agreed to be the best candidate to be caliph. The origins of the sunnishia split in islam by hussein abdulwaheed amin, editor of introduction the shia shahadah declaration of faith states. In many countries it has become common for members of the two sects to intermarry and pray at the same mosques. Over the last decade at least, the socalled sunnishia divide has been a defining characteristic of the middle east for pundits and other nonexpert observers of. They wanted ali ibn abi talib, the prophets cousin and soninlaw, to succeed him as the first muslim caliph, instead of abu bakr, who was the prophets close. In the 1920 mandate of iraq, the british worked to check the shia majoritys power by keeping sunni arabs in senior positions in government and the. What is the real first cause of the sunni and shia splitting. After the prophet is not a novel, it is narrative history, that is, the story of things that happened and of things that people say happened, told in a highly compelling way. Download as an editable word document and as a pdf. The current iraqi leader, nuri kamal almaliki is shia and there is great mistrust on the part of sunnis. Prepared by emily hawley, research associate after the death of the prophet mohammad in 632 ce, the muslim community diverged over how to select the next leader of the islamic community they had formed on the arabian peninsula. The split occurred soon after the death of the prophet muhammad, nearly 1,400 years ago. Iran, on the other hand, descends from the 16th century persian empire.
After the death of prophet muhammad sallalahu alaihi wassalam, muslims came under the rule of a caliphate system and stayed united under the initial four caliphs for a period of about 30 years. Gps standard ss7gs8 the student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in southwest asia middle east. Prepared by emily hawley, research associate after the death of the prophet mohammad in 632 ce, the muslim community diverged over how to select the next leader of the islamic community they had formed on. While the second fitna is widely believed to have led to the crystallization of the sunnishiite schism, shiites first emerged following the death of prophet muhammad in 632. Explain the reasons for the split between sunni and shia muslims. Identify the muslim trade routes to india, china, europe, and africa and assess the economic impact of this trade. The sunni shia split and conflict early events from islamic history. In recent years in iraq, saddam hussein led a sunni government that actually oppressed the shia majority.
Although shia muslims only constitute between 10% and % of the global muslim population, they. The term shia or shiite derives from a shortening of shiat ali or partisans of ali. Download as an editable word document and as a pdf, for. Shia islam holds that ali ibn abi talib was the appointed successor to the islamic prophet muhammad as head of the community. What is the difference between sunni and shiite muslims. There were nine explosions in all, 30 minutes of car bombs, suicide bombs, grenades, and mortar fire. The ascendancy of iraqs sunni community began under the sunni ottoman turks, whose empire ruled the middle east for nearly 400 years. Arabs descend from the ottoman empire, which existed from the 15th through the 20th century.
I have already composed some responses to questions around the issue of succession to the prophet muhammad s, and will share links at the end of this piece. For shias, the month also is a time to mourn the events that sparked the centuriesold schism between shia and sunni muslims. This week sunni and shia muslims ushered in the islamic new year and the beginning of the holy month of muharram. Look at each document and complete the analysis questions below. Sunnishia distribution map write one generalization about the information the map is providing. Why the myth of sunnishia conflict defines middle east. The history of the sunni and shia split traces the origins of the split and the historic effects of the main divide within islam. This reading looks at the history of the split, as well as the characteristics of sunni and shiite denominations. Ottoman defeat in world war i did not end sunni dominance. Meaning of name tradition or welltrodden path partisans of ali current adherents. The division between islams shiite minority and the sunni majority is deepening across the middle east. Prophet muhammad died in the evening of june 8, 632 a. An example of an early shia sunni fitna shootout occurred in kurram, one of the tribal agencies of the northwest pakistan, where the pushtun population was split between sunnis and shia.
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