Sunni vs Shia A difference between Sunni and Shia has originated from political and spiritual grounds.

The other differences are on the basis of religious practices and rituals people follow. Sunni is an Arabic word which means the one who follows the traditions or Sunah of the Prophet whereas Shia word is derived from Shiayat e Ali that means friends of Ali. Sunni and Shia developed different political beliefs regarding

the leadership after the death of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. All those who are in favor of Abu bakar, Umar and Ottoman ,the first three caliphs, are called Sunnis and those who believe that leadership only belonged to the family of the Prophet call themselves Shia. Shia Muslims believe that Ali was the legitimate successor and eligible as the first caliph since he was the cousin and son- in- law of the Prophet. Sunni Muslims are in majority as compared to the Shia Muslims and they are spread all over the world. Shia Muslims are more significantly present in Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan. Sunni and Shia Muslims have different religious practices although they share the set of same basic beliefs of Islam. They have almost fifteen minutes difference in their prayer and fasting times. There is also a difference in their rituals and other ceremonies like nikah or marriage ceremony. Shia Muslims also believe in Mutah or marry a woman for a brief period of time whereas Sunni Muslims do not believe in this obsolete ritual which is forbidden by the Prophet. Shia and Sunni both have different rituals for pilgrimage as well. Shia Muslims often travel to pay their homage to the tombs present in Iran and Iraq. Sunni Muslims base their religious practices on the basis of Hadith or traditions of the Prophet as narrated by the companions of the Prophet whereas Shia Muslims reject and do not follow the Hadith books etc. Another major difference and bone of contention between the two sects is the animosity and hatred of Shiites towards the first three caliphs

in Islam and other companions of the Prophet. Shia Muslims follow extremes of hatred towards some companions and love for some of the other companions of the Prophet. Shia Muslims believe that the twelfth Imam Mahdi has already been born and would soon come out from his hiding whereas Sunni Muslims believe that he has yet to be born and will emerge soon. Shia muslims lead Ashoora or mourning processions in the memory of martyr Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet. Summary: 1. Shia Muslims believe that the legitimate leadership inheritance belonged only to the Ahle-e-bayet or bloodline of the prophet. 2. Sunni Muslims follow the Sunnah or hadith. Hadith or sunnah is the practice of following the traditions of Prophet narrated by the Prophets companions. 3. Shia Muslims lead mourning processions in the memory of martyr Imam Hussain and mourn for a period of ten days in the Islamic month of Moharum. 4. Sunni and Shia Muslims both follow same beliefs but have differences in the religious and ritual practices such as prayer or salat and fasting. 5. Sunni and Shia populations exist all over the world whereas Shia Muslims are more significantly found in Iran, Iraq etc.

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-sunni-and-shia/ replies:

Dear Brother, I would like to point out that in the above article you wrote, Shia Muslims also believe in Mutah or marry a woman for a brief period of time whereas Sunni Muslims do not believe in this obsolete ritual which is forbidden by the Prophet, whereas, there is no

evidence of our Prophet forbidding this practice. This practice was denounced during the reign of Caliph Omar Khattab. You also wrote, Another major difference and bone of contention between the two sects is the animosity and hatred of Shiites towards the first three caliphs in Islam and other companions of the Prophet, some extremist and radical Shias might have done this in past, but it is strictly against the teachings of Ahl-E-Bayt. In fact, recently a fatwa was issued by all major Mujtahids of Shia school of thought declaring the insult of the first three caliphs of Islam as a haram act. Thank you for providing this information online. Your Brother in Islam, Saif Haidar Reply imran
December 19, 2010 8:56 am

Saif Brother Please study more you will find Misyar and Urfi same as Mutah in sunni Islam Reply Tahir
February 16, 2011 2:20 am

I strongly disagree that Shia muslim are rejecting the Hadith.Shia Muslims too follow the adiths and take take gudiance from them in all their matters .Without any true research it is really very bad to blame , which can become base of hatred and disputes ,and there are many such writting of sunni writers without any true research blaming on shias,pls avoid these kind of writtings and developed a bridge to finish the miconeptions created by some non responsibles . Reply Nicholas Downey
March 18, 2011 5:03 am

I find it mind-boggling that people can be so concerned about such pathetically trivial things. Wed be far better off without any form of religion in the first place than concern ourselves with this absolute drivel. Nicholas Reply

ZEE BEE

May 31, 2012 11:27 am

shut up u know nothing about Islam so get off this page and if u ever dare to say ANYTHING on ANY RELIGON EVER AGAIN Reply JEskandari
March 23, 2011 7:50 am

Well i guess the different between Sunni and Shia isnt in believing in Hadith as shia also believe in hadith but the difference come when Sunni only believe in Quran and Hadith but shia also add Ijmae to it which means if Majority of clerics say something and its not against Quran and Hadith then it must be considered equal to them Reply

rizvi April 8, 2011 12:37 pm

yes dear, ur are right, if hadith does not resemble with Quran then it should not be followed. Reply

athar July 30, 2011 1:00 pm

Dear Skandari, There is a homogeneous believe that if the hadith is contradictory to the Qur-an then it is not acceptable.be it in shia book or in Sunni book.We must be thoughtful of this.Its wrong to argue that the hadith is in Sahi Bukhari or the hadith is in Biharun anwar of shia so its blindly correct. Hazrat ali says that when you hear the hadith of holy prophet (SAWW) ponder deeply over it. The ijma of shia scholars only interpret the matter in light of Quran and Seerat-e-Nabi (SAWW) and his ahle bait.If its contradictory to the Quran or Life of holy prophet (SAWW) & his ahle bait..its unacceptable.And it Never hapens in an ijma. Reply 1slam
July 8, 2011 5:56 pm

Its really sad to know how Islam is been divided. Shia.. Sunni. and many more. Does it really matter which sect to be in? This wil totally create chaos in Islam and its such a shame. I dont regard myself as part of Sunni eventhough i was brought up as Sunni. I believe that im a muslim and Islam (Only One) is my true religion. I believe there;s no

god but Allah. Muhammad is my beloved last true prophet messenger. i follow the Allahs Holy Book the Al-quran, I believe in Allahs Prophets, Angels & other creation in this universe. I believe in Doomsday. And that too i will follow Prophet Muhammad SAWs teachings.. Hadiths. Simple as that to make us a true muslim. Isnt that Prophet Muhammad SAW been informing us to prevent us from living in a doubtful faith? Reply

jahan March 31, 2012 7:13 am

salam, there is a hadith for our beloved prophet Muhammad (saws) , that after me my followers will be divided into 73 sects and all but One will go to paradise, so it is incumbent on each believer to seek the truth. Bias history , fake hadiths made up by the rulers , written by sold pens ,should be studies and the one with are not in accordance with the Quran should be eradicated,a very thorough research and debate can be found in a book called The Peshawar nights , IT WILL ASSIST IN THE SEARCH OF THE RIGHT PATH Reply Ifti
August 20, 2011 11:55 pm

It is very surprising when you say that shias do not follow the sunnah. They follow every sunnah , they follow the most beloved and true sahaba of Prophet(saww) who is Ali (as). It s also said that no caliph be it Abu Bakr , Umar , or Usman ever made any shariah without the guidance of Ali (as). Reply Mohammad Iqbal E. Shaikh
September 5, 2011 8:31 am

Dear Friends, First of all I would like to make it clear that I believe that ALLAH Subhana wa taala is one and Probhet hammad Sallallahu Alai Hi Wa Sallam is the Prophet and Rasool. Only after ALLAH Subhana wa taala , our greatesh Prophet Sallallahu Alai hi wa sallam is the most respected. He is Hazir & Nazir, He is Noor but preferred to present himself to this world as Bashar, ALLAH Subhana wa taala has given great powers to our Prophet, and due to that great powers he can predict the future with accuracy, whatever he has said 1400 years ago is absolutely true . Prophets only concern was his Ummas Safety & Security . Hazrat Ahmed Raza Khan Fazle Barelvi Rahmat Ullahe Taala has not added anything from his belief , infact he has shown the way how our

Prophet should be respected, To become true Muslim (Iman)one should love our Prophet Hazrat Mohammad Sallallahu Alai hi wa sallam more than our own self for get parents, wife, husband or children, unless and untill you will not love our prophet more than anything in this world than your IMAN is not complete. Sunni Muslim Visit to Dargah (Tomb) of sufi saints not as they belive them as Allah , but believe them as friend of Allah , a person who has devoted his entire life to ALLAH and ALLAH Taala is happy with them and in that regard ALLAH provides them some natural power and Sunni Muslim just request Sufi Saints to pray on their behalf, if they will pray on our behalf ALLAH listen to their request and ALLAH doesnot deshearten them. How to mentioned how much power is given to Awlia E Kiram, no one can ever write on that, so how any one can write the power of Huzur Sallallahu Alai Hi Wa Sallam. Ummat of Huzur Sallallahu Alai hi Wa Sallam is the best Ummat ever in app 1, 24,000/- or 2,24,000/- Ambiya E Kiram. As Wahabis/Deobandis/Ahle Hadis or etc. They are telling that our beloved Prophet was bashar and not noor, than how come it is that our beloved Prophets Shadow was never seen, talking about his shadow, the cloth which touches the body of my beloved Prophets its shadow also never seen, because my beloved Prophet was NOOR in the form of Bashar, if My beloved Prophet would have come in his true form nobody has the power to see him, so to facilitate the Ummah my beloved Prophet choose to come in the form of Basher Oh Non-believers for ALLAHs Sake come to your sense and if you cannot respect anyone , you dont have any right to insult any one, Nobody can insult my beloved Prophet as ALLAH Subhana Wa Taala has highest respect towards our beloved Prophet. Thanks and Regards, Iqbal Shaikh. iqbalshaikh78692@gmail.com Reply reza
September 14, 2011 5:53 am

A friend told me that everyday in his supplications he asked Allah for something, but weeks passed, he did not get what he needed.

His father told him to visit a dargah (tomb) and tell the dead person to ask Allah. After about 0ne week my friend got what he needed. He then thanked Allah and also the dead person. The second time, my friend supplicate allah everyday to get another thing but did not get what he needed. After about one week of hopeless suplications he went to the tomb and got what he needed after few days. My friend thanked the dead person. The third time my friend went directly to the tomb and asked the dead person, but got nothing. The forth time he went to the tomb, but got nothing. The fifth time while he was on his way to visit the tomb, he realises that he is giving more importance to the dead person than Allah and that he was doing was purely shirk! Allah says in the quran: I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). al baqara, verse 170. Only Allah knows whether a dead person is a saint or not! Any human could never know that a person will enter paradise or not! Reply

mohammed farhan May 3, 2012 8:38 am

Mashaallah..very good.Nowadays its entirely an hereditary issue..As explained in Surah Al-Baqarah that kuffars will be kuffars because the new generation will follow what thier forefathers did..but some people mashaallah are coming out of this mindset as evident. Reply Dawud
October 14, 2011 6:13 am

Muslims follow the Sunnah of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (saw). Muslims love the sahaba (ra). Reply

kalim shaikh November 30, 2011 1:50 pm

yes my dear friend you are right.. Reply

farhan khan

May 24, 2012 9:10 am

mashaallah you are right Reply

AK May 28, 2012 12:10 pm

yes Muslims love the sahabas who were faithful to the Prophet(saws), how can we forget SURE MUNAFEQEEN in the HOLY QURAN, was it not indicating that some of the sahabas were munafeqeen. Reply Faisal Moaiz
March 12, 2012 1:31 pm

Islams the best religion of the world. To be a Muslim, according to 2:177 and 4:136, one should believe in God, his prophets, his scriptures, angels and the doomsday. If a man has his faith on these basic doctrines, so hes in Islam. There are two major sects in Islam you know which. I belong to Shia Islam. Shia Muslims believe that Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his children) has appointed Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib as his successor. We neither believe in caliphate nor in democracy. We believe in dictatorship and think that God sends an Imam for the protection of Islam and guidance of the mankind. Gods a dictator. He says, Im your lord. Worship me or Ill punish you and will put you in the hell. Whenever he sent a prophet, He used to say, I dont care whether you like him or not. Your prophets this person selected by Me for you. If democracy was a to rule, then Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Jesus and Muhammad wouldnt be prophets as majority was against them. Today, Muslims arent the majority. This the basic difference between them. Shias and Sunnis are brethren among religion and they should live in peace. Then, all the human beings should live in peace as being sons and daughters of one father. Reply Faisal Moaiz
March 12, 2012 1:40 pm

Im a Shia and I think we shouldnt abuse the sahaba as: 1) Abusing even false deities like Lord Ram and Lord Krishnas also prohibited according to 6:108. Then how can we abuse the rulers of our own Sunni brothers. 2) Narrated Al-Marur: At Ar-Rabadha I met Abu Dhar who was wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a similar one. I asked about the reason for it. He replied, I

abused a person by calling his mother with bad names. The Prophet said to me, O Abu Dhar! Did you abuse him by calling his mother with bad names You still have some characteristics of ignorance. Your slaves are your brothers and Allah has put them under your command. So whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not ask them (slaves) to do things beyond their capacity (power) and if you do so, then help them. (Bukhari, Book #2, Hadith #29) Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The gravest sin is going to lengths in talking unjustly against a Muslims honour, and it is a major sin to abuse twice for abusing once. (Abu Daud, Book #41, Hadith #4859) (www.searchtruth.com is the reference) 3) Imam Ali condemned when he heard his soldiers abusing their foes. (http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/SermonDetail.php?Sermon=205) 4) We shouldnt hurt others hearts as it makes God angry. 5) The requirement of interests in not to abuse the sahaba. Reply

AK May 7, 2012 10:42 pm

salam, abusing any one is not a sign of a Muslim , but distancing ones self from wrong doers is absolutely a must, the word lanat is not an abuse,its distancing one self from an evil doer,usurper,liar,cheat,killer,instigator of evil, Allah has asked us to distance ourself from shaytan ,in the same way we should distance ourselves from those who disobeyed the Prophet(saws). we distance our selves who doubted the prophet (saws) after the treaty of Hudaibiya we distance ourselves from the cursed one ,who spoke disrespectfully and raised his voice in the presence of the Prophet(saws) .The Quran clearly curses those who disobey /oppose the Prophet (saws). regarding the wifes of the Prophet(saws), the Quran clearly lays down the conditions of how they should behave ,, and sends lan on those who misbehaved, its for us to see who did what and accordingly distance ourselves from those who did things against Allahs (swt) words . wasalaam Reply jahan
March 31, 2012 7:20 am

THE SHIAS DONT FOLLOW ALI AND THE AHLULBAIT BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATION TO THE PROPHET , BUT BECAUSE THE SUCCESSORS OF THE PROPHET WERE DIVINELY APPOINTED,, so its an error to believe that the shies follow Ali because he was the prophets cousin and son in law. He was appointed by Divine order in the open oasis of Ghadeer( ghadeer al ghom) in front of a minimum of 30,000 hajis , and the first person to congratulate ALI was the second Calif umer ibn khattab. (the same is recorded in the most accepted sunni books) Reply Tayyaba Haq
May 1, 2012 12:12 pm

Plz add K.A.W with Hazrat Alis Name and R.A.U with all the Sahabas Names .This is the first thing Muslims need to learn before delving into any discussion . Jahan Reply Secondly The Prophet P.B.U.H gave His Consent when Abu Bakar R.A.U took charge of Imamat of Salat when the Beloved Prophet P.B.U.H was ill before His Wasaal Reply to Faisal Moiz Please do not compare the Sahabas with false deities. Hazrat Abu Bakar R.A.U Hazrat Umar R.A.U and Hazrat Usman R.A.U They are Ideal people and role models to follow including Hazrat Ali K.A.W who was the youngest Muslim accepting Islam,The Prophets Cousin and His Son in Law Reply Tayyaba Haq
May 1, 2012 12:16 pm

Reza Allah comes with a capital AOne writer has not use protocols with Prophets name so please learn this very basic respect .All Apostles have to be named with A.S and the Beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W with S.A.W Reply Tayyaba Haq
May 1, 2012 12:19 pm

I must sat that Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh is a very knowledgeable person .I absolutely agree with what he said JazakUllah . Reply mohammed farhan
May 3, 2012 8:27 am

La ilaaha illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah. Adherence and ultimate belief in the above mentioned lines make a person a

muslim.Shias,well they do not pay importance to the second line,do they?Hence they would be classified as Non-Muslims. Reply

AK May 28, 2012 12:12 pm

thats your false accusations. Reply AK

May 4, 2012 1:16 am

salam, firstly , Ill make sure to add (as) after the name of hazrath Ali(as), thankyou for reminding me , secondly : the Prophet (saws) , took the support of Hazrath Abbas( ra) and Hazrath Ali(as) when he was informed that abu bakr(-a) was about to lead the prayers and went and led the prayers and showed the muslims he did not approve of the person leading the prayersin his palace, pl check your facts, also know that when sura Barrat was revealed, and abu bakr (-a) was leaving to anounce it,, Allah (sat) addressed the Prophet (saws) that either he(saws) or some one like him(saws) should go and announce it,then hazrath Ali(as) was asked to do the needful. PLEASE DONT MAKE MAKE IT AN EGO ISSUE AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SOME SAHABA WHO CHANGED THINGS AFTER THE PROPHET ( WE MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE WERE MUNAFEQEEN (AS PER SURE MUNAFEQEEN) AMONG THE SO CALLED SAHABA) Reply Bilal ch
May 18, 2012 7:47 am

Dear fellows we all believe in one Allah , one Prophet , one book. Lets b brothers as said by our beloved Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). Lets live with peace and love. We do not know our ending. We should not tag others by KAFIRS. Lets shake hands for the sake of Allah. We r muslims. We are one family. We are born to b united. But some factors want to destroy our unity. Lets follOw our own belifes and respect the beliefs of our brothers. We will have to answer on the day of judgement. What we ll say then. We r born to spread love in the country. Guys plz plz plz stop all kinds of misconceptions and live like brothers. Allah may please with all of us