History of Shia and Sunni Islam: Understanding the Origins of the Muslim Divide The history of Shia and Sunni Islam is one of the most consequential parts of the Islamic story, which will continue to influence and affect the lives of Muslims all over the world for years to come. The division between Shia and Sunni originated at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)'s death in 632 CE, when the Muslim community faced a significant conundrum: who should be their leader? Although Sunni and Shia Muslims have generally similar beliefs as such — the belief in one God; the belief in the Qur'an; and the belief in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the messenger of God — they disagreed on how to select that leader. Sunni Muslims felt that a leader, or caliph, should be elected by community consensus and chose Abu Bakr, who was one of Prophet Muhammad's closest companions and supporters, as their first caliph. On the other hand, Shia Muslims believed that the leader, or caliph, should be a member of the Prophet's family and that the caliph should be an appointed leader, and so they chose to follow Ali ibn Abi Talib as their first caliph because they believe that he was appointed to lead by God. The disagreement regarding leadership created separate traditions for Sunni and Shia Muslims. There have been numerous events throughout history that helped to create and develop the Sunni and Shia identities; two of the most important events were the Battle of Jamaal and the Battle of Siffin and the events surrounding the assassination of Ali and the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala. As a result of the above-mentioned events and others and through the development of theological interpretations, schools of thought and political systems, the Sunni and Shia cultures have been drastically different and have helped to shape the history of Sunni and Shia Islam. Understanding this history helps promote awareness, respect, and unity by highlighting both the shared foundations and the historical experiences that shaped the diversity within Islam. https://muslimmatrimonybureau.com
