Shiite and Sunni Muslims Conflict

Shiite and Sunni Muslims Conflict

The division between Sunnis and Shiites is at the largest scale and oldest in the history of Islam. This article compares the differences between the two. There are number of reasons of conflict between them. We will discuss these conflicts in a general form. Initially the difference between Sunni and Shiites was merely a question of who should lead the Muslim community. Today there are significant differences in the structures and organisation of religious leadership in the Sunni and the Shiites communities. There is a hierarchy to the Shiites clergy and political and religious authority is vested in the most learned who emerge as spiritual leaders. These leaders are transnational and religious institutions are funded by religious taxes called Khums (20% of annual excess income) and Zakat (2.5%). Shiites institutions abroad are also funded this way.

The relationship between Sunni and Shiites Muslims through the ages is made by the political landscape that era. The interpretation of   Hadith and Sunnah   is an Islamic academic science. The Shiites give the whole credit to the Prophet’s family while on the other hand the Sunnis give credit to the followers of Prophet (PBUH)). Shiitess recognises these books that relates to Islamic jurisprudence, but subject them to close scrutiny. Ultimately this difference of emphasis leads to different understandings of the laws and practices of Islam. There are two other basic differences. These differences relates with Imam  Mehndi and shirens. The concept of the Mahdi is a central tenet of Shiites theology, but many Sunni Muslims also believe in the coming of a Mahdi, guided one rightfully, at the end, in order to give justice e as well as peace.

Shiite and Sunni Muslims Conflict

Over the centuries a number of individuals have declared themselves the Mahdi come to regenerate the Muslim world, but none has been accepted by the majority of the Sunni community. However, some more Orthodox Sunni Muslims dispute the concept of the Mahdi because there is no mention of it in the Qur’an or Sunnah. Similar is the case with shrines. They have their own opinions. The Wahabi movement within Sunni Islam views the Shiites practice of visiting and venerating shrines to the Imams of the Prophet’s Family and other saints and scholars as heretical. Most mainstream Sunni Muslims have no objections. Some Sufi movements, which often provide a bridge between Shiites and Sunni theologies, help to unite Muslims of both traditions and encourage visiting and venerating these shrines.

There exists, also practical differences that is how to spend the lives, how to pray and how to coexists among themselves. There are significant differences between scholars.   A minority believes the role, the representatives presents is absolute, generally known as Wilayat Faqih.  Similarly both want to follow the persons representing them. However, current global political conditions mean there has been a degree of polarisation and hostility in many Muslim societies. The term Rafidi (meaning “Rejecter”) has been applied by radical Sunnis to disparage Shiites. In turn the Shiites will often use the label Wahabi, which refers to a particular sectarian movement within Sunni Islam, as a term of abuse for all those who disagree with Shiites beliefs and practices.