Sunni vs. Shiite: What are the main differences?

I notice there are some Muslims on this forum, so I was hoping someone might be able to clarify something for me. What exactly are the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

The reason I'm asking is that I constantly hear reports coming out of Iraq mentioning Shiites this and Shiites that, which really piqued my curiosity...

Is this kind of a division similar to what we see among Christians—you know, Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants—or is it something else entirely?

I appreciate anyone who takes the time and effort to help me out.

Justin Clark7 said:Are we talking about splits similar to Christian denominations (Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants), or is this something else entirely?

Pretty much! Though honestly, nobody's gonna admit that even if their life depended on it. They only seem united when they're ganging up against others (like Jews or Christians). 😁

This whole split goes way back—it all started over who should take over after Muhammad passed away.

Basically, there's only one Quran, but the Sunni traditions vary quite a bit, meaning they follow different customs...

The Shiites have a bit of an edge right now since they've got Iran as a home base...

Justin Clark7 said:Hey, I noticed we've got some Muslims hanging out on the forum, so I was hoping they might be able to clear something up for me—I'm a little lost! Basically, what are the actual differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims? Any insight would be awesome!

So, here’s the deal—the reason I’m even asking is because I feel like every single news report coming out of Iraq lately is just constant, non-stop talk about "this Shiite thing" and "that Shiite thing," you know? It totally piqued my curiosity... it's everywhere!

Are we talking about splits similar to what you see in Christianity—like the whole Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant thing—or is this something else entirely?

Thanks a million for putting in the time and effort! Seriously, I really appreciate it!

So, basically, since we’re still waiting for some of the other Muslims to pop up on the forum... I figure I'll just dive straight into Shia Islam—I mean, most people already know the basics of Sunni Islam anyway, right? So yeah, let's go!

So, okay—here’s the lowdown on why things got split up! It all goes back to the chaos right after Muhammad passed away—basically a massive showdown over who actually gets to step up as the religious leader. It’s wild, really. You’ve got the Shiites, who basically follow the lineage of Ali (who was Muhammad's relative), while the folks who became the Sunnis today were backing Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad's closest associates. Honestly, even the names give it away—"Shi'a" comes from *Shiat Ali*, which pretty much means "the Party of Ali," and "Sunni" comes from *Sunna*, referring to that whole oral tradition thing. It wasn't exactly peaceful, either. Like, Aisha—Muhammad's wife and daughter of Abu Bakr—actually went head-to-head against Ali. There was even a full-on war between them! Aisha ended up losing, but even after Ali passed, his sons (who were also Muhammad's grandsons), Hassan and Hussein, didn't get to take over the caliphate—instead, the Umayyad Dynasty swooped in and grabbed it. So, if you ask the Shiites, they see themselves as the ones standing up against people usurping the leadership from Muhammad's actual descendants. The way they view power is super different, too. Sunnis tend to separate the caliphate (which is like the political/secular side) from the Imam (the religious leader), but for Shiites, one person handles both roles. And while Sunnis do recognize Ali as the fourth "Rightly Guided" Caliph, Shiites believe he was the very first Imam. That line continues through his sons Hassan and Hussein, all the way down to the 12th Imam who passed in the 9th century. Now, Sunnis aren't really on board with that 12th Imam idea, but the Shiites believe he actually became an Imam when he was just five years old! They also believe he never truly died—he kind of ascended to heaven and will eventually return as the Mahdi, which is this big messianic concept, kinda like a savior figure. One thing that’s huge for Shiites—and it reminds me a bit of certain Christian traditions—is the whole idea of martyrdom. Their history is deeply tied to these holy figures. For instance, Hassan and Hussein were defeated and massacred by Yazid from the Umayyad Dynasty during the battle of Karbala. If you ever catch the news out of Iraq, you've probably heard of Karbala—that's where Hussein's tomb is located. And Najaf is considered sacred because that's where the tomb of Imam Ali is. It gets even more complicated, though, because the Shiites split into different groups: the Twelver Shiites (the biggest group), the Fatimids, and the Ismailis. Back in the 8th century, around the time of the 6th Imam, Ja'far ibn Muhammad (who people also call Ja'far al-Sadiq or Ja'far the Truthful), there was this big leadership rift. The followers of Musa al-Kadhim—who make up most of the Shiites—became the Twelver Shiites because they recognize all twelve Imams. Meanwhile, the followers of his brother Ismail became the Ismaili Shiites. You'll find the Ismailis are prominent in places like Syria, while the Twelvers are more common in Iran and Lebanon. Even the Ismailis have their own subgroups, like the Mustafis and the Egyptians—most of the Syrian group actually falls under the Egyptian branch. This group actually made quite a name for themselves because their mystical members were constantly giving Saladin a massive headache during the wars against the Crusaders—you know, the famous Assassins? Yeah, those guys—followers of the Old Man of the Mountain. Oh! And there’s one more group in Syria called the Alawites, though most people don't even count them in the same category. They sort of blend Christianity and Islam together—they basically swapped Jesus out for Ali (thinking Ali is divine and all that). Currently, the Alawites are the ones in power in Syria, and the Assad family is probably the most famous Alawite dynasty in the world. It's a lot, I know! But once you see the connections, it starts to make sense!

So, here’s the deal with the Shiite perspective—they truly believe that Imam Ali was personally appointed by Muhammad himself, or even directly by God. It's all about that divine designation, you know? They also hold onto this idea of the infallibility of the Imam, and the whole Twelver Shiites doctrine revolves around this massive concept of the twelve Imams returning to Earth. It’s pretty intense stuff! And honestly, martyrdom and standing up against the establishment are huge parts of their identity—I mean, Shiism basically kicked off as a rebellion in the first place, right? Oh, and just a little side note—the Shiites are actually way more liberal when it comes to women compared to the Sunnis. A lot of their rules actually lean more toward favoring women than what you see in the Sunni tradition, mostly because they have such deep, profound respect for Fatima, who was both Ali's wife and Muhammad's daughter. It's all connected!

Man, this thing is slowly turning into a full-blown book—honestly, I’ve written way more than I intended so far! Haha. But okay, long story short: the whole split between Shiites and Sunnis actually kicked off over politics, but it didn't stay that way for long before it morphed into these deep theological debates. Like, super fast. Nowadays, if you want to get down to the brass tacks, the biggest dealbreaker is whether or not they recognize the Sunna. That's really where the line is drawn.

Simone said:Basically, they won't admit it even if their lives depended on it—they only actually get along when they have a common enemy (like the Jews or Christians).😁

This whole split goes way back in history—it all started with the massive drama over who should take over after Muhammad passed away.

So, yeah, the Quran is the same for everyone, but the Sunni traditions vary quite a bit since they follow different paths...

The Shiites have a bit of an edge lately, though, mostly because they've got Iran backing them up...

Look at her! She sums it all up in one sentence while I’m over here basically writing a whole textbook. Man, I must be coming down with some Samaritan fever or something! 😬

Oh, yeah—here’s another wild little detail for you! Ever wonder why there’s such fanatical support for the Syrian regime from those Shiite groups over in Lebanon? Well, it’s because the Assad family are Alawites, and most Muslims actually view them as *kufar*—basically unbelievers. Back in the late '70s, some Lebanese Shiite sheikhs (specifically Sheikh Sadr—and don't go mixing him up with any random guy named Sadr you meet in Fallujah or elsewhere, mind you, Sadr is a super common surname among Shiites!) actually recognized the Alawites as legitimate followers of the Twelver Shiites. They even appointed an Alawite as an Imam for a small town in Lebanon. So, ever since then, if you run into anyone in Hezbollah or Amal, just know they're basically riding for Hafez and Bashar Assad in their hearts. Oh, and by the way—Alawites drink alcohol. Their version of Sharia is... let's just say, *very* different.

Speaking of which, here's another group that branched off from Shiism: the Druze. They split away from the Ismaili Shiites back in the 12th century, starting with this belief that Allah manifests itself through a specific Caliph (check the details below). The name "Druze" actually comes from Darazi, an Iranian mystic. They call themselves the Muwahhidun, though. They believe that the Fatimid Shiite Caliph Hakim was the physical embodiment of Allah on Earth—they sometimes even pray to him and call him "My Lord." They also consider Jitar, Moses' father-in-law, to be their most important prophet. Their big leader was Hamza ibn Ali back in the 11th century; he’s the one who proclaimed Hakim's divinity and claimed he possessed cosmic intellect. Now, with the Druze, you aren't supposed to talk about their faith with outsiders—mostly out of fear of persecution, kind of like what the Alawites deal with. They divide themselves into two groups: the *aqil*, or the initiated, and the *juhal*, or the uninitiated. Honestly, most Druze don't even know the core tenets of their own religion! You'll find plenty of them in Lebanon (they were actually one of the main factions during the civil war, led by Walid Jumblatt), Syria, and northern Israel. In Israel, they're incredibly loyal to the state—almost fanatically so when it comes to serving in the military—whereas the Druze in Syria are massive enemies of Israel. In Lebanon, they just play their own political game.

On a side note—and I'm talking specifically about Druze women in Israel—they might look pretty average at first glance, but man, they have these absolutely insane eyes. Seriously, the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. It's almost surreal, like they aren't even real... just this deep, dark green color. It's actually kind of awkward because once you lock eyes with a Druze woman, you can't help but stare!

So, there you have it—a tiny little crash course on some of the lesser-known groups within Islam (and those who broke away entirely)...

Simona, feel free to toss this into your religious lexicon! I'll give you the copyright on this one, just maybe clean up my style a bit... I was definitely just rambling and throwing things out there impulsively...

Alright, here’s the quick version...

So, the Alawites—they’re basically descendants of the ancient folks living in Syria. They used to be Christian, and even after the Islamic conquests, they kind of clung to their old ways (well, their own specific version of Christianity). Eventually, through some influence from Ismaili Shiite groups, they started drifting closer to Islam. Honestly? It’s this super weird blend of Christianity and Islam—they celebrate Christmas and Easter and believe in a Trinity, just... differently. Their whole thing revolves around Ali (which means 'meaning'), Muhammad (the name), and Salman the Persian (who they call 'the gate'). Their main prayer goes something like, "I turn toward the gate, I bow to the name, and I worship the meaning." And their version of the Shahada? It's "I bear witness that there is no god but Ali." They actually believe humans are like stars that fell from the sky because of their sins, and they're big on reincarnation! BTW, the Druze are almost just as fanatical about reincarnation too. The Alawites think if you’re a sinner, you might go through reincarnation seven times, and because of those sins, you could end up being reborn as a Christian. Non-believers? They get reincarnated as animals. Their prayer book, Kitab al-Majmu, is their most sacred text after the Quran, and it really draws from those Ismaili Shiite writings. They study the Quran and follow the five pillars of Islam, but—get this—they interpret them pretty loosely. They consider themselves Muslims, but most Muslims don't actually recognize them as such. Even the name Alawi is basically a derivative of Aliyev, referring to Imam Ali (whom they view as divine). They make up about 20% of the population in Syria.

Okay, one more sect for you: the Yazidis. There are about 10,000 of them in Syria. You don't know a whole lot about their faith because, honestly, hardly anyone knows what it actually is! It’s known to be a mix of elements from Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, and even paganism. Most people in Syria actually label them as Satanists. Both the Bible and the Quran are holy to them. They split off from the Sunnis back in the 12th century when part of the Umayyad Dynasty migrated into Syria. They have one famous holy site—the tomb of their main saint, Sheikh Adija. Ethnically, they’re Kurds. In terms of their pagan roots, they worship Malak Taus—which is a fallen angel from pre-Islamic Mithraic beliefs, depicted as a peacock—along with several smaller idols. They call themselves the Dasin. They never pray in front of outsiders and always face the sun when they bow. Even their name is a mystery—there are two theories: either it comes from the name of the Umayyad Sheikh Yazid, or it's from a Persian word meaning angel, likely referring to Malak Taus. According to them, Malak Taus is this fallen peacock angel who repented and fixed the broken world. He supposedly filled seven jars with his tears to extinguish the fires of hell. They also have two other holy books: the Black Book and the Book of Revelation. Fun fact: the Black Book actually forbids eating green salad and wearing dark blue clothes! They pray twice a day, Wednesday is their holy day, but Saturday is their day of rest. Once a year, they do a pilgrimage to Sheikh Adija's tomb where they bathe in a river while holding figures of Malak Taus and lighting hundreds of candles. They even sacrifice an ox during that time. Plus, they practice circumcision and baptism.

Pretty wild religion, right? 😵

When we look at Christians and Jews, aren't the Shiites and Sunnis essentially standing together in one unified front against them? Or rather, haven't Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews always stood as a single block against Muslims? 😕 🙂

I’m calling on all Muslims to boycott this thread, because it feels like the whole point here is to stir up division and resentment among us...

It is perfectly clear to everyone which successor held the Caliphate following Muhammad, and there are plenty of authentic traditions to back that up. If anyone wants to hold a different opinion, that’s their prerogative, but we are going to step away from this discussion entirely.

What are the actual distinctions between Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, various Christian denominations—whether you call them Orthodox, Protestants, Catholics, or Evangelicals? 👋

Michelle Johnson5 said:When it comes to Christians and Jews, are Shiites and Sunnis all standing in one single row against them? And isn't it basically Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews all lined up together against Muslims—hasn't it always been that way?😕 🙂

I’m honestly calling on all my fellow Muslims to just boycott this whole thread, because people are clearly just trying to stir up trouble and cause division among us here...

Look, it’s pretty obvious to everyone who actually knows their history who the rightful successor to the caliphate was after Muhammad, and there are plenty of reliable traditions out there to back that up. If someone wants to have a different opinion, hey, that's their business—but personally, I think we should just skip this discussion entirely.

So, what are the actual differences between Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Christians, Orthodox, Protestants, Catholics, Evangelicals, and all the rest...? 👋

Man, I really didn't see Marov's reaction coming! That was unexpected. Anyway, see ya later. Honestly, this thread will probably run a lot smoother without you around. 👋

Brian Moore67 said:I honestly couldn't have predicted a different reaction from Marov. So, goodbye then. I think this whole discussion will actually run much smoother without you hanging around. 👋

🙂 👋

Christian_God's rob said:🙂 👋

Man, you’re literally calling for a boycott of this whole thread—which, honestly? You're totally contradicting yourself right now! If you're so over it, just go ahead and boycotted already! Let's see it!

I'm calling on all my Muslim brothers and sisters to boycott this thread. Seriously, they're just looking for ways to smear us here...

pavelicu, pavelicu... I hope you step on a cactus😁

just a cactus....

Shia and Sunni!

I have attempted to engage them in conversation online on several occasions, yet I must admit that, with the exception of Shadiya, I haven't had much success in establishing a meaningful dialogue.

I have come to the impression that a profound sense of mistrust prevails among us.

Essentially, Umpaumpa explained the distinctions between the Shia and the Sunni, suggesting perhaps that being Shia might be "harder"; from my own perspective, traditional Shia practice seems to align perfectly with my understanding of Islam, whereas certain sects... well, those are highly debatable, though it is certainly not my place to judge the secrets held within another's heart.

I attended the Spring of Light rallies in Washington, D.C., and my only grievance was with the Iranians—who are predominantly Shia—regarding their tendency toward a cult of personality, but such is how things are...

During the war, I heard utter nonsense claiming that it was a righteous deed for a Shia to kill a Sunni (this was voiced by those who are not Shia themselves), and Hvlal Bog, when I realized this was a lie, I severed my ties with them once and for all (I shall not name them now, nor ever again).

I hope that, if God wills it, the future will bring about a day when all the ulema, both Shia and Sunni, sit down at a single table to agree upon One way. This era of chaotic information availability is perhaps creating the very preconditions necessary for such an event.

It is my hope that their agreement will ensure that all Shia, Sunnis, Sufis, and other Muslims who remain within the framework of Islam are recognized exactly for who they truly are.

George said:Shia vs. Sunni!

I’ve tried chatting with them online a bunch of times—really, I have—but honestly, aside from Shadiya, I haven't had much luck getting through.

It really feels like there’s this massive wall of distrust between us all.

Basically, Brian Moore67 was breaking down the differences between Shia and Sunni, and he mentioned it might be "harder" to be Shia. From what I can gather—and hey, I'm no expert here—traditional Shia practices seem to fit my understanding of Islam just fine, but then you get into those certain sects... man, they're a whole different story. But hey, it's not my place to judge what's going on in someone else's heart, right?

I totally get that vibe too—it feels like the Shia side is way less focused on pure logic. They’ve got all these intense things going on, like the infallibility of the Imams, this whole messianic thing with the twelve Imams, martyrdom, and all that mystical stuff. Oh, and I also heard somewhere that there's this weird connection between schismatics and Sufism—even though Sufis are Sunni, apparently they picked up some Shia philosophical leanings along the way...

Oh, and yeah! Groups like the Alawites, Druze, and Yazidis aren't actually Muslim—they're more like small, distinct groups, maybe even cults at this point, that branched off from Islam altogether. The original post didn't ask about them, but they're super interesting little trivia nuggets and they definitely pull some weight in politics.

George said:Shia and Sunni!

I’ve tried talking to them online a few times, but honestly, aside from Shadiya, I haven't had much luck.

It feels to me like there’s just this massive wall of distrust between us.

Basically, Brian Moore67 laid out the difference between Shia and Sunni, suggesting maybe it's "harder" to be Shia. From my perspective, traditional Shia followers seem to fit my understanding of Islam perfectly, whereas some of those other sects... well, they're debatable. But hey, it's not my place to judge what's hidden in someone's heart.

I was at the Spring of Light rallies in Boston, and my only real gripe with the Iranians—who are mostly Shia—was that intense cult of personality they have. But, you know...

During the war, I heard some absolute nonsense about how killing a Sunni was considered a good deed (that came from people who weren't even Shia themselves). Thank the Holy God when I found out that was a lie; I cut ties with those people once and for all (I won't name names now, or ever).

I hope that in the future, God willing, all the scholars—both Shia and Sunni—can finally sit down at one table and agree on One way. This crazy era of instant information might actually be creating the conditions for that to happen.

I just hope their agreement is that everyone—Shias, Sunnis, Sufis, and any other Muslims who stay within the framework of Islam—can just be exactly who they are.

5+

Plus, I didn't respond to the boycott...
5 because I don't really know much about this topic...

Brian Moore67 said:I also got the feeling that the Shia are way less rational...

Well, I heard something totally different! 🙂

I was digging into the differences and got a slightly different take.

One guy here—who everyone keeps calling Shia, even though he swears he isn't—told me that Shias are actually more rational. He said Sunnis just leave everything up to God's will, basically making them fatalists.

On the flip side, Sunnis here mostly just see those Shia rituals, like the self-flagellation in a trance to remember Muhammad's grandsons' martyrdom. There are tons of other practical differences too, mostly stemming from their old pre-Islamic traditions.

There are so many different Muslim traditions out there that Americans here don't even know exist! Like, in Jakarta, they have this tradition where the Sultan is considered an incarnation. Women dress like they're from India and don't even wear veils. Clearly, that's Hindu influence at work.

Meanwhile, you've got the Wahhabis on the rise. They hate being called that because they claim they’re "just Muslims" and don't care about divisions, yet they’re the most active ones jumping into every Muslim debate online lately.

And yeah, women in Shia communities tend to have better opportunities compared to the Wahhabis, who claim to be fighting for "original Islam," but all we really see is the Taliban and those photos of women from Afghanistan.

Soldier George said:I’m really hoping their big plan involves everyone—Shia, Sunni, Sufi, and any other Muslims who stick to the core tenets of Islam—just being accepted for who they truly are.

Fat chance!

That’s like expecting theologians from every different Christian denomination to just agree, especially when even Jews don't share one single tradition.

Honestly, wouldn't it be better if everyone just minded their own business and left others alone? Christians have practically bled out trying to do that. And look, Jews aren't exactly a monolith either; it just took some incredibly tough history to force them to recognize all those different traditions that popped up whenever they had to find new ways to survive.

Soldier George said:Shia and Sunni!

Oh, man—hey, maybe you or someone else out there could walk me through how the Caliphate actually passes down among the Sunnis? I totally skipped over asking that earlier because, well, you guys clearly know your stuff way better than I ever will! Just looking for a little bit of a historical deep dive.

Simone said:Man, that’s tough!

It’s honestly like trying to get theologians from every different Christian denomination to agree on one thing—and even then, you've got Jews who don't all share the exact same traditions anyway, right?

Oh man, I remember this huge news story from a few years back! So, Obadiah Joseph and Mordechai Elijah—both former Sephardic Chief Rabbis, both with Iraqi roots—actually made peace. For years, those two couldn't even be in the same room together... I mean, one leaned a bit more toward Kabbalah, while the other was a bit less so; one was closer to religious Zionists, and the other was super ultra-Orthodox. In the end, they were finally brought together by a Moroccan Kabbalist...

Soldier George said:Back when I was serving, I kept hearing this absolute nonsense—total garbage, really—that killing a Sunni was somehow a righteous deed for a Shia. At least, that’s what the non-Shia crowd was preaching. Honestly, thank the Holy God I found out that was a total lie, because once I realized how wrong they were, I cut ties with them for good (and yeah, I'm not even gonna name names now, let's just leave it at that).

Man, I have never heard anything quite like that! It’s gotta be either people who are totally clueless or just straight-up malicious. It reminds me of those old stories you hear about folks back in the rural South or Midwest—like how some grandmas would talk about Haile Selassie as if he were some legendary lost king from history, or how certain groups would obsess over Banuti Sadr (at least, that's what I heard from folks traveling through the heartland, and man, it blew my mind). I really don't think we should take that kind of "old-timer wisdom" too seriously...