Why do Sunni and Shiite Muslims hate each other?

Answer 1

Answer 1

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The Shia have serious issues about what they regard as the murder of Ali after the death of Muhammad, and the dispossession of the Caliphate from those they believe to have been its rightful heirs. The two sects within Islam have lived together in peace for most of the 1300 years of Islamic history. There are differences, but they are more sectarian than any kind of major religious dispute. Their differences are like the differences between Catholics and Protestants. For the most part, Catholics and Protestants have lived together quite peacefully. Still, there have been times when they killed each other and made war on each other. The killings and bombings that tortured Ireland throughout the 20th Century were Catholic vs Protestant. Each side claimed that the other's beliefs were evil. They still hate each other. Their attitudes toward the Papacy are analogous to the disputes over the Caliphate. Yet, in other places, like here in the US, Protestants and Catholics get along just fine, and frequently intermarry. This is also true of Sunni and Shia in most places, for most of the time since Islam came into existence in the 7th Century. We should also remember the Catholic against Protestant religious wars that tore Europe apart and killed millions over the centuries.

There are many other sects in Islam, but the Sunni-Shia situation is among the most volatile. It must be recognized, however, that these differences have been manipulated and inflamed by other nations to divide and conquer. Consider Iraq. On the whole, the differences between Christians and the wars that resulted have been far bloodier than any Islamic disputes.

To be clear, let me point out that I am not a Muslim, but have spent a fair amount of time in the Muslim world, and have studied its history and culture.

Answer 2

There are a number of problems that Sunnis and Shiites have with one another.

1) Theology: The Muslim community was united while Mohammed was the leader of this community. Most Muslims hold, however, that he never specifically chose a successor to his leadership. There was a minority in the community that supported the candidacy of 'Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law, this political faction became known as the "Supporters of 'Ali" which in Arabic is Shiat 'Ali (where the modern term "Shiite" comes from). They derived their support from specific hadiths and events that they claimed showed that God had revealed to Mohammed that 'Ali would succeed him. The majority of Muslims held that these hadiths and events showed nothing more than that 'Ali was very pious, something they did not deny. Therefore they gave power to the man who was Mohammed's second-in-command and father-in-law Abu Bakr. This majority were called the People of the Customs [of the Prophet] which in Arabic is Ahl Sunna (from where the modern term "Sunni" comes from.)

2) Historical Grievances: The primary reason this division persists is that there has never been an atonement by either side for the pain and persecution that it has suffered when the other was in power over a given territory. Although, Shiites endured more persecution at the hands of Sunnis than the reverse, this is not to say that Sunnis have not endured persecution at Shiite hands. Both groups remain defiant that since they have the moral high-ground as granted from their faith, their actions in repressing the other sect, torturing its adherents, and murdering its leaders was progress towards removing the heresy. Compare this to the Catholics, who have apologized for the Rape of Byzantium, which was huge historical grievance between them and the Orthodox.

3) Ethnic Identities: In many countries, especially Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, people identify "ethnically" by their sect of religion. Therefore saying somebody is Shiite in Iraq is similar to how people view being Irish-American or Japanese-American in the United States. It marks you socially and it determines who your friends are, who you marry, what jobs you take, who you love, who you despise, etc. As a result, whenever conflict has broken out, each religious group comes together to defend its people's interests. This results in political and social hatred of the other religion in addition to any theological issues.

4) Rumors of the Other's Theology: Some Sunnis think that Shiites are deluded into believing that 'Ali was a second prophet, which would violate Mohammed being the final capstone of the Prophets, a huge theological issue. Some Shiites believe that Sunnis were paid off to accept the three Rightly-Guided Caliphs before 'Ali and that Sunni Islam was therefore corrupt and ineligible to continue the Islamic tradition. Both have alleged the other was deceived by Jews, which says more about how Muslims view Jews than each other. Of course, both of these are mis-characterizations of the actual theologies of these two sects, but the point remains that as long as these problematic rumors exist, the two sides cannot reconcile.

5) Approaches to Government: Ever since the abolition of the Caliphate in 1936, Sunni Islam has been leaderless and there has come to be an understanding that religion does not participate in actual governance. (This is not a separation of church and state since the two can cooperate closely, but this prevents direct theocracy.) Shiites, on the other hand, have religious leaders called Ayatollahs who do attempt to have terrestrial authority and in Iran have actually achieved it.

Answer 3

Moderate Sunnis and Shias don't hate each other. They have the same basic beliefs. The exremists, mostly illiterate, create problems.

Answer 4

Not all Sunnis and Shias hate each other.

The Sunnis have no objection to the beliefs of Shias like:

Imamat or the way they offer prayer or the Kalma they recite, or Muttaa (temporary marriage), taqqiya, so and so on. The thing that provokes Sunnis to fight against Shias is:

The derogatory, insulting and offensive remarks and filthy uttering of Shias against the holy Companions (RAU) whom Almighty Allah has many times mentioned as the criterion of Eeman (Faith). In Sura Fateh 1400 Companions (RAU) woved to sacrifice their lives at the hands of the Holy Prophet (SAW) to avenge the rumored about death of Hazrat Usman (RAU). Almighty Allah likes that wove and appreciates the Companions (RAU). The holy Companions of the Prophet (SAW) sacrificed their lives, properties and even kith and kin for the sake of Islam. Almighty Allah has given them a certificate of His pleasure in the following words:

Translation: Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.

The Shias curse them, and also curse the wives (Mothers of all Muslims) of the holy Prophet (SAW). How can a true Muslim tolerate his Mothers being cursed and blamed, and their effigies being burned and thrown shoes at? How can a true Muslim tolerate Hazrat Abu Bakr RAU and Hazrat Omar RAU being disgraced publically and cursed on loudspeakers? It was Hazrat Abu Bakr RAU whom the holy Prophet (SW) appointed to lead the Muslims in their prayers. It was not Hazrat Ali RAU or even Hazrat Abbas RAU, the beloved Uncle of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). Worldly Caliphate is not inherited by Prophets. The Companions RAU chose Hazrat Abu Bakr RAU their Caliph who proved the only suitable choice for this important duty.

This is the only cause of fighting between the two groups. Shiaism is the only religion in which abusing and cursing the holy personalities of Islam is the basic belief. Keeping one's true ideas and faith hidden (Taqiyya) is also considered to be their basic belief. Hazrat Ali RAU, Hazrat Hassan RAU, Hazrat Hussain RAU never started doing such nefarious and immoral activities, neither did they initiated Ashoora processions, beating their chests and wounding them with chains. Islam does not permit hateful remarks and such things even against Hinduism, Budhism or any other religion. The holy Prophet (SAW) is Rahmat (Mercy) for all creatures of all Ages. He never taught or preached cursing others. Those who claim to be Muslims should surrender unconditionally to the Will of Almighty Allah, Who has created us all and loves us all, humans, birds, animals, fish and even plants. Let us tolerate humans belonging to different religions. Each of us is answerable to Allah Almighty for his own deeds, not of others.

Answer 2

Answer 1
There is no hatred between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Both Sunnis and Shiites are just different Islamic schools. No one can claim one school is better than the other. They just got divided on the way the successor of the prophet (after his death) should be. Muslims elected Abou Bakr to be the first Caliph after prophet Muhammad (PBUH) death. However, some Muslims believed that the successor should be from the family of the prophet and hence should Ali Ibn Abou Taleb (the prophet cousin and husband of his daughter). However, after the election of AbouBakr, they joined the majority and even Ali Ibn Abou Taleb (God be pleased with him) supported the elected Caliph. The same scenario was repeated after election of Omar Ibn Alkhattab as the second Caliph and Othman Ibn Affan as the third Caliph. Ali Ibn Abou Taleb was then elected as the fourth Caliph. However, Sunnis and Shiites are just two Islamic schools that differ in minor issues.The outsiders are trying to feed up assumed differences and conflicts between Muslim groups to gain control on Muslim countries and on their resources. The two main groups are Sunnis and Shiites. Both groups agree upon basic Islam pillars, believe in same and only version of Qur'an, believe and follow the sunnah of same prophet (PBUH), pray to same direction (facing Kaaba in Makkah or Mecca in Saudi Arabia, go to same places on pilgrimage (or Hajj), and adhere to same Islam morals and ritual worships. They only differ on some side issues that are not critical.

Answer 2
There are a number of problems that Sunnis and Shiites have with one another. It is important to note that not all Sunnis and Shiites hate each other, but a small and vocal minority.

1) Theology: The Muslim community was united while Mohammed was the leader of this community. Most Muslims hold, however, that he never specifically chose a successor to his leadership. There was a minority in the community that supported the candidacy of 'Ali, the Prophet's son-in-law, this political faction became known as the "Supporters of 'Ali" which in Arabic is Shiat 'Ali (where the modern term "Shiite" comes from). They derived their support from specific hadiths and events that they claimed showed that God had revealed to Mohammed that 'Ali would succeed him. The majority of Muslims held that these hadiths and events showed nothing more than that 'Ali was very pious, something they did not deny. Therefore they gave power to the man who was Mohammed's second-in-command and father-in-law Abu Bakr. This majority were called the People of the Customs [of the Prophet] which in Arabic is Ahl Sunna (from where the modern term "Sunni" comes from.)

2) Historical Grievances: The primary reason this division persists is that there has never been an atonement by either side for the pain and persecution that it has suffered when the other was in power over a given territory. Although, Shiites endured more persecution at the hands of Sunnis than the reverse, this is not to say that Sunnis have not endured persecution at Shiite hands. Both groups remain defiant that since they have the moral high-ground as granted from their faith, their actions in repressing the other sect, torturing its adherents, and murdering its leaders was progress towards removing the heresy. Compare this to the Catholics, who have apologized for the Rape of Byzantium, which was huge historical grievance between them and the Orthodox.

3) Ethnic Identities: In many countries, especially Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, people identify "ethnically" by their sect of religion. Therefore saying somebody is Shiite in Iraq is similar to how people view being Irish-American or Japanese-American in the United States. It marks you socially and it determines who your friends are, who you marry, what jobs you take, who you love, who you despise, etc. As a result, whenever conflict has broken out, each religious group comes together to defend its people's interests. This results in political and social hatred of the other religion in addition to any theological issues.

4) Rumors of the Other's Theology: Some Sunnis think that Shiites are deluded into believing that 'Ali was a second prophet, which would violate Mohammed being the final capstone of the Prophets, a huge theological issue. Some Shiites believe that Sunnis were paid off to accept the three Rightly-Guided Caliphs before 'Ali and that Sunni Islam was therefore corrupt and ineligible to continue the Islamic tradition. Both have alleged the other was deceived by Jews, which says more about how Muslims view Jews than each other. Of course, both of these are mis-characterizations of the actual theologies of these two sects, but the point remains that as long as these problematic rumors exist, the two sides cannot reconcile.

5) Approaches to Government: Ever since the abolition of the Caliphate in 1936, Sunni Islam has been leaderless and there has come to be an understanding that religion does not participate in actual governance. (This is not a separation of church and state since the two can cooperate closely, but this prevents direct theocracy.) Shiites, on the other hand, have religious leaders called Ayatollahs who do attempt to have terrestrial authority and in Iran have actually achieved it.