Do Sunni and Shiite Muslims pray differently?

Answer 1

They are different in many ways. The basic beliefs are the same. The differences were invented later on.

It was after the sorrowful death of the third Rightful Caliph Hazrat Usman RAU by the rebels that the Muslims split occurred. The two groups are now known as Sunni (almost 85%) and Shias (10%). The rebels killed the third Rightful Caliph and forced Hazrat Ali RAU to become the caliph. It was rumored about that Hazrat Ali RAU didn't want to save Hazrat Usman RAU from the rebels. While the fact was that Hazrat Ali RAU had deputed two of his sons -Hazrat Hassan RAU and Hazrat Hussain RAU to watch the house of the Caliph and try to defend him. This misunderstanding resulted into bloodshed of thousands of Muslims fighting against one another. Those who favored Ali were called Shiyan-i-Ali and those who opposed and demanded that the rebels and killers of the caliph should be brought to book were the other group. A third group-Khawarjis- also appeared out from this split.

The present day Shiaism was evolved much later. There are many conspiracy theories behind this. Some point their fingers on the hypocrites and Iranians who had been defeated by the Muslims during the reign of the second Rightly Guided Caliph Harat Umar RAU.

As the belief held by many groups of Shias are Not acceptable to many other Shia groups. Many of these beliefs are in utter contrast to the basic teachings of the holy Qur'an.

The Qur'an declares the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) highly respectable and Allah's favorites while the Shias blame that they had turned away from Islam.

The Shias claim that Hazrat Ali RAU was nominated Caliph by the prophet SAW at Khum-i-Gadir but history does not approve it. It was Hazrat Abu Bakr rau whom the Prophet saw ordered to lead the prayer in his place during the last illness from which he never recovered. It was a clear indication of his being the most honored person after him. Not a single Companion rau pointed out that Hazrat Ali rau had been appointed Caliph when the Companions chose Hazrat Abu Bakr rau the Caliph. Hazrat Ali rau himself remained an important advisor to the first three Rashidoon Caliphs. Was he as a coward to remain silent and not fight for his right?

The qualities attributed to the Imams by the Shias are not only in contrast to Islam, rather they are self contradictory. According to Shias, the Imam is infallible, he can't make mistake, he know everything present, past and future

What happened practically to the Fist Imam Hazrat Ali rau? He was killed, and he didn't know.

In the Battle of Jamal where more than ten thousand Muslims lost their lives, Hazrat Ali rau repented and wished that he had not taken birth to see that day.

The second Imam Hassan rau made peace with Hazrat Muawia rau and was later poisoned to death, and he didn't know.

The third Imam Hussain rau rose against Yazid but had his whole family killed at Karbala, and he didn't know what was going to happen to him. The life of most of the Shia Imams bear witness that they are not blessed with those qualities which the Shias attribute to them.

The split is Not Religious, it is political. It was later on attributed to religion by inventing certain religious doctrines. A detailed answer has been given by Elosry.

Answer 2

No, they pray the same.

Both 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 Quran, believe and follow the sunnah of same prophet (PBUH), pray to same direction (facing Kaba 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 3

shia pray in open hand and sunni pray in closed hand.

shia do sujud on earth or part of earth (turbah) but sunni on land or carpet.

and more. refer to below link for more shia laws.

Shia and Sunni have mostly same beliefs and both believe in fundamental beliefs of Islam. Today there is up to 260 sects in Islam that are in two main categories of shia and sunni.

the conflict of shia and sunni has been always amplified by world Imperialism to prevent Islam from gaining power.

Shia believes in Allah, prophet and all fundamentals of Islam.

Shia pray 5 times a day but usually do the 2, 3 and 4, 5 pray together and so may seem they do only 3 pray a day. there is some differences in details of pray like genuflect (for shia should be on a stone or part of earth and for sunni on carpet or floor ).

shia believes Imamat is one of five pillars of Islam and leader can be selected only by God. shia believe after death of prophet God selected the successive for prophet who is the political leader of Muslim community and people can not and does not the right to selected it.

Shia believes the Caliph (Representative of God in earth) is selected only by God and can not be selected by people because God said in Koran: "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority" (Quran 2:30) or "O David! We did indeed make thee a vicegerent on earth" (Quran 38:26) also other verses.

Shia believes such verses means only God can select an Islamic political leader (Caliph).

In Shia Islam Caliphs after prophet are 12 Imams and all of them are the same and have no mistake and have the knowledge of everything (not absolute knowledge like knowledge of God) and they hear all sayings and even thinks of all humans after even after their death by permission of God and they are intermediates between God and human Shia Muslims always support them and forgive their lives for them.

Shia Muslims do not consider selection of Abubakr as Caliph by people valid because God did not select him. They believe God ordered prophet to declare people that Ali is selected as successor of prophet and prophet did this mission many times during his prophet-hood and mainly in Ghadir event after last Hajj of his life at a 3-4 hour speech in front of 120,000 Muslims at Ghadir in hot desert after 2 days stop of long caravan for gathering and 3 days after speech for congratulations and homage of Muslims to Ali. Islam at that time had high power in world and Some companions had high interest in leadership position after prophet. Muslims knew that it is the final Hajj of prophet (predicted by prophet) and were going along with prophet to hear what prophet says at end of his life. Shia believes Ghadir event is the most important event of Islam and is mentioned in Koran in many verses like "Today" (اليوم) in verse 5:3 of Quran is the day of Ghadir. Or Verse 5:67 (O Messenger! proclaim the (message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not, thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith) is revealed at Ghadir day and is about declaring political leadership of Ali after prophet.

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims accept happening of Ghadir event But different interpret. Some Sunni writers tried to reject the event of Ghadir as declare of leadership of Ali and said at Ghadir prophet only wanted to say Ali is my friend and no one should bother him. Ali had 3 different missions to Yemen by prophet during 10 years and in 2 of them some companions of prophet had some conflicts with Ali and and prophet said some sayings about Ali to solve conflicts and some sunni writers have mixed stories of missions of Ali to Yemen with story of Ghadir to prove Ghadir event is not about Leadership of Ali and is not important.

Shia scholars believe some Sunni writers have changed and deviated historical evidences about political leadership of Ali in old historical books and republished them to destroy evidences of leadership of Ali from old Sunni books.

The famous Shia book Al-Ghadir (الغدير) by Allameh Amini is a collection of evidences and proofs for Ghadir Events written after referring to 100,000 Sunni books and full reading of 10,000 sunny books. Allameh Amini is a famous Shia scholar and spent 40 years of his life in travelling to access original old Sunni books in libraries in different countries to write this 20 volume book only from Sunni books and not using any Shia book. Some Sunni scholars tried to reply this book but then said if we want to reply this book we should first destroy all books of ourselves.

Shia doctrine have root in Karbala tragedy. When tragedy of Karbala happened most of Iranians understood there is two different kinds of Islam and after happening of Karbala tragedy most of Iranians became followers of "Ahl al-Bayt" and forgive their lives for them like what they did in Iranian Revolution and Iran-Iraq War. Shia Muslims have at least 120,000 Hadith (saying) from The Fourteen Infallibles that is the base of Shia Islam along with Quran. Shia believes according to " Hadith of the two weighty things" The Fourteen Infallibles are the only valid interpreters of Quran and sayings of them are from God because they are Representative of God in earth and they do not say anything from themselves. Shia believes 12th of them (Mahdi) is alive and because people have killed all 11 Imams before him, he is in hide like Jesus and will come out of hide toghether with Jesus when people become ready and want to accept his leadership. All 11 Imams have been killed and during their life thy all have been in prison or under hard control of government to not have any political action. They never had enough serious followers to can get political power. Among them only the sixth Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq was relatively free in his life to have only scientific activities (but banned from any political action) and so only he is known in west because he established university and had students from all over the world. Westerns know him as a polymath: an astronomer, alchemist, Imam, Islamic scholar, Islamic theologian, writer, philosopher, physician, physicist and scientist. He was also the teacher of the famous chemist, Jābir ibn Hayyān (Geber), and of Abū Ḥanīfa, the founder of the Hanafi school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. He never wanted be a famous man and only shared his knowledge with who wanted to learn. Some researchers consider his teachings the root cause of renaissance.

Sunni Muslims also accept Mahdi and his worldwide leadership as Caliph of God in earth at end of world. There is a famous Hadith from prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that Mahdi at hide is like sun behind cloud, he is hidden from people but people receive his benefits. Shia Muslims say some faithful believers have connection with Mahdi and use his knowledge. Shia Muslims believe that it is proved at least 1000 persons have had connection and talk with Mahdi during his hide period but Any one having relation with Mahdi keep it and does not declare it in public until is alive.

Answer 4

Here are some points that must be mentioned and after that we refer to difference between Sunni and Shiite in praying.

• First point is that in fifth-time praying there is no difference between them.
• Second point is that the criterion of distinction between both of them is according to opinions of most of religious scientists, therefore this is possible to confront with some opposite opinions in other words it is in relation to majority not minority.
• Final point is that these differences are pretain to some possible acts not necessary.

1-Difference in ADhan and Iqamah: the Sunnis don't say, "going to the best practice" and also don't say "Witness to Ali peace be upon him". Sunnis say "two times praying is better than sleeping" after saying "Going to the purest act". And it is Mostahab for Sunnism but heresy for Shiism.

2-Shiite, instead of performing the five prayers completely separately, usually say the noon and afternoon prayers together, as well as the evening and the night prayers whilst Sunnis do theses separately.

3-For Shiite, saying (in the name of god the most beneficent the most merciful) is necessary but for Sunnis is possible before saying HAMD.

4. The pillars of praying: for Shiiee there are five.

1. Intention (Niyyat)
2. Saying of the Takbiratul Ihram (Allahu Akbar to begin the Salat).
3. Standing motionless at the time of saying the Takbir, and the standing before going into the state of Ruku'.
4. Ruku'.
5. Two Sajdahs.

But for Sunnis there are four like

1. Standing motionless at the time of saying the Takbir
2. Standing before going into the state of Ruku'.
3. Ruku'.
4. Sajdahs and recitation.

   (and some of them of course are added intentional as the other pillars)

5-It's necessary for Suunism to say Surah al hamd in all of units(rak ahs) but Shiism in thirth and fourth units say the purification of Fatimah peace be upon her.

6-It's necessary for Shiism to say the whole surah after Hamd but Sunnism don't.

7-It is traditional practice and possible for Sunnism both the saying of Amen after hamd and placing the right hand upon left hand while these practice is forbbiden and heresy for Shiism.

8-Shiites also perform supergatory prayers and prayers on special occasions such as moments of joy, fear and Thanksgiving or even visiting a holy place of pilgrimage.

Answer 5

They generally pray the same way, but there are some particularities that are different.

1) Number of Prayers: Sunni Muslims pray at five distinct times per day whereas Shiite Muslims combine Zuhr and 'Asr into one time-period and Maghrib and Isha into one time-period, resulting in them praying the same amount of time, but in only three distinct times per day.

2) Arm Folding: Sunni Muslims fold their arms whereas Shiite Muslims do not fold their arms during prayer.

3) Head Touch: When prostrating, Sunni Muslims touch their heads to the ground, but Shiite Muslims use a wooden block or tablet of clay to rest their heads.