0
Iraq has separate communities of Sunnis and Shiites, but this is not intentional from a historical perspective. The borders of Iraq are a 20th century fabrication that does not match the historical conditions of the area.
Southern Iraq was a historical bastion of Shiite Islam. 'Ali, the Caliph seen as most proper by Shiites, had his capital in the southern Iraqi city of Kufa and was buried in the city of An-Najaf. His second son Hussein was martyred in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala. Southern Iraq was also in the Safavid orbit even though it was under Ottoman power. As a result, the repressed Shiites still continued to defy the Sunni leadership with their perceived moral high ground.
Western and Northern Iraq was in the outer edges of Turkish and Syrian control which were historically Sunni bastions. Anatolia was the base of operations for the Seljuks and Ottomans. Syria was the base of the Umayyad Empire in early Islam. This led to to the initial Sunni-making of the area and the Abbassid Empire that was founded in Baghdad further enforced Sunni gains in these regions.
What else can I help you with?
Do Sunnis outnumber Shiites in Iraq?
No, Shiites outnumber Sunnis in Iraq. However, Sunnis over the world outnumber Shiites. World statistics is that Sunnis Muslim world percentage is 85% of total world Muslims. While Shiites are less than 15%. Refer to question below for more information.
What is the largest Muslim sect though a minority in Iraq?
Sunnis are the largest sect even though they are a minority to the Shiites in Iraq
Are Arabs Sunnis or Shiites?
Most Arabs are Sunnis, but there is a large Shiite Arab minority, especially in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.
What were the primary ethnic factional groups fighting each other in Iraq after the invasion?
Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds
Who are the two major branches of Islam that are seeking political control in Iraq?
They are Sunnis and Shiites. Refer to question below.
Are there more Sunni's or Shiites in the world percentage?
the Sunnis are the majority and the shiites are the minority.therefore the numbers of Sunnis are more than shiites populations.
Is Hezbollah Sunni?
No They are not Sunnis. They are Shiites.
The Shiites or Sunnis which has bigger population?
The Sunnis are of bigger population. Of world Muslims, 85% are Sunnis.
When do you think Iraq will stabilize since Osama bin ladens death?
It won't stabiliz until the Sunnis and the Shiites can come to some sort of an understanding.
What date did sunnis and shiites split?
661AD
What were Islams major splits?
Shiites and Sunnis. However, they are not splits as for example in Chritianity different denominations. Sunnis and Shiites differe in minor Islam details. Refer to question below.
What is one of two branches of moslems?
Sunnis and Shiites
