Can you compare the way the shia felt about caliphs to the way the sunni feel about them?

Answer 1

Shia Muslims believe that leadership of the Muslim community should be based on the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad, specifically through his cousin and son-in-law Ali, whom they regard as the rightful first caliph. In contrast, Sunni Muslims accept the legitimacy of the first four caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—as rightful leaders chosen through consensus and community decision. This fundamental difference has shaped distinct theological and historical perspectives, with Shia focusing on the authority of the Imams descended from Ali, while Sunnis emphasize a broader acceptance of community-selected leaders. As a result, the Shia-Sunni divide reflects deeper issues of authority, legitimacy, and interpretation of Islam.