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With the exception of who should succeed Mohammed what are the differences between Sunni and Shiite Islam?
While the issue of Imamat, or leadership after Prophet Mohammed, is the central issue between Sunnis and Shiites, there are numerous other issues:
Self-Identification: Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader of the Umma (Islamic Community) should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad's close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions [of the Prophet]."
The word "Shia" in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali." They are also known as followers of "Ahl-al-Bayt" or "People of the Household" (of the Prophet).
Prayer Styles: Shia pray 5 times a day just like Sunnis but usually do the second and third prayers and fourth and fifth prayers together. Thus, it may seem they do only 3 prayers a day. There are some differences in details of prayer like genuflecting (for Shia should be on a stone or part of earth and for the Sunnis it should be on carpet or floor ).
Doctrines of Karbala: Shia doctrines have their roots in Battle Karbala.
When tragedy of Karbala happened most of Iranians understood that there were two different interpretations of Islam that could not both be true. So, most of Iranians became shia and followers of "Ahl al-Bayt" and forgive their lives for them like what they did in Iranian Revolution and Iran-Iraq War.
Hadith Collections: Shia Muslims have at least 120,000 Hadith (sayings) from The Fourteen Infallibles that is the base of Shia Islam along with Qur'an. Sunni Hadith collections are much smaller as they do not contain volumes from people who lived after the Prophet. Sunni collections also differ based on the School of Sunni Islam. Abu-Hanifa, Ibn Hanbal, Ash-Shafi'i, and Ibn Annas of the Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi'i, and Maliki Schools each have their own collections.
The Imams and Infallibles: Sunnis do not believe in any of this. However, Shia believe 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 Representatives of God in earth and they have inherited divine knowledge of prophet. Theses individuals are the 12 Imams, the Prophet and his daughter Fatimah Zahra (sa). All of them are without impurity and have no mistake and have the knowledge of everything. (This knowledge is from God according to His will and is not absolute knowledge. Absolute knowledge is only for God and they still do not know many things, but they know anything human may need to know.) They never die and they hear all sayings and even thoughts of all humans after their death by permission of God. They are intermediates between God and human.
Shi'ites do not accept that the Imam is to be only a political leader but they believe that they are literally 'manifestations of God', they are sinless, infallible and the bringers of true understanding to all humanity. They are referred to within the Shi'ite tradition as being masum, that is, free from error or sin.
Shia believe that the 12th Imam (Imam Mahdi S.A.) is alive and because people have killed all 11 Imams before him. He is in hiding like Jesus S.A. and will rise with Jesus S.A. when people become ready and want to accept his leadership. All 11 Imams have been killed and during their life they all have been in prison or under hard control of government to avoid them having any political activity.
They never had enough serious followers to allow them to attain political power. Among them only the sixth Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq was relatively free on account of the freedom afforded during the transition of power between the Umayyads and Abbassids. He is primarily known in the West to have taken part in scientific activities, established a university, and had students from all over the world. Westerners 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 those who sought knowledge. Some researchers consider his teachings the root cause of the Renaissance.
Positions on the Mahdi: The Mahdi, according to Shia, will bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth after an apocalyptic battle between the forces of Islam (those who believe in God) and the rest of the world. Sunni Muslims also accept Mahdi and his worldwide leadership as Caliph of God on Earth at end of world, but do not accept the Shia teaching that this person is the twelfth Imam. There is a famous Hadith from prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that Mahdi in hiding 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 and at least 1000 persons have had a connection and conversation with Mahdi during his period of hiding but anyone who may have a relation with Mahdi S.A. should keep it secret and not declare it in public until death.
For further information, please see the Related Question linked to below.
What else can I help you with?
How did Abu Bakr succeed Mohammed after the Prophet's Death?
A group of Mohammed's most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr Siddique a father-in-law and close friend of Muhammad as the first "caliph" of Islam.
Who became the leader of Islam after Mohammed's death?
Abu Bakr was the first Khalifah (leader) after Muhammad
How was Arab established after holy prophets death?
This question makes no sense. Please resubmit. If the question was "How did Abu Bakr succeed Mohammed after the Prophet's Death?" see the Related Question.
What are the differences in school life between great Britain and japan?
Japanese children have to work very much harder at school than British children. There is enormous parental pressure on the children to succeed academically and get into a prestigious university.
Why do Sunnis and Shiites have differences of opinion?
It is unclear what the question means by "differences of opinion".It is not as if all Sunnis like Football Club Barcelona and all Shiites like Real Madrid and so they have a difference of opinion over which football team is better.If you are referring to dogmatic differences, these are not differences of opinion, but differences of theology and politics. The disagreement came to a head when the two groups were discussing who should be the Successor after Mohammed's death.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.)It is important to note that the split between the Sunnis and the Shiites was not the only split in Islam. There were numerous other theological splits such as the offshoots of the Kharijites, the Mu'atazilites, the Baha'i, the Druze, the Ahmadis, and other groups. The difference is that these offshoots are
What is the difference between success and strength?
To have success you must succeed in something.
What is the future tense of word succeed?
will succeed
Would there have been a struggle for the caliphate if Muhammad had named a successor before death?
From the Shiite perspective, Mohammed did name a successor, 'Ali, and there was still a struggle. The struggle came from the fact that the other Muslims did not want a relative of Mohammed's (his nephew) to succeed him, but rather someone more capable as a leader. From the Sunni perspective, it is debatable. There are those who believe that Shoura (a council of tribal leaders electing a successor) was what would have been the proper way to proceed regardless of whether Mohammed had specifically chosen a successor or not. On the flip side, there are many Sunnis that would have seen Mohammed personally appointing a successor to be one more Hadith of the Prophet that should be respected and followed. From a Historical Perspective, it is more than likely. Whoever the successor to Mohammed would be, this person would be in charge of controlling all of the various Arabian tribes that were fighting each other for centuries before Mohammed united them under one religion and one banner. Wielding that kind of power would be very attractive to anyone close enough to Mohammed to have a chance at succeding him. It only took three decades after Mohammed's death to have a full-blown war between different Caliphal traditions when two of the three had no representation at the Shoura that elected Abu Bakr in 633 CE.
Is the word no an adjective?
Normally no is an adjective indicating a negative condition, lack, or absence.Examples : "There was no chance to succeed." / "I had no money."*The exception is when it is used as a negative response in spoken language or quotes. For example, "I asked him and he said no." "No, you can't do that."
A sentence for the word succeed?
It is impossible to succeed a thumbwar with a champion
How do you spell succeed?
"succeed"
How do you use the word succeed in a sentence?
work hard and you will succeed . To succeed work harder.
