neatorama.com— A quick overview of some of the differences between Shias and Sunnis as well as a map showing their respective territories. Really interesting overview for those of us who are less-politically savvy.
Mar 13, 2007View in Crawl 4
Keep in mind that there are over one hundred of sects of Islam, not just these two. Also keep in mind that when you say "I don't give a s**t, they're both the same", this is the same as when a non-Christian says "I don't give a s**t what the difference between a catholic or protestant is, they're both the same." At the rate Islam is growing right now, it is believed that by 2020, Islam will have the most followers. Right now Christianity has about 2 billion and Islam has 1.3 billion. Judaism isn't the 3rd largest. The third and fourth largest are Hinduism and Buddhism
It's not a war to find WMD's. It's not a war to find Saddam. It's not even a civil war! This my friends is a war about folks who think they're more closely related to an imaginary friend than the other guys! Let's hear it for imaginary friends! Hooray! Question: If I an Iraqi puts a tooth under their pillow does the tooth fairy bring them a shiny new coin?
This is an OK article, but it doesn't go into much depth. I mean there is a larger difference than just the fact that the Shiites don't believe in the first 3 caliphs. For example:Islam all together consists of about:Sunnis - 90%Shiites - 10%Also the Hadith (Traditions/Examples of the Prophet) that the Shiites follow are based on a different chain of narrations, meaning all their Hadith are correct as long as they somehow link to Ali (RA) or 12 Imams (leaders) after him. Whereas Hadith of the Ahl-Sunna (People of Example i.e. Sunni) only use Hadith that have chains of narrations linking back to the Prophet or the first 4 Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali (May Allah be Pleased with them)), this ensures the most correct hadith, meaning the Beliefs of Shiites and Sunnis differ greatly.This is the reason why Sunnis believe what happened was correct (i.e. Abu Bakr becoming the first Caliph):Abu Bakr was the Imam (Prayer leader at that time), he did not want to be the leader of the Islam, but knew that he had to or everyone would stray from the religion, and others decided that he was best for the job, because the Prophet (PBUH) had chosen him as leader of the prayer.It does annoy me that we are split into two group over something that happened so long ago, I mean you can't change what happened, so who care is you BELIEVED that Ali (RA) should have been the first Caliph, because you can't change the fact that he didn't
The media establishment does not want to accept that this is a civil war, Muslim against Muslim. They've invested too much in propagating the image of Muslims being peaceful, loving, and non-violent proponents of friendship.Reality smarts, I guess.
That would be a much funnier joke if it wasn't for the fact that the deathsquads probably have tested. In other tests, they have determined that they can be drilled (usually in the kneecaps, hands, and head), and sandered, and circlesawed.Exactly why the iraqi deathsquads are so fond of powertools isn't known to me; possibly their arms got tired using pliers and knives.
It might be useful to know that about 86% of the Muslims are Sunnis, coming from the term ahl al-sunnah wa'l-jama'ah, meaning the followers of the sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet and the majority. 12% are Shi'ites, coming from the term shi`at Ali, the followers of Ali. About 2% are Kharijites, the smallest group. The Shi'ites are subdivided again, into 12-Imam (Ithna-ashari), Isma'ilis, and Zaydis.The most important unity for all these schools are the two shahaadahs (Testimonies), in which all Muslims believe.I recommend to consult Seyyed Hossein Nasr's books for more information on this.
Redefining the war on terror as essentially the product of ancient feuds within Islam immediately shifts the argument onto terrain favourable to the West. As it stands now our being in Iraq unites the Muslim world against “US”.If America withdrew from Iraq and a Sunni-Shi’ite war took off, the narrative of the long war would inevitably change. It would go from Islam versus the West to Islam versus itself and we would reap dividends in the long run.Sunni bin Laden and Sunni al Qaeda could declare a jihad against Shiite Iran….It would take us out of the gunsights….bin Laden v. the Ayatollah
asdfasdfMar 14, 2007
Keep in mind that there are over one hundred of sects of Islam, not just these two. Also keep in mind that when you say "I don't give a s**t, they're both the same", this is the same as when a non-Christian says "I don't give a s**t what the difference between a catholic or protestant is, they're both the same." At the rate Islam is growing right now, it is believed that by 2020, Islam will have the most followers. Right now Christianity has about 2 billion and Islam has 1.3 billion. Judaism isn't the 3rd largest. The third and fourth largest are Hinduism and Buddhism
bsmeteronhighMar 14, 2007
It's not a war to find WMD's. It's not a war to find Saddam. It's not even a civil war! This my friends is a war about folks who think they're more closely related to an imaginary friend than the other guys! Let's hear it for imaginary friends! Hooray! Question: If I an Iraqi puts a tooth under their pillow does the tooth fairy bring them a shiny new coin?
shakoorhMar 14, 2007
This is an OK article, but it doesn't go into much depth. I mean there is a larger difference than just the fact that the Shiites don't believe in the first 3 caliphs. For example:Islam all together consists of about:Sunnis - 90%Shiites - 10%Also the Hadith (Traditions/Examples of the Prophet) that the Shiites follow are based on a different chain of narrations, meaning all their Hadith are correct as long as they somehow link to Ali (RA) or 12 Imams (leaders) after him. Whereas Hadith of the Ahl-Sunna (People of Example i.e. Sunni) only use Hadith that have chains of narrations linking back to the Prophet or the first 4 Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali (May Allah be Pleased with them)), this ensures the most correct hadith, meaning the Beliefs of Shiites and Sunnis differ greatly.This is the reason why Sunnis believe what happened was correct (i.e. Abu Bakr becoming the first Caliph):Abu Bakr was the Imam (Prayer leader at that time), he did not want to be the leader of the Islam, but knew that he had to or everyone would stray from the religion, and others decided that he was best for the job, because the Prophet (PBUH) had chosen him as leader of the prayer.It does annoy me that we are split into two group over something that happened so long ago, I mean you can't change what happened, so who care is you BELIEVED that Ali (RA) should have been the first Caliph, because you can't change the fact that he didn't
davesbrainMar 14, 2007
The Shia want the Sunni dead.The Sunni want the Shia dead.
bacon_skodaMar 14, 2007
just by the demographics, the sunnis were destined to lose.
caimlasMar 14, 2007
The media establishment does not want to accept that this is a civil war, Muslim against Muslim. They've invested too much in propagating the image of Muslims being peaceful, loving, and non-violent proponents of friendship.Reality smarts, I guess.
Closed AccountMar 15, 2007
That would be a much funnier joke if it wasn't for the fact that the deathsquads probably have tested. In other tests, they have determined that they can be drilled (usually in the kneecaps, hands, and head), and sandered, and circlesawed.Exactly why the iraqi deathsquads are so fond of powertools isn't known to me; possibly their arms got tired using pliers and knives.
sophiaperennisMar 15, 2007
It might be useful to know that about 86% of the Muslims are Sunnis, coming from the term ahl al-sunnah wa'l-jama'ah, meaning the followers of the sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet and the majority. 12% are Shi'ites, coming from the term shi`at Ali, the followers of Ali. About 2% are Kharijites, the smallest group. The Shi'ites are subdivided again, into 12-Imam (Ithna-ashari), Isma'ilis, and Zaydis.The most important unity for all these schools are the two shahaadahs (Testimonies), in which all Muslims believe.I recommend to consult Seyyed Hossein Nasr's books for more information on this.
honestjoeMar 15, 2007
Redefining the war on terror as essentially the product of ancient feuds within Islam immediately shifts the argument onto terrain favourable to the West. As it stands now our being in Iraq unites the Muslim world against “US”.If America withdrew from Iraq and a Sunni-Shi’ite war took off, the narrative of the long war would inevitably change. It would go from Islam versus the West to Islam versus itself and we would reap dividends in the long run.Sunni bin Laden and Sunni al Qaeda could declare a jihad against Shiite Iran….It would take us out of the gunsights….bin Laden v. the Ayatollah
aristotle0dudeMar 17, 2007
Sunni or Shia. Same diff. They all want death or conversion of all infidels.
divaboxMay 15, 2007
Very useful. I bet this article was here about a year ago.
trawinski69Nov 26, 2008
They're going to pass Christians in 12 years? They're breeding like rabbits...
bashsurferMar 8, 2009
To know more about shia and sunnis, please refer to:<a class="user" href="http://www.al-islam.org/nutshell/#Beliefs" rel="nofollow">http://www.al-islam.org/nutshell/#Beliefs</a><a class="user" href="http://www.al-islam.org/discover.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.al-islam.org/discover.php</a><a class="user" href="http://www.convertstoislam.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.convertstoislam.com/</a>
bashsurferMar 8, 2009
To know more about shia muslims:<a class="user" href="http://www.al-islam.org/nutshell/#Beliefs" rel="nofollow">http://www.al-islam.org/nutshell/#Beliefs</a><a class="user" href="http://www.al-islam.org/discover.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.al-islam.org/discover.php</a><a class="user" href="http://www.convertstoislam.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.convertstoislam.com/</a>