The split that split the Muslim world into the Sunni and
Shia factions is a significant event in Islamic history that influenced the
religion's course for centuries to come. This split, which has its roots in
early Islamic history, has had a significant impact on how Islamic governance,
law, and religion have evolved. It is essential to examine the conditions and
events that led to the split of these two major sects in order to understand the
history and complexities of the Sunni-Shia conflict.
The Initial Years of Islam
The Prophet Muhammad received revelations from Allah through
the Angel Gabriel in the seventh century, which is when the Islamic faith
originated in the Arabian Peninsula. The Muslim community experienced several
difficulties as Islam grew in popularity, such as persecution, intertribal
strife, and outside threats. Prophet Muhammad left Mecca in 622 CE because to
growing animosity, and he moved to Yathrib, which would later become Medina.
This occasion is a significant turning point in Islamic history since it
establishes the Islamic calendar.
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The Question of Leadership
Following the Prophet Muhammad's passing in 632 CE, the
Muslim community had to make a crucial decision on who would succeed him as
caliph. Although most Muslims accepted that the Prophet's close buddy Abu Bakr
should be the next in line, a sizable portion thought Ali ibn Abi Talib,
Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should be the heir apparent. This separation
prepared the way for the eventual Sunni-Shia divide.
Sunni Islam's Emergence and the First Caliphs
The Rashidun Caliphate was established by Abu Bakr, Umar ibn
al-Khattab, and Uthman ibn Affan as its first three caliphs. The "Rightly
Guided Caliphs" era, which is celebrated in Sunni Islam, is distinguished
by the caliphs' strong relationship with Prophet Muhammad and their observance
of the Quran's precepts. The first four caliphs are regarded by Sunni Muslims
as legitimate successors, and their time is seen as the height of Islamic
unification and growth.
Ali's Caliphate and the Rise of Shia Islam
Shia Muslims, or Shi'ites, on the other hand, say that Ali
ibn Abi Talib was the Prophet Muhammad's legitimate heir. Shia faith holds that
Ali's appointment as caliph was predetermined by God. Ali finally rose to
become the fourth caliph, but tensions within the Muslim community increased
under his leadership due to a number of issues and disagreements, including the
death of Uthman.
The schism was firmly established by the Battle of Siffin
(657 CE). A long battle ensued as Ali's opponent, Muawiya, wanted vengeance for
Uthman's demise. At a turning point in the conflict, some Ali's army members
suggested arbitration, which resulted in the creation of the Arbitration Committee.
The Karbala Tragedy
During Ali's son Imam Hussein's caliphate, the division grew
wider. In Shia collective memory, the tragic events of the Battle of Karbala in
680 CE remain ingrained as a symbol of defiance against oppression. In a desert
close to Karbala, Imam Hussein confronted the soldiers of Yazid, the Umayyad
caliph, along with a small group of devoted supporters. Imam Hussein and his
supporters were overwhelmingly outnumbered, yet they refused to swear loyalty
to Yazid, which ultimately resulted in their martyrdom.
Every year throughout the month of Muharram, particularly on
the day of Ashura, the Shia community remembers the Battle of Karbala, which
marked a turning point in their history. It represents the fight for morality,
justice, and defiance against injustice. The passion plays and grief customs
that Shia communities around the world perform.
Theological Differences' Development
In addition to its political implications, the Sunni-Shia
rift within Islam gave rise to divergent theological viewpoints. The idea of
power and leadership in the Muslim community is the main area of theological
disagreement.
Sunni Islam views the hadith, or traditions of the Prophet,
and the ijma, or consensus of the Muslim community, as primary sources of guidance.
Sunni Muslims adhere to one of the four main schools of legal reasoning, each
having its own interpretation of Islamic law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, or
Hanbali. Sunni theology upholds a flexible view of authority, with caliphs and
other rulers selected by election or consultation (shura).
On the other hand, Shia Islam lays particular stress on the
leadership of the Twelve Imams, who are seen by Shia Muslims as the Prophet
Muhammad's divinely designated successors. A keystone of Shia theology is the idea
of imamate, which declares that imams are endowed with spiritual power and
divine wisdom. The largest Shia sect, the Twelver Shia branch, holds that the
twelfth Imam, Mahdi, will one day return as a messiah, bringing justice and
equity back.
The way that different theologies interpret particular
historical events and figures varies as well. Although the Prophet Muhammad and
his companions are revered by both Sunni and Shia Muslims, their views on
particular individuals—particularly those engaged in the early leadership
conflicts—differ.
Influence on Politics and Governance in Islam
Islamist-dominated areas have seen significant changes in
politics and governance as a result of the Sunni-Shia divide. The division has
historically shown itself as power struggles, dynastic rivalries, and
geopolitical tensions.
After the Rashidun Caliphate ended, the Umayyad and Abbasid
Caliphates had difficulty balancing the interests of the Sunni and Shia
communities. The Shia, in particular, opposed the Umayyads because they
believed that the conditions surrounding Ali's caliphate made the Umayyad reign
invalid.
A significant Shia political entity emerged with the
establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate in the tenth century, which had Cairo as
its center. The Fatimids emphasized their validity through their bloodline,
claiming descent from Ali and Fatimah. Nonetheless, the fall of the Fatimid
Caliphate in the twelfth century played a part in the rise of Sunni political
powers in the Islamic world.
An important Islamic political institution, the Ottoman
Empire was a Sunni-majority empire that lasted from the late medieval era until
the wake of World War I. Due to the Ottomans' policy of religious tolerance,
several Islamic sects were permitted to live on their territory. Nevertheless,
there were times when Sunni and Shia communities were tense, especially during
the Safavid-Ottoman wars in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Sunni-Shia division still has an effect on the Middle
East's political climate and that of other places with a majority of Muslims in
the modern period. Tensions have increased due to the sectarian dimension that
geopolitical rivalries, such those between Saudi Arabia and Iran, have taken
on.