THE 1970S 1969 1979
CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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There would be MORE fighting over control of Iraq’s government
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There would be LESS fighting over control of Iraq’s government
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Either A or B
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -Though the two main sects within Islam, Sunni and Shia, agree on most of the fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam, a bitter split between the two goes back some 14 centuries. The divide originated with a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Islamic faith he introduced.
Detailed explanation-2: -Those who followed the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law (’Ali) became known as Shi’a (the followers of the Party of ‘Ali – Shi’atu Ali). Sunnis focus on following the Prophet’s example whereas Shi’a focus on the lineage of Muhammad’s family through a series of Imams.
Detailed explanation-3: -Struggles between Sunni and Shia forces have fed a Syrian civil war that threatens to transform the map of the Middle East, spurred violence that is fracturing Iraq, and widened fissures in a number of tense Gulf countries.
Detailed explanation-4: -Shiites believe the Prophet Mohammed should have been succeeded by his son-in-law, Imam Ali, and leadership of the Muslim world should pass through the prophet’s descendants. Sunnis don’t believe the leadership of the Muslim world should necessarily pass through hereditary succession.