WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Shiites believe that the rightful successor of Muhammad should have been his cousin and son-in-law Ali . Shiites follow divinely appointed leaders called Imams. Shiites highly worship Imams and believe that they are sinless and their authority comes from Allah.

Detailed explanation-2: -Shias believe that God always provides a guide, first in the direct descendants of Ali, known as Imams, and then ayatollahs, or experienced Shia scholars who are sought as a source of emulation. The sect splintered due to differences over the proper line of succession among Ali’s descendants.

Detailed explanation-3: -Both sides agreed that Allah is the one true God and that Muhammad was his messenger, but one group (which eventually became the Shiites) felt Muhammad’s successor should be someone in his bloodline, while the other (which became the Sunnis) felt a pious individual who would follow the Prophet’s customs was acceptable.

Detailed explanation-4: -After Muhammad died, the Muslim community had to choose a successor . Sunni Muslims, make up around 90 per cent of the global Muslim population. They believe that the rightful successor to Muhammad was Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law and closest friend.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Sunnis recognize the first four caliphs as the Prophet Muhammad’s rightful successors, whereas the Shiʿah believe that Muslim leadership belonged to Muhammad’s son-in-law, ʿAlī, and his descendants alone.