WORLD RELIGIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Shias, a term that stems from shi’atu Ali, Arabic for “partisans of Ali, ‘’ believe that Ali and his descendants are part of a divine order. Sunnis, meaning followers of the sunna, or “way” in Arabic, of Mohammed, are opposed to political succession based on Mohammed’s bloodline.

Detailed explanation-2: -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-3: -Shi’ites believe that Islam should be led by descendants of Muhammad, while Sunnis believe that the leader of Islam should be appointed by election and consensus. Sunnis make up 84 to 90 percent of the world’s Muslims. The word Sunni refers to the words and actions of Muhammad.