Not Living in Harmony: Sunni & Shia Muslims

Not Living in Harmony: Sunni & Shia Muslims

A vast majority of Americans do not understand the Muslim Religion, otherwise known as Islam. A vast majority of the Americans who do know of Islam do not understand the difference between the Sunnis and the Shiites. They are similar in many ways, however they are different in some. In America, it is unfathomable to kill someone over what they believe in. America is the “melting pot” where a Mormon can live next door to a Muslim who lives next door to an Atheist, all in harmony. In those Muslim-dominated countries, death and destruction over minute differences between denominations is commonplace as well as discrimination and segregation of all religions.

It is important to understand that these two denominations are in fact brethren in the same faith. Sunnis make up 90% of the worlds’ Muslim population, while Shias make up 10%. Both denominations read the Quran (the Muslim Bible), both believe that their Prophet is Muhammad and both worship Allah as their God. How the Shia pray differs from the Sunni: the Shia will place their foreheads on a piece of naturally occurring material such as soil, sand, a rock or a tablet made of clay while the Sunnis will place their foreheads on their prayer rugs. Both denominations will hold their hands at their sides during prayer, though some Sunnis will cross their arms right over left.

Both denominations are expected to live within the Five Pillars of Islam: 1. Recital of the creed (“there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet”), 2. Five obligatory prayers in a day, 3. Giving to the poor, 4. Fasting from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan and 5. Making a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia once in one’s lifetime if financially and physically able. As was mentioned earlier, both denominations believe that Allah is their God (the word Allah actually means God in Arabic) and Muhammad is their Prophet. Where the difference comes in, and what usually brings the most hatred between the two denominations, is who is supposed to succeed the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis believe that the successor and new leader should be