At the time of the Prophet’s death, the Muslim community was still relatively small and united, but as it began to grow and spread, questions arose about who should lead the community and how they should be chosen.
Sunni Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, and in particular the first four caliphs (known as the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”), were the rightful leaders of the Muslim community after the Prophet’s death. These caliphs were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. Sunni Muslims believe that the community elected the caliphs and that any qualified Muslim could hold this position.
On the other hand, Shia Muslims believe that leadership of the Muslim community should have passed directly from the Prophet Muhammad to his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and then to his descendants, known as imams. They believe the imams are divinely appointed and have a special connection to God.
The first major split between Sunni and Shia Islam occurred after the third caliph, Uthman, died in 656 CE. Many Muslims, including Ali, believed that Uthman had been wrongfully assassinated and that Ali should be the next caliph. However, the majority of the Muslim community instead chose Muawiyah, a relative of Uthman, as caliph, leading to a lasting rift between the two groups.
Over time, the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam grew and became more pronounced. The two branches developed their own distinct cultures, legal systems, and schools of thought, and they often had different interpretations of Islamic texts and teachings. Today, the majority of Muslims are Sunni, while a significant minority are Shia.
The split between Sunni and Shia Islam has significantly impacted the history of Islam and the relationship between the two branches. In the centuries following the initial split, the two branches often found themselves at odds with each other, and there have been numerous instances of conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
One of the most significant events in the history of the split between Sunni and Shia Islam was the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, in which a group of Shia Muslims led by Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a key figure in Shia Islam, was killed by a larger force of Sunni Muslims. This event is seen as a turning point in the history of the split between the two branches and is still remembered and mourned by Shia Muslims to this day.
In recent years, the split between Sunni and Shia Islam has continued to be a source of tension in various parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East. In some countries, the two branches have coexisted peacefully, while in others, there have been instances of sectarian violence. In some cases, political and economic factors have also played a role in exacerbating tensions between the two branches.
