Sunnis Vs. Shi'ites -- What's the Difference?

We hear a great deal about the conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in the world today, particularly in Iraq, but how many of us in the West really know what this conflict is about? As happens so often in the news, we are given plenty of detail about current events without being given the context needed to understand why these things are happening. What is a Sunni Muslim? What is a Shi'ite? What makes these two groups different from each other and why all the fighting?

As with many religious conflicts, it is rooted deep in history. As most of us are aware, Islam began with Muhammad, who was thought to have been born about 670 C.E. (or A.D.) and to have died 732 C.E.

With Muhammad's death, there was a difference of opinion about who the true leader of the religion should be. At first there they were led by the caliphs who were not related to Muhammad (except, in one case, by marriage), but after the third caliph was murdered, members of the Shi'ite branch backed 'Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son in law, as the leader of Islam. The followers of 'Ali declared that the caliph, or imam be a descendent of 'Ali and his wife (Muhammad's daughter), Fatimah. 'Ali was later killed by the members of a rival group.

Sunni Islam, on the other hand, and found its identity in and drew its name from the Sunna, or examples from the hadiths. Hadiths are collections of the words and stories about the works of Muhammad and the first Muslims. These expand upon or clarify the Koran, the holy book of Islam. For many centuries, Islam was led by Sunni leaders.

About 10 to 15 percent of Muslims worldwide are Shi'ite Muslims, the rest are Sunnis. Shi'ites are, however, the majority group in Iraq. Although the core beliefs of both groups are the same, many Sunnis contend that Shi'ites dwell excessively on the martyrdoms of 'Ali and another early leader named Hussein. Some would say that Shi'ites prefer to try to win over Sunnis to their point of view instead of attempting to proselytize non-Muslims. Shi'ites, of course, say that they are the true successors of the "house" of Muhammad.