Why Sunni? Why Shia?
This post goes well beyond the trivial when we consider its significance in today's Middle East. Why and when did the great schism in the Moslem world between Sunnis and Shiites take place?
The schism took place not long after Mohammed's death on June 7, 632 a.d. The great prophet did not designate an heir.
He had chosen Abu Bekr, his friend, to conduct prayers in the Medina mosque. Abu Bekr was elected by the Moslem elders as the first Caliph (Khalifa) of Islam. It merely meant "representative" at the time. His official title was "Commander of the Faithful (amir al-muminin)". From this group came the Sunni faith, and the Caliphate of Baghdad.
Ali, cousin and son-in-law, of the Prophet, disagreed and withheld allegiance for six months. In 656 a.d. the Hashimite clan elevated Ali to the caliphate in opposition to the present Sunni caliph, Othman. Ali was 55. After his followers killed Othman, moved the capital to Kufa, near ancient Babylon in Iraq.
The new Sunni leader, Muawiya, eventually met Ali in battle to decide which should be caliph. Ali was killed by a soldier with a blow to the brain by a poisoned sword in 661 , during a truce, at An Najaf. It is now a sacred Shiite (followers of Ali) shrine in Iraq. After receiving clemency, Ali's son Hasan retired to Mecca and died in 669.
In 680 a.d. Mohammed's grandson, Husein, was persuaded by the Moslems of Kufa to come to Iraq from Mecca with a promise to make him caliph. His caravan was intercepted and Husein and his whole family was killed at Karbala in Iraq. That is the significance of the shrine at Karbala, to which the Shiites make pilgrimages each year worshiping the memory of Ali, Hasan, and Husein.
Source: The Age of Faith, Will Durant
The schism took place not long after Mohammed's death on June 7, 632 a.d. The great prophet did not designate an heir.
He had chosen Abu Bekr, his friend, to conduct prayers in the Medina mosque. Abu Bekr was elected by the Moslem elders as the first Caliph (Khalifa) of Islam. It merely meant "representative" at the time. His official title was "Commander of the Faithful (amir al-muminin)". From this group came the Sunni faith, and the Caliphate of Baghdad.
Ali, cousin and son-in-law, of the Prophet, disagreed and withheld allegiance for six months. In 656 a.d. the Hashimite clan elevated Ali to the caliphate in opposition to the present Sunni caliph, Othman. Ali was 55. After his followers killed Othman, moved the capital to Kufa, near ancient Babylon in Iraq.
The new Sunni leader, Muawiya, eventually met Ali in battle to decide which should be caliph. Ali was killed by a soldier with a blow to the brain by a poisoned sword in 661 , during a truce, at An Najaf. It is now a sacred Shiite (followers of Ali) shrine in Iraq. After receiving clemency, Ali's son Hasan retired to Mecca and died in 669.
In 680 a.d. Mohammed's grandson, Husein, was persuaded by the Moslems of Kufa to come to Iraq from Mecca with a promise to make him caliph. His caravan was intercepted and Husein and his whole family was killed at Karbala in Iraq. That is the significance of the shrine at Karbala, to which the Shiites make pilgrimages each year worshiping the memory of Ali, Hasan, and Husein.
Source: The Age of Faith, Will Durant
posted by Jim | 8:19 PM
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