Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split?

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Sunni branch believes that Mohammed’s successors rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslim people. These heirs of four caliphs (also the religious leaders) ruled in the Arab world until the break up of the Ottoman Empire.

Shiites, on the contrary, believe that only one caliph (Ali) is the legitimate successor of Mohammed. When the Twelfth Imam ceased to exist in 931, Shiites lost the political leadership. Only in 1978 with the ascendancy of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Shiites regained the confidence in their religious leader. The key difference between Sunnis and Shiites is related to Mahdi – the one who has the role to create global caliphate. Shiites believe that he has already been and will return, while Sunnis believe that he has not yet appeared. Notably, Sunni Muslims constitute 90% of all Muslims in the world. Sunni leaders where in contact with the Western political leaders, while after the attack on September 11 and the resulting war in Iraq, the contact was much weakened and more Muslims tend to Shii branch.

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The Umayyad-Hashemite Civil War and the Birth of the Sunni-Shiite Islamic Schism

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Academic.Tips. (2022) 'Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split'. 31 May.

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Academic.Tips. (2022, May 31). Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split? https://academic.tips/question/consider-and-discuss-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shii-branches-of-islam-tracing-their-history-what-do-recent-trends-and-developments-mean-for-this-split/

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Academic.Tips. 2022. "Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split?" May 31, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/consider-and-discuss-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shii-branches-of-islam-tracing-their-history-what-do-recent-trends-and-developments-mean-for-this-split/.

1. Academic.Tips. "Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split?" May 31, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/consider-and-discuss-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shii-branches-of-islam-tracing-their-history-what-do-recent-trends-and-developments-mean-for-this-split/.

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Academic.Tips. "Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split?" May 31, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/consider-and-discuss-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shii-branches-of-islam-tracing-their-history-what-do-recent-trends-and-developments-mean-for-this-split/.

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"Consider and discuss the differences between the Sunni and Shi‘i branches of Islam, tracing their history. What do recent trends and developments mean for this split?" Academic.Tips, 31 May 2022, academic.tips/question/consider-and-discuss-the-differences-between-the-sunni-and-shii-branches-of-islam-tracing-their-history-what-do-recent-trends-and-developments-mean-for-this-split/.

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