The Difference Between Sunni and Shia. Sunni/Shia demographics in the Middle East. | Charts and Graphs. Educational and note-worthies using this site: Most recently, these educational centers have come to this free, non partisan, non political source. We document all charts - please include that documentation in your download process. Welcome : Kentucky Department Of Education. Humble Independent School District, Heartland Area Education Agency, Georgia Department Of Education, Connecticut State University System, Davenport University, Rowan-county-schools, Ventura County Superintendent Of Schools, Humble Independent School District, University Of Delaware Very important reminder: All documents are referenced. .......................................................................Full Table of Contents at very bottom of this page.
Sunni Islam. Sunni Islam (/ˈsuːni/ or /ˈsʊni/) is the largest branch of Islam; its adherents are referred to in Arabic as ahl as-sunnah wa l-jamāʻah (Arabic: أهل السنة والجماعة), "people of the tradition of Muhammad and the consensus of the Ummah" or ahl as-sunnah (أهل السنة) for short. In English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis, and Sunnites.
Sunni Islam is the world's largest religious body[1] and largest religious denomination for any religion in the world. Sunni Islam is sometimes referred to as the orthodox version of the religion.[2][3] The word "Sunni" is believed to come from the term Sunnah (Arabic: سنة), which refers to the sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad as recorded in hadiths.[4] The primary collections consisting of Kutub al-Sittah accepted by Sunni orthodoxy, in conjunction with the Quran and binding consensus, form the basis of all jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Etymology[edit] History[edit] Adherents[edit] Organizational structure[edit] Schools of law[edit] Shia Islam. The Shia (Arabic: شيعة Shīʿah) represent the second largest denomination of Islam and adherents of Shia Islam are called Shias or the Shi'a as a collective or Shi'i individually.[1] Shi'a is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي) meaning "followers", "faction" or "party" of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin Ali, whom the Shia believe to be Muhammad's successor in the Caliphate.
Twelver Shia (Ithnā'ashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shia Islam and the term Shia Muslim is often taken to refer to Twelvers by default. Shia Muslims constitute 10-20% of the world's Muslim population and 38% of the Middle East's entire population.[2] Although there are myriad Shi'i subsects, modern Shi'i Islam has been divided into three main groupings: Twelvers, Ismailis and Zaidis.[6][7][8][9] Etymology[edit] Beliefs[edit] Imamate[edit] Succession of Ali[edit] Oh people!
Shia Muslims believe this to be Muhammad's appointment of Ali as his successor. Ali's caliphate[edit] Hasan[edit] World War I Summary.