The dominant religion in the Middle East is Islam. However, there are diverse religious movements: Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Bahá'í and Ahmadiyyas.
Sunnis and Shias are the ones with more influence among the muslim world.
Who are Sunnis and Shias?
The word Sunni comes from "Ahl al-Sunnah" or the "People of the Path," it means the people that follow Muhammad's teachings (Sunnah) and habits (Hadith).
Shiite comes from "Shi'at Ali," which means the "Party of Ali".
Jordan is predominantly Sunni. Sunnis are the significant majority in the Middle East and in the world. The biggest community is in Saudi Arabia.
The biggest community of Shia can be found in Iran.
What is the reason of the discordance?
The dispute seems to be started when muslims disagreed over who should be the prophet Muhammed's successor.
Some people (Sunnis) believed that the new leader should ben chose by consensus. Other people (Shias) disagreed, defending that only Muhammed's descendant bloodline could be the legitimate leader. Therefore, his cousin Ali Talib should be the rightful Caliph for the muslim community.
Some people (Sunnis) decided that Muhammed's father in law - Abu Bakr was the most qualified candidate. So, the title passed to him. The other people (Shias) didn't recognize it.
Ali become caliph after the assassination of the two successors of Abu Bakr. But Ali was also assassinated. His sons Hasan and then Hussein claimed the title. But also, Hussein and many of his relatives were massacred in Karbala, Iraq.
Maybe if one of these caliphs weren't murdered, the muslims would never followed different paths.
Maybe if one of these caliphs weren't murdered, the muslims would never followed different paths.
What do they have in common?
Sunnism and Shiism accept the Koran and the teachings of Muhammed as the basis of their religion. Both agree on the 5 tenets of Islam:
- Declaring faith for a monotheistic God and in Mohammed as his messenger;
- Conducting daily prayers;
- Donating money to the poor;
- Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan;
- Performing the pilgrimage.
Everything else is different. Each one has their own believes, rituals, islamic laws, etc.
What are the most evident differences?
- Shias worship and follow Imams, as political and religious leaders. They are believed to be blood descendants of Ali and Husayn.
- For Sunnis, Imams are considered very religious wise men and spiritual adviser, that leads the prayers in the mosques. However, their focus is the islamic scriptures.
- They have different interpretations of the Hadith (descriptions of the prophet Muhammed's life like: actions, habits). Sunnis reject the "Four Books" of Shias.
- Shia rejects the five allegedly original hadiths, and the hadiths attributed to Aisha (one of Muhammad wives).
- Their prayer rituals are similar, but has differences, for example: Shiites will stand with their hands at their sides,
- Sunnis will put their hands on their stomachs.
- Sunnis annual religious pilgrimage (Hajj) is to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Non-muslims cannot perform hajj and are not allowed in Mecca at all.
- The Shias annual religious pilgrimage (Arbaeen) is to Karbala, in Iraq. People of all faiths can attend the arbaeen.
- Shias believe that there were 12 leaders (imam) after Muhammad, and that the twelfth Imam entered a state of occultation in 939, from which he will return at the end of time.
- The Sunnis don't acknowledge this prophecy. For them the last messenger was Muhammad.
- Shia Islam has a temporary marriage contract "Muta" that allows a man and woman to be married during a specified period of time. If it goes well, it can be turned into permanent marriage.
- This practice is considered by Sunni sinful.
These divergences have divided muslim countries and generated violent conflicts, like the civil wars of Iraq and Syria.
It may look like only a religious rivalry, but it is also a dispute for who wields more political power in the Middle East.
The 5-day pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five islam duties (pillars) to be done at least once in a lifetime to every sunni muslim, who is physical and financially able.
Who performs the rituals of hajj will have their sins forgiven by Allah.
During the Muharram, in the Day of Ashura, men and boys shias mutilate themselves by cutting their bodies with knifes, whipping with chains and slapping in bloody public rituals for the martyrdom of Hussein, as a symbol of mourning and regret for Hussein death.
I found the sufi's dance very interesting. Its purpose is spiritual meditation