The Sectarian Divide Between The Sunni And Shiite

The on-going Sunni and Shiite split has influenced not only the Middle East where it originated but also impacted the rest of the world. The divide between the the Sunni and Shiite which has existed for centuries is one of the most prevalent aspects of Islam. Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices. However, they differ in doctrine, ritual, law, and religious organization. Their leaders also often seem to be at odds; from Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Pakistan, many recent conflicts have emphasized the sectarian divide which began with the death of Muhammad. The rise of Islam is greatly linked with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims to be the last in a long line of prophet that includes Moses and Jesus. Because Muhammad was chosen by God to be the messenger of his teachings, Muslims strived to follow his example. Alongside the holy book, Qur’an, the teachings of Prophet (or hadith) and his descriptions of way of life (sunna) are the most important Muslim texts. Muhammad was born into a powerful Meccan tribe, known as the â€Å"Quraish†, at around 570 A.D. The Quraish were powerful as they were merchants, and made trade along the Arabia, Syria, and Yemen routes, all crossing through Mecca (METMUSEUM, 2000-2016). Mecca, at the time was worshiping two polytheistic groups, whose Gods had protected its trade. After working for a couple years as a merchant, Muhammad was hired by Khadija, a wealthy widow to makeShow MoreRelatedThe Conflict Between Saudi Arabia And Iran1780 Words   |  8 PagesIt’s often thought, i n the west, that the feud between Saudi Arabia and Iran is 14-centurys old and that we don’t understand it because we (the west) are so dis-attached from religion in governance. 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