The news regarding conflict in the Middle East is confusing so I thought I would help my friends with a brief lesson on Muslim politics. There are two main constituencies; the Sunnis and the Shiites. Reading aloud in 9th grade poly-sci there was one kid who inadvertently called them, "the $h*tty Muslims." Needless to say the teacher darn-near had an aneurysm! But back to the task at hand ....
Sunni and Shia Muslims share fundamental Islamic beliefs. The difference between them is essentially political and has to do with acceptance of governing authority. Sunni Muslims account for 85% of Muslims in the world. But heavy populations of Shia, or Shiite Muslims, can be found in Iran and Iraq.
“The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. Sunni Muslims agree that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job. This is what was done, and the Prophet Muhammad's close friend and advisor, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. Sunni Muslims state that there is no basis in Islam for a hereditary privileged class of spiritual leaders, and certainly no basis for the veneration or intercession of saints. Sunni Muslims contend that leadership of the community is not a birthright, but a trust that is earned and which may be given or taken away by the people themselves.”
Does that help to clarify? In short, when Sunnis have the majority of power and elect leaders, the Shia population is not always supporting or following those leaders. So an oversimplified explanation is that then you might see protests or rebels or insurgents fighting within their own countries.
Extra credit if you can name the mosque in the picture ..... class dismissed!
