Member-only story
Islam’s Sunni-Shia Split In Layman’s Terms
How this division continues to shape Islam and world politics
The Muslim world has been divided for over 1,300 years, ever since the death of the Prophet Muhammad triggered a crisis over who should lead Islam — a conflict that still shapes the Middle East today.
Muslims today fall into two camps: Sunni and Shia. This split has caused centuries of friction within the Muslim world and continues to influence foreign policy and global affairs to this day. This split is poorly understood in the West and in non-Muslim circles. Many people assume that the divide is nearly equal, and few people understand what the conflict is truly about.
The Muslim split boils down to a common secession crisis.
This schism dates back to Muhammad's death (or ascension, depending on your beliefs). Muhammad never designated an official heir or successor. So in the wake of his death, his followers had to decide the best course of action and choose a new leader. One camp said that the community should raise up a consensus leader. These would become Sunnis. Sunnis believe that the religious leaders should be elected or chosen by the people based on their qualities, qualifications, or piety. The Sunnis raised up Abu Bakr, a close confidant of Muhammad, to be their next leader.
