Sunni
Shia
Origin
From teachings of Prophet Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.
From teachings of Prophet Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.
Places most closely associated with independent history of the faith
Madinah (Medina), Makkah (Mecca)
Kufa, Karbala
Population
1.2 billion
20 million
Adherents called
Sunni, Ehl-e-Sunnah
Shiites, Shia, Shii, Ehl-e-Tash'e
Geographic Presence
Majority in most Muslim countries. Minority spread across the world.
Majority in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Lebanon. Minority spread across the world.
Articles of Belief
One God, Angels, Revealed Books of God including the Quran, Messengers, Day of Judgement, Prophethood
One God, Angels, Revealed Books of God including the Quran, Messengers, Day of Judgement, Prophethood, Imamah
Pillars of faith
Testament of Faith; Prayer; Mandatory alms, 2.5% for needy (zakaat); Fasting; Pilgrimage; Struggle in the way of God to promote good and stop bad.
Prayer; Fasting; Pilgrimage; Mandatory Alms [one-fifth for Imaam and the needy (khums)]; Jihad, Promotion of good; Dissuasion from bad; Re-affirmation; Disassociation from the enemies of Islam starting from first Caliph.
View of other Abrahamic religions
Christianity and Judaism are "People of the Book."
Christianity and Judaism are "People of the Book."
View of Jesus
Jesus is a prophet, not son of God.
Jesus is a prophet, not son of God.
Belief of God
Only one God (Allah)
Only one God (Allah)
Angels
God created angels from light. They do not have their own free will and always obey the commandments of God.
Angels obey God's commandments. They have limited free, though no drive to sin.
Imams identified as
Saints. Considered as persons with strong faith in Quran and Sunnah.
Infallible. Considered as the only legitimate interpreters of the Quran.
Required lineage for ruler
Can be any practicing Muslim chosen by agreement of the authorities of the muslim populace (ummah).
Must be a male child from the lineage of Muhammad.
Muhammad’s nominated successor
His cousin and son-in-law Ali.
His father-in-law Abu Bakr
Successors after the Prophet
Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, Ali, Hassan, Muawiah.
12 Infallible Imams; Ali, Hassan, Hussain, Ali ZainulAbideen, Muhammad AlBaqir, Jaafar AlSaadiq, Musa AlKaazim, Ali AlRaza, Muhammad AlTaqi, Ali AlNaqi, Hasan AlAskari, Muhammad AlMahdi (hidden).
Clergy
Caliph, Imaam (Saint), Mujtahid, Allamah, Maulana
Imaam (Infallible), Ayatollah, Mujtahid, Allamah, Maulana
Beliefs regarding revealed scriptures
Belief in the Quran
Belief in the Quran
Continuation of authoritative revelation
No, authoritative revelation ended with Prophet Muhammad.
Yes, Imaams or pious followers receive revelation. The purpose is to explain and safeguard the current faith.
Propagation of Islamic teachings
Narrated by Muslims openly in public in Mosques and Madrasahs/Pesantren.
Secrecy of faith and its principles is acceptable when speaking to uninitated. Ultimate meaning of Islam will be revealed with the coming of Twelfth Imaam.
Collection of religious narrations from Imaams and Mujtahids
Muatta Maalik, Musnad Ahmad, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Nasae.
Nahajul Balagha, Kitab al-Kafi, Man la yahduruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, Al-Istibsaar
Did Islam achieve ultimate glory
Yes, mission of Muhammad achieved glory at the time of first three Caliphs and sustained by next three Caliphs.
No, it was hijacked by hypocrites, especially the first three Caliphs.
Branches and their status
Four Schools of Thought: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi and Hanbali. Two Schools of Creed: Ashari and Maturidi. These branches count each other on right path with different way of thinking.
Ismaili, Druze, Sufism, Twelvers, etc. These branches count each other on wrong belief.
Holy days
Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi
Ashura, Eid al Fitr, Eid al Adha, Eid al ghadeer
Use of statues and pictures
Not permitted
Not permitted
Place of worship
Mosque, Eidgah
Mosque, Imambarah or Ashurkhana, Eidgah
Marriage
Men can marry up to 4 women.
Men can marry up to 4 women.
Women
Are required to cover up in a burqa or a hijab.
Are required to cover up in a burqa or a hijab.
Special Day of worship
Friday
Friday
Salah
Five times a day, with an hour break between each prayer.
Five times a day, but prayers can be combined to only three times a day.
Prayers
Is done straight on the prayer mat.
Head is not directly touched to the mat, a clay stone is placed between on the mat.
Offshoot religions
Ahmadiyya (Ahmedi) - a sect of Islam
Baha'i - a separate religion
Temporary unannounced Marriage
Not allowed, termed as adultery.
Allowed.
Name of the practice means
"well-trodden path" or "tradition"
"party" or "partisans" of Ali
Current leaders
Imaams (not in the same sense as Shi'a, where Imaams are infallible)
Mujtahids
Intercession permitted
Major groups of Sunnis do not accept express intercession. However, the method of prayer at dargahs (tombs of saints) may be considered close to intercession.
Yes (14 Infallibles only - From Prophet until the Mahdi, including Fatima, daughter of the Prophet and wife of Ali)
Self Flagellation
No, considered as a sin.
Yes, used to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein. It is usually done on the 10th day of the Muharram month.
Building/Visiting Shrines permitted
No
Yes
Building/Visiting Mosques permitted
Yes
Yes
Original Language(s)
Arabic
Arabic, Farsi
Al Mahdi
Will come in the future
Is already present on earth, hidden by God and will return at the end of the world.
ncG1vJloZrCvp2OxqrLFnqmeppOar6bA1p6cp2aZo7Owe8OinZ%2Bdopq7pLGMm5ytr5Wau26%2F1KelomWRo7Fuv8eimGalpai5qrnS