What are the differences between Shia and Sunni practices?
964158
The differences of Shia and Sunni muslims are -\n\nShi'a Islam, Even though it is the second largest denomination of Islam, among the hundreds of millions of Muslims Shi'a muslims are considered to be a minority in number. Shi'a Muslims adhere to what they consider to be the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the religious guidance of his family whom they refer to as the Ahlul Bayt. Thus, Shi'as consider the first three ruling caliphs of Islam a historic occurrence and not something attached to faith. The singular/adjective form is Shī’ī (شيعي.) and refers to a follower of the Household of Muhammad and of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Imam Ali) in particular\n\nSunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. They are referred to as Ahl ul-Sunna . The word Sunni comes from the word sunna , which means the tradition of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Sunnis are also referred to as Ahl ul-Sunna wa-l-Jama'ah (people of tradition and congregation) which implies that the Sunnis are united. They represent the branch of Islam that came through the caliphate, which started with Abu Bakr.\n\nSunni (Arabic: سني ) means follower of the sunna of the Prophet, with some details.
972935
you are right. Muslim is follower of Islam.\nbut then there are Shia muslims and Sunni Muslims. Shias are Iranian Muslims and Sunnis are Saudi muslims. Then there are Ahmedias and Deobandis and so on. Shias follow calender and Sunnis follow moon. hence they celebrate their new years on different days. \nDeobandis do not like music and sufis have their own theory but they all pray allah. which is one god.and they praise Mohammed, as messenger of the God, and say that all previous messenger's like Jesus and others should not be followed, and they also say that Muhammed was the last messenger. After Muhammed there will not be any body worth praying or praising.\nThey are allowed to keep four wives (vow) and their wives do not have any rights. their holy book is quran. read it, if you like.
999540
Mainstream Islam is Sunni, Salahfi's are otherwise known as Wahhabis (Saudis).  Salahfi's believe there is a great deal of bida (innovation) are are trying to return to Islam the way it was during the time of the Prophet (S).  This sect is extremely strict...\n\nSufis, on the other hand, are "in the pursuit of a direct perception of spiritual truth, through mystic practices based on divine love."  Sufis therefore are more spiritual in nature..\n\nNonetheless, Prophet (S) has said the proper path is what the majority of my people will follow... and that is mainstream Islam (Sunnis)...
1044607
Good question.  Unfortunately, I don't know. \n\nMaybe you should ask an imam/scholar.
847079
Might not be a good idea to put the hatred in all of them as a lable.\n\nThe primary difference is that the Sunni don't believe that you have to be a descendant of Mohammed to be the supreme leader.\n\nThey also have differences in terms of how you conduct worship.\nFor example, some Sunni consider some Shite shrines to be idol woship.\n\nTo the Islamist, all people who disagree with him are either Infidel (thats us) or apostates.
360437
Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam - the Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama'ah.\n\nAccording to Sunni thought, Muhammad died without appointing a successor to lead the Muslim community. After an initial period of confusion, a group of his most prominent companions gathered and elected Abu Bakr, the Prophet's close friend and father-in-law, as the first Caliph.\n\nSunnis initially believed that the position of Caliph should be democratically chosen, but after the first four Rightly Guided Calliphs the position turned into a hereditary dynastic rule. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, there has never been another Caliph.\n\nShi'a Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam.\n\nShi'a Muslims believe that Ali was appointed by Muhammad to be the direct successor and leader of the Muslims. They regard him as the first Imam, which continued as a hereditary position. The largest group of Shi'a Muslims believe in a total of 12 Imams. The Shi'a Hadiths include the sayings of the Imams.\n\nShite-  member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali and his descendants as the legitimate successors to Muhammad and rejects the first three caliphs.
114276
It depends my friend, If they immigrated from Iran or some parts of Iraq then they are probably  Shias.If they come from the middeleast North Africa or elsewhere then defenitaley they are sunnis.Actually there are almost no other groups or let`s just say that these other groups didn`t spread outside the muslim countries ,even their spreading in the muslim world is very limited.If you are talking about Americans who converted to Islam ,also it depends upon the person who guided them to Islam but most probably they would be sunnis as the majority of the muslims are sunnis
268142
The only One worthy of any type of worship in Islam is God. The Prophet Muhammad made sure that the believers understood this, and laid such laws from not depicting any prophet or creating statues of them, to declaring in the testament of faith that, in translation, There is only one God and He is God, Muhammad was his messenger. This prevented anyone from turning him into a god or a part of God.\nThis is pretty much the only major difference between Islam and Christianity, as Christians worship Jesus as God or as a part of God, while in Islam, it is forbidden for anyone or thing other than God to be worshipped.
971550
Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed not from spiritual differences, but political ones. Over the centuries, however, these political differences have spawned a number of varying practices and positions which have come to carry a spiritual significance.\nThe 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 with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, 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. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet."\n\nOn the other hand, some Muslims share the belief that leadership should have stayed within the Prophet's own family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself.\n\nThe Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word "Shia" in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali." They are also known as followers of "Ahl-al-Bayt" or "People of the Household" (of the Prophet).\n\nFrom this initial question of political leadership, some aspects of spiritual life have been affected and now differ between the two groups of Muslims.\n\nShia Muslims believe that the Imam is sinless by nature, and that his authority is infallible as it comes directly from God. Therefore, Shia Muslims often venerate the Imams as saints and perform pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines in the hopes of divine intercession. Sunni Muslims counter 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.\n\nShia Muslims also feel animosity towards some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, based on their positions and actions during the early years of discord about leadership in the community. Many of these companions (Abu Bakr, Umar, Aisha, etc.) have narrated traditions about the Prophet's life and spiritual practice. Shia Muslims reject these traditions (hadith) and do not base any of their religious practices on the testimony of these individuals. This naturally gives rise to some differences in religious practice between the two groups. These differences touch all detailed aspects of religious life: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.\n\nSunni Muslims make up the majority (85%) of Muslims all over the world. Significant populations of Shia Muslims can be found in Iran and Iraq, and large minority communities in Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Lebanon.\n\nIt is important to remember that despite all of these differences in opinion and practice, Shia and Sunni Muslims share the main articles of Islamic belief and are considered by most to be brethren in faith. In fact, most Muslims do not distinguish themselves by claiming membership in any particular group, but prefer to call themselves simply, "Muslims."\n\nFor more detailed information about the historical context of the Shia/Sunni split, and modern-day interpretations and repe
875579
No.  Like Christianity, Islam has sects.  Some more radical than the others.\n\nWafa Sultan, a Syrian-American has dedicated her life to teaching us about the differences.  She risks her life to do it.
817836
There are some rules that are set, and some "customs" that are practiced.\n\n**Mandatory**\n1. Fasting (not eating/drinking) from dawn until sunset.\n\n2. Refraining from sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset - from sunset until dawn it is permissible for those who are married.\n\n3. Refraining from gossip, anger, envy, greed, impatience, etc during the entire month - more so than other months (ie the effort is usually stronger)\n\n4. Keeping to the five prayers that are incumbant upon the Muslim every day of the year.\n\n5. Proper Intention of Fasting to please God\n\n**Highly Recommended Practices (according to the way of the Prophet)**\n1. Suhoor - having a light meal before commencing with the fast - this happens before the dawn arrives\n\n2. Finishing a complete recitation of the entire Qur'an in that month (or more if you are able)\n\n3. Taraweeh Prayer - There are prayers held only during Ramadhan after the latest prayer in the day - for around 1 1/2 - 2 hours every day. They are not mandatory, but are highly recommended.\n\n4. Increasing worship in the Last ten nights - praying at night, reading more Qur'an, etc\n\n5. Increase in Giving Charity to others\n\n6. Staying in the mosque during the last ten nights to seclude yourself for worship (it can be for even an hour - and up to all ten days)\n\n**Oft Practiced by Choice (you'll find some people prefer to do some other things such as )**\n\n1. Not watching TV or movies\n2. Not listening to music (as Islam doesn't allow music outside of drums - though when some choose to listen to it regardless, they'll stop during this month)\n3.Wearing clothing that are more modest\n4. Not wearing makeup (although makeup should not be worn for the women, when some choose to wear it regardless, during this month, many give it up)\n5. Less wasting time\n\nAnd then there are some practices that people have which are not recommended such as:\n1. Overeating\n2. Sleeping during the day and waking up during the night - repeating that all over\n3. Neglecting to worship God, while thinking they are because they are fasting\n4. Wasting time\n\namong other "cultural things"\n\nAnyhow, hope that helps!
265006
Well, according to the site (see below), among the "Aims & Objectives" of the Dundee Islamic Society (The Central Mosque) is the conduct of public worship according to the tenets of Islam in accordance with the "DEOBANDI Sunni Sect".   ...Worldwide, the majority of Muslims are Sunni's, so if we are talking UK as a whole then the Sunni's are most definitly in the majority.   However, there maybe isolated pockets of Shiite concentration depending on the immigrates' original homeland (e.g. Iran, parts of Iraq, Lebanon, etc.)\n\nF.Y.I.  The Sufi orders (there are a number of them depending on the Master's Lineage) are the Islamic Mystical communities.  Some of them do adhere to a especific Islamic sect, some of them do not make such distinctions, and at least one (The Sufi Order International)is not even Islamic (and/or religious-based) at all.
156252
Sharia Law is law that is derived from the quran and hadith (sayings of the prophet). Depending on the way it is interpreted islamic law can be extremely oppresive. However, if interepeted properly it can be moderate, even liberal. It doesn't Belong to sunni or shia. They are different sects who interpret it differently. Many die-hard radicals from sunni and shia sect will say that only their interpretation is correct and the other side is deviant. Some go as far as to label them heretics. However the different sects appeared because of a difference of opinion on who should be the leader of muslims. In other words, disagreement over sharia law. They both agree with the fundamentals of Islam, therefore are both considered muslims. Both are free to interpret sharia law as they understand it.
801574
SUNNI\n\nThe conflict between the two is on the spiritual leader, SUNNIs are pro-mohammed and Shiites...some ayatollahs
439035
Democratic is a better option if you have people in your country who aren't Islamic.  And, pretty much every country has people who aren't Islamic.  Also, the various sects disagree on certain points of Islam, so basing your laws on a specific religion like that is going to cause a lot of friction between the sects.
933285
Ali is the central figure at the origin of the Shia / Sunni split which occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the Prophet in 632. Sunnis regard Ali as the fourth and last of the "rightly guided caliphs" (successors to Mohammed (pbuh) as leader of the Muslims) following on from Abu Bakr 632-634, Umar 634-644 and Uthman 644-656. Shias feel that Ali should have been the first caliph and that the caliphate should pass down only to direct descendants of Mohammed (pbuh) via Ali and Fatima, They often refer to themselves as ahl al bayt or "people of the house" [of the prophet].\n\nWhen Uthman was murdered while at prayer, Ali finally succeeded to the caliphate. Ali was, however, opposed by Aisha, wife of the Prophet (pbuh) and daughter of Abu Bakr, who accused him of being lax in bringing Uthman's killers to justice. After Ali's army defeated Aisha's forces at the Battle of the Camel in 656, she apologized to Ali and was allowed to return to her home in Madinah where she withdrew from public life.\n\nHowever, Ali was not able to overcome the forces of Mu'awiya Ummayad, Uthman's cousin and governor of Damascus, who also refused to recognize him until Uthman's killers had been apprehended. At the Battle of Suffin Mu'awiya's soldiers stuck verses of the Quran onto the ends of their spears with the result that Ali's pious supporters refused to fight them. Ali was forced to seek a compromise with Mu'awiya, but this so shocked some of his die-hard supporters who regarded it as a betrayal that he was struck down by one of his own men in 661.\n\nMu'awiya declared himself caliph. Ali's elder son Hassan accepted a pension in return for not pursuing his claim to the caliphate. He died within a year, allegedly poisoned. Ali's younger son Hussein agreed to put his claim to the caliphate on hold until Mu'awiya's death. However, when Mu'awiya finally died in 680, his son Yazid usurped the caliphate. Hussein led an army against Yazid but, hopelessly outnumbered, he and his men were slaughtered at the Battle of Karbala (in modern day Iraq). Hussein's infant son, Ali, survived so the line continued. Yazid formed the hereditary Ummayad dynasty. The division between the Shia and what came to be known as the Sunni was set.
285359
Did you mean Shiite?\n\nShiite is a member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs.\n  Synonyms: Shi'ite, Shiite Muslim, Shi'ite Muslim\n\nShiites (shē'ītz) [Arab., shiat Ali,=the party of Ali], the second largest branch of Islam, Shiites currently account for 10%–15% of all Muslims. Shiite Islam originated as a political movement supporting Ali (cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam) as the rightful leader of the Islamic state. The legitimacy of this claim, as initially envisioned by Ali's supporters, was based on Muhammad's alleged designation of Ali as his successor, Ali's righteousness, and tribal customs, given his close relation to the Prophet. Ali's right passed with his death in 661 to his son Hasan, who chose not to claim it, and after Hasan's death, to Husayn, Ali's younger son. The evolution into a religious formulation is believed to have been initiated with the martyrdom of Husayn in 680 at Karbala (today in Iraq), a traumatic event still observed with fervor in today's Shiite world on the 10th of the month of Muharram of the Muslim lunar year.