Shia–Sunni relations

Sunni and Shī‘ah are the two major denominations of Islam . The demographic breakdown between the two groups is difficult to assess and varies by source, but a good approximation is that 70% to 75% of the world's Muslims are Sunni , and 15% are Shī‘ī, with most Shī‘īs belonging to the Twelver tradition and the rest divided between several other groups. Shī‘īs make up the majority of the population in Iran , Iraq , Azerbaijan and Bahrain , and they are the largest religious group in Lebanon . Sunnis are a majority in other Muslim communities in South East Asia , China , South Asia , Africa and the rest of the Arab world. The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632(AD), leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world which led to the Battle of Siffin . Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is the most common element of friction throughout the middle east. Over the years Sunni-Shī‘ah relations have been marked by both cooperation and conflict, with conflict predominating . A period of relative harmony during most of the twentieth century has been replaced by conflict, particularly following the American invasion of Iraq .

Sunni and Shia Islam are the two major denominations of Islam . The demographic breakdown between the two denominations is difficult to assess and varies by source, but a good approximation is that 85–90% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and 10-15% are Shia, with most Shias belonging to the Twelver tradition and the rest divided between many other groups. Sunnis are a majority in most Muslim communities: in Southeast Asia , China , South Asia , Africa , and most of the Arab world . Shia make up the majority of the citizen population in Iraq , Iran , Azerbaijan , and Bahrain , as well as being a politically significant minority in Lebanon . Azerbaijan is predominantly Shia; however, practicing adherents are much fewer. Indonesia has the largest number of Sunni Muslims, while Iran has the largest number of Shia Muslims (Twelver) in the world. Pakistan has the second-largest Sunni as well as the second-largest Shia Muslim (Twelver) population in the world. The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world, which led to the Battle of Siffin . The dispute intensified greatly after the Battle of Karbala , in which Hussein ibn Ali and his household were killed by the ruling Umayyad Caliph Yazid I , and the outcry for revenge divided the early Islamic community. Today, there are differences in religious practice, traditions, and customs, often related to jurisprudence . Although all Muslim groups consider the Quran to be divine, Sunni and Shia have different opinions on hadith . Over the years, Sunni–Shia relations have been marked by both cooperation and conflict. Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is a major element of friction throughout the Middle East . Tensions between communities have intensified during power struggles, such as the Bahraini uprising , the Iraq War , and most recently the Syrian Civil War and in the formation of the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and its advancement on Syria and Northern Iraq. "Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population" . Pew Research Center . 7 October 2009 . Of the total Muslim population, 10–15% are Shia Muslims and 85% are Sunni Muslims. "Ishtiaq Ahmed on Pakistan movement" . lu.se .

Relations between adherents of Shia and Sunni Islam After the death of Muhammad in 632, a group of Muslims, who would come to be known as the Sunnis , believed that Muhammad's successor as caliph of the Islamic community should be Abu Bakr , whereas a second group of Muslims, who would come to be known as the Shias , believed that his successor should have been Ali . This dispute spread across various parts of the Muslim world, which eventually led to the Battle of Jamal and Battle of Siffin . Sectarianism based on this historic dispute intensified greatly after the Battle of Karbala , in which Husayn ibn Ali and some of his close partisans, including members and children of the household of prophet (Ahl al bayt), were killed by the ruling Umayyad Caliph Yazid I , and the outcry for revenge divided the early Islamic community, albeit disproportionately, into two groups, the Sunni and the Shia. This is known today as the Islamic schism . The present demographic breakdown between the two denominations is difficult to assess and varies by source, with most approximations stating that roughly 90% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and 10% are Shia ; with about 85% of Shias belonging to the Twelver tradition, and the rest divided between other small groups. Sunnis are a majority in almost all Muslim communities around the world. Shia make up the majority of the citizen population in Iran , Iraq , Bahrain , and Azerbaijan , as well as being a minority in Pakistan , Lebanon , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Yemen , Nigeria , Afghanistan , Chad and Kuwait . Today there are differences in religious practice, traditions, and customs, often related to jurisprudence . Although all Muslim groups consider the Quran to be divine, Sunni and Shia have different opinions on hadith . In recent years, Sunni–Shia relations have been increasingly marked by conflict, particularly the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict . Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is a major element of friction throughout the Middle East and South Asia . Tensions between communities have intensified during power struggles, such as the Bahraini uprising , the Iraqi Civil War , the Syrian Civil War , as well as the War in Iraq (2013–2017) , during which the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria launched a persecution of Shia . Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures . Within the Muslim community, the percentage of Sunnis is generally thought to be between 85 and 93.5 percent, with the Shia accounting for 6.6 to 15 percent. A common compromise figure ranks Sunnis at 90 percent and Shias at 10 percent. See further citations in the article Islam by country . Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses . The Times of India . The Times of India . Indonesia has the largest number of Sunni Muslims, while Iran has the largest number of Shia (Twelver) in the world. Pakistan has the second-largest Sunni population in the world, while India has the second-largest Shia (Twelver) population. "Ishtiaq Ahmed on Pakistan movement" . lu.se .

Relations between the two largest Islamic sects The succession to Muhammad in 632 led the Muslims to be split into two camps, the Sunnis , who believed that the caliphs of the Islamic community should be chosen by a council, as in Saqifa , while a second group, the Shia , who believed that Muhammad had named his successor to be Ali ibn Abi Talib , his cousin and son-in-law. Today there are differences in religious practice and jurisprudence , traditions, and customs between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Although all Muslim groups consider the Quran to be divine, Sunni and Shia have different opinions on hadith . In recent years, the relations between the Shias and the Sunnis have been increasingly marked by conflict. The aftermath of the 1979 Iranian revolution , which reconfigured Iran into a theocratic Islamic republic governed by high-ranking Shia clerics , had far-reaching consequences across the Muslim world. The Iraq War further influenced regional power dynamics, solidifying Shias as the predominant force in Iraq. Iran's ascent as a regional power in the Middle East, along with shifts in politics and demographics in Lebanon favouring Shia, has heightened Sunni concerns about their Sunni–Arab hegemony. Recent years have witnessed the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict , as well as sectarian violence from Pakistan to Yemen, which became a major element of friction throughout the Middle East and South Asia . Tensions between communities have intensified during power struggles, such as the Shia led Bahraini uprising , the Iraqi Civil War , the 2013–2017 War in Iraq against ISIS , as well as the Sunni led Syrian Civil War . The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) launched a persecution of Shias . While the exact numbers are subject to debate, the Shia comprise around 10% of the world's Muslims , and Sunnis 90%. Sunnis are a majority in most Muslim communities around the world. Shia make up the majority of the citizen population in Iran , Iraq and Azerbaijan , as well as being a minority in Bahrain , Lebanon , Saudi Arabia , Syria , Yemen , Nigeria , Afghanistan , India , Pakistan , Chad , Turkey , and Kuwait .