HANDOUT 1: Sunni and Shia – Comparison Chart
|
Sunni |
Shia |
|
|
Adherents called |
Sunnis |
Shiites or Shi'i |
|
Meaning of name |
"tradition" or "well-trodden path" |
"partisans of Ali" |
|
Current adherents |
85-90 percent of Muslims, 1.275-1.35 billion |
10-15 percent of Muslims, 150-225 million |
|
Did Muhammad designate a successor? |
No |
Yes |
|
True successor of the Prophet |
Abu Bakr, father of Muhammad's wife, A'isha |
Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of Fatimah, Muhammad's daughter |
|
Qualifications for leader of the faith |
Tribe of the Prophet; later, any qualified ruler |
Family of the Prophet |
|
Leadership |
Imam is a prayer leader; no clerical hierarchy |
Imam is exalted position; Ayatollah is title for highest imams |
|
Quality of imams |
Human |
Infallible manifestations of God; perfect interpreters of the Qur'an |
|
Approach to Islam |
Qur'an applies to entire life; individuals approach God directly |
More orthodox; Qur'an and laws interpreted by clerics |
|
Holy cities |
Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem |
Mecca, Najaf, Karbala, Medina, Jerusalem |
|
Day of communal worship (not considered Sabbath or a holy day) |
Friday |
Friday |
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Last updated on Thursday, October 27, 2011.
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