10 Differences Between Sunni and Shia: History, Belief, and the Events That Shaped Islam

The question of the differences between Sunni and Shia is among the most searched and least carefully explained topics related to Islam. It is often discussed during moments of crisis, conflict, or political tension, stripped of historical depth and human context. Yet the Sunni–Shia distinction did not emerge overnight, nor does it represent two separate religions.

This article offers a clear, structured, and journalistically grounded explanation of ten major differences between Sunni and Shia Islam, rooted in early history, theology, law, and collective memory. It reflects an independent editorial approach, designed for an international readership seeking understanding rather than polemics.

10 Differences Between Sunni and Shia

Before exploring distinctions, one fact must be stated plainly: Sunni and Shia Muslims share the same Islam.

Both believe in:

• One God (Allah)

• Prophet Muhammad as the final messenger

• Qur’an as divine revelation

• Prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage as pillars of faith

They face the same Kaaba, read the same Qur’an, and recognize the same moral framework. The differences that follow arose after the Prophet’s death, shaped by questions of leadership and authority.

1. Succession After the Prophet

The first and most fundamental difference concerns leadership.

• Sunni view: The Prophet did not appoint a successor. Leadership of the Muslim community was decided through consultation, resulting in Abu Bakr becoming the first caliph.

• Shia view: The Prophet designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor, making leadership a matter of divine guidance rather than community choice.

This disagreement laid the foundation for all later differences.

2. Concept of Religious Leadership

Leadership evolved differently in the two traditions.

• Sunni Islam recognizes caliphs as political leaders, not divinely guided figures. Religious authority rests with scholars.

• Shia Islam believes in a line of Imams, beginning with Ali, who possess spiritual and religious authority alongside political legitimacy.

For Shia Muslims, the Imamate is a core theological principle; for Sunnis, it does not exist.

3. Sources of Religious Law

Both traditions derive law from Islam’s foundational texts but prioritize them differently.

• Sunnis rely on the Qur’an, Hadith, consensus, and reasoning, forming four main schools of jurisprudence.

• Shias emphasize the Qur’an and Hadith transmitted through the Prophet’s family and grant interpretive authority to qualified jurists in the absence of the Imam.

These methods sometimes lead to different legal conclusions.

4. The Status of the Prophet’s Companions

How early Islamic figures are viewed marks another divide.

• Sunni tradition generally regards all companions of the Prophet as righteous and worthy of respect.

• Shia tradition holds a more critical view, distinguishing between those loyal to Ali and those seen as opposing the rights of the Prophet’s family.

This difference shapes historical narratives and theological emphasis.

5. The Dispute Over Fadak

One of the most symbolic early disagreements concerns Fadak, a fertile land near Medina.

• Shia perspective: Fadak was gifted by the Prophet to his daughter, Bibi Sayyeda Fatima Zahra, and its confiscation after his death represents injustice toward the Prophet’s family.

• Sunni perspective: Prophets do not leave inheritance; therefore, Fadak was treated as public property under state administration.

The issue reflects deeper questions of authority, inheritance, and legitimacy.

6. The Account of Fatima Zahra’s House

Another sensitive difference lies in historical memory.

• Shia historical sources report that during attempts to enforce allegiance, the door of Fatima Zahra’s house was burned, causing her injury and leading to her early death.

• Sunni scholarship largely rejects this account, emphasizing the integrity of early companions and questioning the reliability of these narrations.

This divergence illustrates how early events are remembered differently across traditions.

7. Karbala and the Meaning of Ashura

The events of Karbala remain central to Shia identity.

• Shia Islam views the martyrdom of Imam Husayn as a defining moral event, commemorated annually during Ashura as a stand against injustice.

• Sunni Islam recognizes the tragedy but does not ritualize it in the same way.

For Shias, Karbala is a living ethical lesson; for Sunnis, it is a historical tragedy.

8. Ritual Differences in Prayer

Daily worship is largely similar, yet distinctions exist.

• Shia Muslims may combine certain daily prayers and use a clay tablet during prostration.

• Sunnis typically pray five times separately and prostrate directly on prayer mats.

These differences reflect jurisprudential interpretation rather than doctrinal separation.

9. Religious Authority Today

Modern religious structures also differ.

• Sunni Islam lacks a centralized clerical hierarchy; authority is distributed among scholars.

• Shia Islam recognizes senior jurists (marja‘) whose rulings followers may adopt.

This system gives Shia communities a more formal clerical structure.

10. Political Interpretation of History

Finally, politics plays a different role.

• Sunni historical thought often emphasizes unity and continuity of governance.

• Shia thought frequently centers on resistance to illegitimate authority and moral opposition to oppression.

These perspectives continue to influence political discourse in various Muslim societies.

Living Beyond Labels

Globally, about 85–90% of Muslims are Sunni, while 10–15% are Shia. They live together across the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. In many regions, sectarian identity is secondary to culture, nationality, and shared daily life.

History shows long periods of coexistence, cooperation, and shared intellectual development.

The 10 differences between Sunni and Shia do not point to two Islams, but to one faith shaped by differing historical experiences. These distinctions—rooted in leadership, law, and memory—have evolved over centuries and continue to influence Muslim societies today.

Understanding them requires context, restraint, and respect for multiple perspectives. When explained carefully, these differences illuminate Islam’s complexity rather than divide its followers.