The divide between Sunnis and Shia is the largest and oldest in the history of Islam. Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices.
They do, however, differ in doctrine, ritual, law, theology, and religious organization.
The original split occurred soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the year 632. There was a dispute in the community over the question of succession, leaving the Muslims divided.
This documentary about the early history of Islam discusses the events that led to the schism within the Muslim community.
This happened in the latter stages of the Early Muslim Expansion, as the Rashidun caliphs – Umar, Uthman and Ali were assassinated, which led to the war of succession, killing of Ali’s son Husayn in Karbala, and the creation of the Umayyad dynasty under Muawiyah.
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