Sunni and Shiite Facts

Sunni

• 90% of Muslim population
• 1st 4 Caliphs were the rightful successors to Mohammad
• Mahdi will come
• Had a Caliphate to the end of the Ottoman Empire
• Imams are scholars who say prayers
• Created the first Islamic Fundamentalist Group- the Muslim Brotherhood
• Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda is Sunni

Shiite

• 10% of the Muslim Population
• Only the 4th Caliph,Ali was the rightful successor to Mohammad
• Mahdi has been
• Imams are believed to be descended from Mohammad-the last one in 12th Century
• Ayatollah Khomeiini (Iran 1978) and Hezbollah (Palestine)
• Name is derived from Shi'at Ali= 'faction of Ali' who was Mohammad's cousin
• Ali's tomb is in Najaf
• Ali's sons tomb is in Karbala

I think it was important to point out where Ali and his son are buried.They are very important to the Shiite. We will all have heard of the towns and the fighting that has persisted in these towns in Iraq.

Similarities

Both live by the following 5 rules;

1. Shehada-there is only one God, and Mohammed is his messenger


2. Salah-5 daily prayers
   
3. Zakat-a voluntary religious tax given to the poor
   
4. Sawm-fasting for Ramadam
   
5. Hajj-a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime.