The meaning of the word “Sunni” is “ pertaining to the Sunnah”, being the way of the Prophet Muhammad, while the term “Shia” comes from a political faction called the Party of Ali. “Sunni” Muslims believe that it had been Prophet Muhammad’s wish that the choice of a successor after his death should be by way of an election with the participation of his Companions (Ashab al-Nabi). “Shia” Muslims believe that it had been Prophet Muhammad’s wish that the next leader be Ali bin Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law. Approximately 85% of Muslims are “Sunni” and reside all over the world. The majority of them hail from Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. About 15% of Muslims are “Shia”. They hail from Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Syria, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. Conflicts may occur in regions around the world where Sunni and Shiite communities are close to each other. Other differences between these two Muslims groups exist with regard to their rituals of marriage and prayer as well as the interpretation of the Quran. All Sunni Muslims pray five (5) times a day. Some of the Shia Muslims pray only three (3) times a day. The Sunni marriage ceremony lasts longer than the Shia one. For a wedding ceremony between Shiites, no witnesses are required, something which is essential for a Sunni wedding ceremony. Sunni Muslims believe that their leaders should continue to be (and are) elected. Shia Muslims believe that the Islamic leaders should continue to be Prophet Muhammad’s immediate descendants and they choose to disregard the elected Sunni leaders, and follow their own leaders.
