Serious question about Islam...

[HandsomePete]

Disclaimer: I INTEND this to be a serious topic, and not to start any flame wars or turn this into some sort of battleground.

Ok, I really want to know if there is some sort of serious ideological beef between the Shi'ite and Sunnis, beside who the official successor of Mohammed was. Or is it almost like a gang war between the Bloods and Kripz? I'm reading stories on the newswire at work where it just seems like a group of one runs across the other, and they start fighting.

Again, I'm not asking this to start some sort of fight, I just think the Western world could stand to know a little more about the subject, and this is the only site I know of that actually pulls in a few Muslims here and there where I could really pose such a query.

[the-salmon-of-doubt]

when muhammad died there was a power vacuum and the sunnis and shiites both wanted to install different leaders, and they've basically been pissed off at each other ever since though the amount that people actually care varies. there's also the whole thing of you'll help your group before you help another, but that's a different subject

[Mr-Furious]

I think the only difference is each group wanted a different person or kind of person to be Caliph, but you already know this.

[HandsomePete]

At 12/4/06 07:20 PM, the-salmon-of-doubt wrote: when muhammad died there was a power vacuum and the sunnis and shiites both wanted to install different leaders, and they've basically been pissed off at each other ever since though the amount that people actually care varies. there's also the whole thing of you'll help your group before you help another, but that's a different subject

Yea. but that's my point... What are the ideological reasons they're fighting over? What are the differences that their leaders are preaching these days, because it's highly unlike that any of the Imams can claim descendency from either side. It really just sounds like a gang war to me, in which case, there's reeeeally no way for outside forces to solve this... Anyway, I'm probably asking a question above the general mentality for this site.

[Zen444]

Call me when they stop putting women in beekeeper suits.

[the-salmon-of-doubt]

At 12/4/06 07:28 PM, HandsomePete wrote:

Yea. but that's my point... What are the ideological reasons they're fighting over? What are the differences that their leaders are preaching these days, because it's highly unlike that any of the Imams can claim descendency from either side. It really just sounds like a gang war to me, in which case, there's reeeeally no way for outside forces to solve this... Anyway, I'm probably asking a question above the general mentality for this site.

it's just a deep rooted resentment of each other. they've been fighting each other for power for a while now too. even saddam did it. also sorry if i missed something. i wasn't really paying attention. i just saw "why are muslim sects fighting". but if you already know about the power struggle then you basically already know why they're trying to kill each other

[Sybot]

Put simply, Sunnis believe that they should be led by people chosen on their merits or skills e.g. by democracy or military coup. Shiites believe that leaders should be chosen by Allah, or his representatives.

This is why Saddam's Sunni government, while evil, was not very religious-based, but Iran's Shiite government is.

[HandsomeJake]

Okay, how long have you had the username HandsomePete? Because now I'm pizzored.

[HandsomePete]

At 12/4/06 08:15 PM, Sybot wrote: Put simply, Sunnis believe that they should be led by people chosen on their merits or skills e.g. by democracy or military coup. Shiites believe that leaders should be chosen by Allah, or his representatives.

This is why Saddam's Sunni government, while evil, was not very religious-based, but Iran's Shiite government is.

Thank Buddha someone had a decent response to this. At least that gives us some insight. I'd still like to hear some of our Muslims speak out on the matter though, and give their opinions.
And I've been Handsome Pete for about two years now, and in case you're too stupid to realize it, it's based off of the Simpsons character as seen in my sig, and my real name isn't even Pete.

[HandsomeJake]

I am too stupid. Thank you for pointing that out