SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Sunni and Shia

In the introduction of Shiite Islam, the Origin and Development, written by Allamah MH Tabatabaei, professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University USA, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, 79, said there are five principles of religion or Ushuluddin Shia Islam, namely:

1.Tauhid, the belief in the oneness of the Divine
2.Nubuwat, the prophetic
3.Ma 'ad, the afterlife
4.Imamah or faith, which is belief in lieu priests prophet
5.Adil or Divine Justice.

According to Nasr, the three basic principles, namely Tawheed, Nubuwat, and Ma'ad, Sunni and Shia agree.


"Only two other basic principles, the imamate and justice, they are different," he said.

For Sunnis, according to Islamic studies professor who was born in Iran and the religion of Islam, as brought by the Prophet to the world, reaching people through the sahabatnya.Yang famous Sunni including Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.

Also some of the others such as Anas, Salman, and for the next generations through the scholars and Sufis.

However, the Shia community, the Koran blessing to them, especially through Ali and Ahlul Bait (translated in this book as a member of a family / household Prophet).

"A deep love for Ali and his descendants, through Fatima, which makes the lack of attention to, even neglect other companions, in Shi'a Islam," said Nasr.

For the majority of Muslims who support the caliph rasyidun, Nasr added, reflecting the legacy of the Prophet and the Prophet was delivering his message to future generations.

"At the beginning of the Muslim community, the friends occupy a respectable position and among them, the first four caliphs stand up as a group that stands out," he said. "Through sahabatlah companions, hadith (sayings) and Sunnah (way of life) of the Prophet up to the second generation of Muslims."

But for Shia focusing on issues and emphasizes the content of inner Walayat prophetic treatise, according to Nasr, look at yourself Prophet Ali and Ahlul Bait as the only channel delivering original message of Islam.

"Although paradoxically, the majority of descendants of the Prophet embraced Sunni Islam and continued to behave like that until now," said Nasr.

Therefore, according to Islamic studies professor who was born in Iran and dominate six languages, although most literature traditions in Shiite and Sunni alike, but the delivery chain is not the same in different stages.