Shia and Sunni Islam
Within the religion of Islam, there are several divisions. Those who follow the Sunni version of Islam and those who follow the Shia interpretation are often in conflict. In the Muslim world, certain countries are predominantly Sunni and others are predominantly Shia. Wars have been fought over this division, including a recent 8-year war between Iran and Iraq.
Understanding the differences between these two interpretations is helpful in understanding terrorism and national security.
For this assignment, create a 10- to 12-slide presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint that addresses the following points:
What are the points of conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims? Where do their interpretations of Islam differ significantly?
How and when did these conflicts come into existence?
In what ways do they share the same beliefs? Is antipathy toward the West an automatic position?
Identify which nations are predominantly Sunni and which are Shia. Illustrate with a map.
Provide an example of at least one significant terrorist action by each branch of Islam.
Discuss whether counterterrorism authorities should prepare differently for Sunni terrorism than they would for Shia terrorism.
Sample Solution
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Introduction
- Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with over 1.8 billion followers.
- The two main branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia.
- Sunni Muslims make up about 85-90% of the global Muslim population, while Shia Muslims make up about 10-15%.
Full Answer Section
- Sunni and Shia Muslims have different interpretations of Islam, which have led to conflict and violence throughout history.
Slide 3: Points of conflict
- Sunni and Shia Muslims differ on a number of theological and historical issues, including:
- The rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad
- The role of the clergy
- The interpretation of the Quran and Hadith
- These differences have led to sectarian violence and terrorism throughout history.
Slide 4: Historical background
- The Sunni-Shia split dates back to the 7th century, shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr, one of the Prophet's closest companions, was the rightful successor to the Prophet.
- Shia Muslims believe that Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, was the rightful successor to the Prophet.
- Over the centuries, the Sunni-Shia split has widened and sectarian violence has become more common.
Slide 5: Shared beliefs
- Despite their differences, Sunni and Shia Muslims share many of the same beliefs, including:
- Belief in one God, Allah
- Belief in the Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet of Allah
- Belief in the Quran as the word of Allah
- Belief in the five pillars of Islam: Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
- Sunni and Shia Muslims also share many of the same religious practices and traditions.
Slide 6: Antipathy toward the West
- Antipathy toward the West is not an automatic position for either Sunni or Shia Muslims.
- However, some Sunni and Shia Muslims have developed anti-Western views due to a number of factors, including:
- Western colonialism and imperialism in the Muslim world
- Western support for authoritarian regimes in the Muslim world
- Western military interventions in the Muslim world
- Some Sunni and Shia Muslims believe that the West is a threat to Islam and Muslim values.
Slide 7: Predominantly Sunni and Shia countries
[Insert map of the Muslim world with countries labeled as predominantly Sunni or Shia]
Slide 8: Sunni terrorist groups
- Examples of Sunni terrorist groups include:
- Al-Qaeda
- ISIS
- Boko Haram
- These groups have carried out a number of terrorist attacks around the world, including the 9/11 attacks, the 7/7 attacks in London, and the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.
Slide 9: Shia terrorist groups
- Examples of Shia terrorist groups include:
- Hezbollah
- Kataib Hezbollah
- Asaib Ahl al-Haq
- These groups have carried out a number of terrorist attacks in the Middle East, including the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires and the 2010 Karbala bombings in Iraq.
Slide 10: Counterterrorism
- Counterterrorism authorities should prepare for both Sunni and Shia terrorism in a similar way.
- Both Sunni and Shia terrorist groups share some common goals and tactics.
- However, counterterrorism authorities should also be aware of the specific differences between Sunni and Shia terrorist groups.
- For example, Sunni terrorist groups are more likely to target Western targets, while Shia terrorist groups are more likely to target regional rivals.
Slide 11: Conclusion
- The Sunni-Shia split is a complex issue with a long history.
- It is important to understand the differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims in order to understand terrorism and national security.
- Counterterrorism authorities should prepare for both Sunni and Shia terrorism in a similar way, while also being aware of the specific differences between the two groups.
Slide 12: Questions?
This presentation is just a brief overview of the Sunni-Shia split and its implications for terrorism and national security. For more information, please consult the following resources:
- "The Sunni-Shia Split: A Brief History" by