Difference between Shiism and Sunnism

[Insight]

What is the main differences between Shiism and Islam?

A Shiite I met explained to me that they do indeed worship Sayidina Ali as divine much in the same way Christians worship Jesus(pbuh). Both of these are obvious blasphemies, but I had to explain it here.

I knew that they venerate and idolize many of these historical figures, but I didn't realize this religion had attached divinity to some of them.

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

This view as far as I know is not the mainstream belief of the largest body of Shi'i; the Ithna 'Ashari. These seem to be a heretical belief held by certain Alawites.

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

this is from Wikipedia, further research should be done to examine the merit of the claims.

D

Their theology is based on a divine triad,[61][75][76] or trinity, which is the core of Alawite belief.[77] The triad comprises three emanations of the one God: the supreme aspect or entity called the "Essence"[77] or the "Meaning"[76] (both being translations of maʿnā), together with two lesser emanations known as his "Name" (ism), or "Veil" (ḥijāb), and his "Gate" (bāb).[75][76][77][78] These emanations have manifested themselves in different human forms over several cycles in history, the last cycle of which was as Ali (the Essence/Meaning), Muhammad (the Name) and Salman the Persian (the Gate).[75][77][78][79][80] Alawite belief is summarised in the formula: “I turn to the Gate; I bow before the Name; I adore the Meaning.”[6][61]

[DaZahroJaam.]

Shiaism and suniism, not shiaism and Islam. And yes, you did that on purpose.

[Shapur]

What is the main differences between Shiism and Islam?

A Shiite I met explained to me that they do indeed worship Sayidina Ali as divine much in the same way Christians worship Jesus(pbuh). Both of these are obvious blasphemies, but I had to explain it here.

I knew that they venerate and idolize many of these historical figures, but I didn't realize this religion had attached divinity to some of them.

The orthodox twelver shias don't worship Ali ra, only some Alevis of Turkey attach divinity to Ali and they are considered kharijites by mainstream Shias. Maybe the person you met was an Alevi?

I would say the main difference between Shias and Sunnis is the concept of Immamate. The rest are minor differences. They accept all the 5 pillars of Islam, Quran, the last prophet pbuh, day of judgement, belief in the hereafter etc

[Elite Pakhtun]

Matam is a big difference

[toughpashtun]

The Shias today , particularly in Afghanistan/Pakistan region , are divided into two main groups.
1) The Itna Ashari (Twelvers).
They form the majority in Iran and Pakistan.They may be divided into smaller sub groups. They have very deviant and heretic beliefs and the scholars of Islam have declared them to be out of fold of Islam.

2) The Ismaili
They contain smaller sub groups such as Agha Khani, Bohri , Dawoodi Bohri etc.
They too have very deviant and heretic beliefs and the scholars of Islam have declared them to be out of fold of Islam.

In short, Shii'sm is a different religion from Islam. It is not just a matter of Sunni and Shia, rather it can be said to be a matter of Muslim and Shia.

[Shapur]

The Shias today , particularly in Afghanistan/Pakistan region , are divided into two main groups.
1) The Itna Ashari (Twelvers).
They form the majority in Iran and Pakistan.They may be divided into smaller sub groups. They have very deviant and heretic beliefs and the scholars of Islam have declared them to be out of fold of Islam.

Which scholars? ISIS, Ahle hadith or mainstream sunni scholars?
What is the reason given for declaring them outside the fold of Islam?

2) The Ismaili
They contain smaller sub groups such as Agha Khani, Bohri , Dawoodi Bohri etc.
They too have very deviant and heretic beliefs and the scholars of Islam have declared them to be out of fold of Islam.

In short, Shii'sm is a different religion from Islam. It is not just a matter of Sunni and Shia, rather it can be said to be a matter of Muslim and Shia.

Ismailis are not considered muslims by Ithna Asharis and mainstream shias for a number of reason especially those who negate fard prayers.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

The orthodox twelver shias don't worship Ali ra, only some Alevis of Turkey attach divinity to Ali and they are considered kharijites by mainstream Shias. Maybe the person you met was an Alevi?

I would say the main difference between Shias and Sunnis is the concept of Immamate. The rest are minor differences. They accept all the 5 pillars of Islam, Quran, the last prophet pbuh, day of judgement, belief in the hereafter etc

The Twelver sect ascribes superhuman attributes to the imams. They believe that the imams have knowledge of the unseen. They also believe that Ali is al Qaasim. By that they mean Ali divides between the people of hell and people of paradise.

Ascribing divine attributes to anyone other than Allah is considered shirk/kufr by Sunnis. Anyone who believes people are godlike cannot be monotheist. Therefore Twelvers are polytheists and they are not Muslims.

Only reason why many people still treat them as Muslims is because of the political correctness. But PC doesn't change the fact that Twelvers commit shirk.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

People who claim to be Muslims and see no problem in shirk of Shiites are actually non-Muslims. Because they haven't understood the basic meaning of the Islamic testimony of faith. That makes them no different than Qadyanis, Agha Khanis or any other sect claiming to be Muslim.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Matam or self flagelation is a deviance and misguidance. It is a major difference e between Sunnis and Shiites. However, it doesn't constitute disbelief. People think that this is the biggest difference. The biggest difference between Shia & Sunni is in theology. They have a totally different undertanding of what Islam means. You can have difference of opinion about minor issues with different sects. But you can't have two diametrically opposed definitions of Islam.

[khushal]

All Shias I know and they are all from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq are former Shia, they are all atheist and have no belief. They tell me that the "Islam" they were taught is weird and does not make sense.

Shamlawar is correct. They not only give superhuman attributes to their imams but they do that to anyone who claims to be a syed.

[Elite Pakhtun]

I feel there needs to be a Shia in here to create a coherent response.

[toughpashtun]

[QUOTE=Shapur;801158]Which scholars? ISIS, Ahle hadith or mainstream sunni scholars?
What is the reason given for declaring them outside the fold of Islam?


The three main "Sunni " sects namely Deobandi , Barelvi and Ahle Hadith have all declared the Twelver / Ithna Ashari Shias to be out of the fold of Islam on account of their un-Islamic beliefs.In the 1980s, these verdicts were published in book form.It contains the signatures and approval of hundreds of schoalrs from these three sects l, from Pakista, India, Bangladesh , UK etc.

Let alone what the scholars say, even if a Muslim layman finds out the actual beliefs of these Shias, he cannot in his right kind consider them as Muslims.

[Iblis_Efreetzai]

The three main "Sunni " sects namely Deobandi , Barelvi and Ahle Hadith have all declared the Twelver / Ithna Ashari Shias to be out of the fold of Islam on account of their un-Islamic beliefs.In the 1980s, these verdicts were published in book form.It contains the signatures and approval of hundreds of schoalrs from these three sects l, from Pakista, India, Bangladesh , UK etc.

Let alone what the scholars say, even if a Muslim layman finds out the actual beliefs of these Shias, he cannot in his right kind consider them as Muslims.

Barailwi, Deobandi are simply mushrab, they do not represent the normative views of the Ahl Al Sunnah. Ahl al Hadith are accepted are Muslims, but not accepted as Sunni.