Sunnis and Shia in Middle East

Distribution of the two sects

Introduction of Islam. BBC

the Five Pillars of Islam:

1.Shahada, reciting the Muslim profession of faith sincerely.  

2.Salat, involves performing ritual prayers five times daily.

3.Zakat,means paying alms for the poor

4.Sawm, involves fasting for the month of Ramadan. 

5.Hajj: those who are able to, must make the pilgrimage, or Hajj, to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca - Islam's holiest site - at least once in their life.

Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices. But they differ in doctrine, ritual, law, theology and religious organisation.

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The great majority of the world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunnis.

Sunnis: derived from the phrase "Ahl al-Sunnah", or "People of the Tradition". The tradition in this case refers to practices based on what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, agreed to or condemned.

Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions at the time of his death. This is that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job.

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The Shia were a movement - literally "Shiat Ali" or the "Party of Ali". They claimed that Ali was the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad as leader (imam) of the Muslim community following his death in 632.

Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin and son-in-law.