Sunni and Shia Muslims agree on the basic tenets of Islam, but they differ on religious authority, leadership succession, and legal traditions
. Sunnis believe that the Caliph should be elected, while Shias believe that the right to rule belongs to the Ahlul Bayt (Prophet's family)
. Key distinctions between Sunni and Shia Muslims:
- Succession of leadership After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Sunnis believed that Abu Bakr was the rightful successor, while Shias believed that Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, should have been the successor
- Religious authority Sunnis follow the Quran and the traditions of Muhammad (Sunnah), while Shias prioritize the descent of divine revelation through Muhammad’s family line through a series of Imams
. Shia Muslims believe that God always provides a guide, first the Imams and then ayatollahs, while Sunni religious scholars exert less authority compared to Shia counterparts
- Practices Shia Muslims place their forehead on a piece of naturally occurring material, like a clay tablet, when prostrating during Salah (daily prayer), while Sunnis pray directly on the ground
. Also, some Shia combine two sets of prayers and pray five times per day with a small break in between, while Sunnis pray five times per day with a gap between them
- Hadith Shias accept some Sunni hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) but do not accept many Sunni hadiths unless they are also recorded in Shia sources
. Sunnis follow Hadith from the Prophet's Sahaba, while Shias follow Ahlul Bayt, specific members of the Prophet's family
- Legal Traditions Sunni Muslims recognize four legal schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali, and Shafi'i, while Shias largely rely on the Jafari school
- Marriage The Twelver branch of Shia Islam permits Nikah mut'ah (fixed-term temporary marriage), a practice not allowed within the Sunni community
