Transcript Religion in Afghanistan

Religion in Afghanistan
Joanie Johnson
Kenzie Wetzel
Per. 1
The division of Sunni
and Shi’a is a result
of the death of the
Prophet Muhammad.
Sunni Muslims
believed the new
Prophet should be
elected by the
people.
Shi’a Muslims
believed the position
should have been
given to the next
closest kin, Ali bin
Abu Talib (cousin and
son in law of
Muhammad).
In Afghanistan the two main groups of
Islam are are Sunni Muslims and Shi’a
Muslims. Sunni Muslims consist of 8090% of the population and Shi’a
Muslims consist of 10-20%.
Both Sunnis and
Shias share
fundamental
religious beliefs
under the Islam
religion
Both follow the
teachings of
the Qur'an.
Both believe that Mecca,
Jerusalem, and Medina are
Holy Cities. The Shiites
also believe that Najaf and
Karbala are Holy Cities.
Both the Shi’a and
the Sunni believe a
man can marry up to
four women.
Both observe Ramadan,
a time of reflection
and devotion to their
Religion, during the
ninth month of the
islamic calendar.
Both believe that Allah
will resurrect all
people to question them
about their faith and
actions.
Sunnis- 5
Pillars of Faith
Shahada- There is
no God except
Allah, and Muhammad
is his messenger
Salut- Prayer 5
times daily
Zakat- Giving to
the poor
Sawm-Fasting
(Ramadan)
Hajj- Pilgrimage to
Mecca
Shi’a- Ancillaries of
the Faith
Salut- Prayer 3 times daily
Sawm- Fasting (Ramadan)
Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca
Zakāh- Giving to the poor
Khums- 20% tax
Jihad- “Struggling” toward
Allah
Nahi-Anil-MunkarForbidding what is evil
Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf- Commanding
what is good
Tawalla- Express love
towards prophets and
friends of Allah
Tabarra- Isolate selves
from enemies of Allah
Sunnis pray with their
arms crossed at their
stomach or chests.
Shias pray with their
hands by their side.
The differences between
Sunni and Shi’a stemmed
from political
differences, but over
time this has led to some
spiritual differences.
Shia Muslims
views imams
as spiritual
leaders who
are direct
descendants
of Muhammad,
chosen by
Allah, and
free of sin .
Sunni Muslims
view imams as
highly respected
prayer leaders,
but do not
believe they are
free of sin.
Sunni and Shi’a both
mourn the death of Imam
Hussein (grandson of the
prophet Muhammad), who
died a martyr in the
Battle of Karbala in 680
AD on the Day of Ashura.
Sunni Muslims view
Ashura as the day
Israelites were
freed from
Egyptian Pharaohs.
They partake in a
day-long fast as
tradition because
Moses fasted on
the day in
appreciation.
Ashura is solely a
day of mourning
for the the Shi’a
Muslims. They
express their
grief through
punishment of
self-flagellation
and beating their
chests.
Iranian Revolution
In 1979, the Iranian
Revolution resulted in Shi’a
Islamic leader Ruhollah
Khomeini’s control of Iran.
The Revolution marked the
beginning of a radical agenda
by the Shi’a muslims against
their oppression at the hands
of the Sunni.
Following the
Revolution, Iran
supported radical Shi’a
groups while other
nations in the Middle
East, such as Iraq and
Afghanistan, supported
radical Sunni groups,
like the Taliban.
The religious divide
between the Sunni and Shi’a
caused many conflicts and
was a driving force behind
the Iran-Iraq War
(September 1980 – August
1988).
Current Conflict
Much of the conflict today between the Shi’a and Sunni is
violence caused by radical groups. This violence comes in
different forms including destruction of each other’s mosques,
bombings, abductions, and murders.
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