The short answer
Sunni and Shia Muslims believe in the same God, the same Qur’an, and the same Prophet, and they pray, fast, give, and make pilgrimage in largely the same way. The split goes back to a dispute over leadership after the Prophet’s death in 632: Shia Muslims hold that it belonged to Ali and his descendants; Sunni Muslims accepted the first caliphs chosen by the community.
A little more context
From that difference follow others in law, hadith collections, and devotion, including the Shia commemoration of Husayn’s death at Karbala. About nine in ten Muslims are Sunni. Our guide on Sunni and Shia Islam sets out the shared ground and the differences in more detail.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 49:10 Believers as one brotherhood.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Shi‘i Historical overview.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.