Sunnis and Shiites, A Backgrounded, Plus Hamas and Palestine

quick research from You AI

The division between Sunnis and Shiites is an ancient schism within Islam. While they share many fundamental beliefs and practices, there are differences in doctrine, ritual, law, theology, and religious organization. Here are some prime characteristics of Sunnis and Shiites:

Sunnis:

• The majority of the world’s Muslims are Sunnis, estimated to be between 85% and 90% of the global Muslim population.
• Sunnis consider themselves the orthodox branch of Islam.
• They believe that the position of Caliph should be elected by the religious leaders of the Islamic community, rather than dependent on direct lineage from Prophet Muhammad.
• Sunni Islam is prevalent in countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, where Sunnis make up a significant majority of the population.

Shiites:

• Shiites are the second-largest branch of Islam, making up around 10% to 15% of the global Muslim population.
• They consider certain direct descendants of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, as infallible and the true inheritors of Muhammad’s leadership.
• Shiites believe in the concept of Imams, who are considered spiritual and political successors to Prophet Muhammad. The line of Imams ended with the 12th Imam, who is believed to be in hiding and will reemerge as the Mahdi or Messiah in the future.
• Shiites are predominantly found in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.

In the context of Palestine and the Gaza Strip:

• The population of the Gaza Strip is predominantly Muslim and overwhelmingly Sunni. Over 99% of the population in the Gaza Strip is Muslim, with a small percentage of Christians.
• Hamas, the ruling authority in the Gaza Strip, is a predominantly Sunni organization. It is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which shares a common set of values with Iran despite the historical divide between Sunnis and Shiites

. While there have been reports of individuals in Gaza converting to Shiism, the number of Shiites in Gaza is limited, and Hamas has taken measures to address this phenomenon discreetly

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Regarding your question about Arabs, it is important to note that not all Arabs are Muslims. The Arab world consists of diverse religious communities, including Muslims, Christians, Druze, and others. While Islam is the predominant religion in many Arab countries, it is not the exclusive religion of all Arabs.

Based on the available search results, here is a breakdown of religious affiliation in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa:

1. Egypt:
   • Predominantly Sunni Muslim, with estimates ranging from 85% to 90% of the population identifying as Sunni.
   • A small Christian minority, primarily Coptic Christians, comprising around 10% to 15% of the population.
2. Iran:
   • Predominantly Shiite Muslim, with estimates ranging from 90% to 95% of the population identifying as Shiite.
   • A small Sunni Muslim minority, comprising around 5% to 10% of the population.
   • There are also small communities of Christians, Jews, and other religious groups.
3. Iraq:
   • Predominantly Shiite Muslim, with estimates ranging from 60% to 65% of the population identifying as Shiite.
   • A significant Sunni Muslim minority, comprising around 35% to 40% of the population.
   • There are also small communities of Christians, Yazidis, and other religious groups.
4. Saudi Arabia:
   • Predominantly Sunni Muslim, with estimates ranging from 85% to 90% of the population identifying as Sunni.
   • A small Shiite Muslim minority, comprising around 10% to 15% of the population.
   • There are also small communities of Christians, Hindus, and other religious groups, but they are primarily expatriates.
5. Syria:
   • Predominantly Sunni Muslim, with estimates ranging from 70% to 75% of the population identifying as Sunni.
   • A significant Shiite Muslim minority, comprising around 10% to 15% of the population, primarily Alawites.
   • There are also small communities of Christians, Druze, and other religious groups.
6. Tunisia:
   • Predominantly Sunni Muslim, with estimates ranging from 95% to 99% of the population identifying as Sunni.
   • There are also small communities of Christians and Jews.