Sunni-Shi'a Split

Time Period- 656 to 661 CE

Conflict Type- Religious

Underlying Causes-
·         Resentments began to build over how the booty from the conquests should be divided among the tribal groups that made up the Islamic community which came from sudden successes of Muslim armies and the sudden rise of the Arab empire.
·         Death of Muhammad

Turning Points/Events-
·         Murder of the third caliph Uthman. It made supporters of Ali think Ali was the next caliph. The Umayyad rejected Ali’s claims and swore revenge from Uthman’s assassin.
·         Battle of Siffin: Ali won over by plea of meditation.
·         Umayyad regrouped and added Egypt to its claims.
·         In 660 Mu’awiya the new leader of the Umayyad declared to be caliph in Jerusalem.

Ending Events-
·         Mu’awiya caliph of Jerusalem
·         Ali assassination

End Result-
·         Split in Sunnis who backed up the Umayyad and the Shi’a who backed up with Ali.
·         Hostility was still there with Ali’s son Husayn. Husayn with a small party was killed at Karbala in 680.

Conflict Analysis by Reema N