Who are Muslims?
By Leah Miller

Muslim Denominations

“In Islam, there are the Sunni and the Shi’a,” says Ahmed. “They both believe in the same G-d, Allah; in the same book, the Qur’an; and Muhammad as the last prophet.” The boiled down version of the difference between these two denominations is that the Sunni believe Muhammad is the last prophet and therefore the last ‘leader’ of the greater Muslim community; the Shi’a believe that although there are no more prophets after Muhammad, there are Imams to help define their Muslim lifestyle and religious views more clearly.

Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. The word ‘Sunni’ comes from the word ‘Sunnah’, which means the teachings and actions of the prophet Muhammad. The term Sunni then represents those Muslims who follow or maintain the Sunnah of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad died without appointing a successor to lead the Muslim community.

Shi`a Muslims believe that Imams after Muhammad are similar to prophets in the sense that they are also chosen by G-d. They regard Ali ibn Abu Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, as chosen by Allah to be the direct successor and leader of the Muslim community. Shi’a Muslims consider him as the first Imam, which continued as a hereditary position through Fatimah and Ali's descendants.

“Both ways are true,” says Ahmed, “but you choose which to follow.”