They would later be called simply Shia Muslims. Others are called Sunni Muslims, from the word meaning “tradition.” Thus, the distinction between the groups hinges on their interpretation of ...

Britain has an estimated Muslim population of about 2.8 million. Of these some 5% are Shia, the rest are Sunni. The historical split occurred 1400 years ago, following the death of Muhammad in ...

This is the Sunni viewpoint. A minority believed that Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law should lead the community. These Muslims came to be known as Shi’a, which means ‘Party of Ali’ ...

The Middle East is in the midst of ever-increasing tension, as conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is spiraling to involve more countries in the region. Saudi Arabia severed all diplomatic ties ...

The conflicts between Shia and Sunni Muslims go back to the 7th century and the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Yet a spotlight has been shone recently on the differences between the two religions ...

With the war in Iraq and a Shia majority rule there, Nasr argues that the subsequent demand for fair representation in an often Sunni-dominated Muslim world is not a localized phenomenon.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are recruiting and radicalizing local Muslim populations in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.

Edited by Liam Stack Sunni rebels swarm a Shia mosque near the town of Jisr al-Shughur in this video posted online Wednesday, climbing its roof and chanting religious slogans even as its lower ...

Some patterns are evident—a resurgent Iran, heightened Shiite-Sunni ethno-religious tensions ... Fellow Vali Nasr writes in his new book, The Shia Revival, that war in Iraq will not make ...

Shia militias in Iraq have kidnapped and killed scores of Sunni civilians in recent months, a report by campaign group Amnesty International has said. The killings were in apparent revenge for ...