The Partisans of Ali
The Partisans of Ali: A Series Overview()
February 12, 2007 In a five-part series, we look at the origins of the Sunni-Shia split in Islam, the religious and historical differences, how Iran became Shiite, and how conflicts involving Shiism have made an impact beyond the Middle East.
Part 1: The Origins of the Shia-Sunni Split()
February 12, 2007 The division in Islam between the Shia minority and the Sunni majority seems to be deepening, not just in Iran and Iraq, but across the Middle East. The split occurred soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, nearly 1,400 years ago.
Part 2: Shia Rise Amid Century of Mideast Turmoil()
February 13, 2007 The Shia are a minority among Islam's 1.3 billion people. For centuries, they have been considered the downtrodden of the Islamic world. But as turmoil gripped the Middle East in the past 100 years, their prospects have changed dramatically.
Part 3: Export of Iran's Revolution Spawns Violence()
February 14, 2007 Iran's Shiite revolutionaries encountered resistance from the Arab states led by Sunnis, Islam's majority branch, when they tried to export ideology. This resistance spawned unforeseen conflicts throughout the Middle East.
Part 4: Iraq War Deepens Sunni-Shia Divide()
February 15, 2007 When the United States invaded Iraq four years ago, it didn't set out to deepen the Sunni-Shia divide in the Islamic world. But that may be one of the most important outcomes of the war.
Part 5: Shia-Sunni Conflict Forces U.S. Shift in Iraq()
February 16, 2007 America's aims in Iraq changed as the sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni deepened. Now bringing stability to Iraq is the goal, while preventing Shiite Iran's emergence as a regional power.
Profiles: Key Individuals in the Shia-Sunni Divide()
February 12, 2007 Read short biographies of some of the major figures in our series about the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Chronology: A History of the Shia-Sunni Split()
February 12, 2007 The division of Islam into Sunni and Shia branches goes far back in Muslim history to the aftermath of the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Read a chronology.
One Thousand Years of Shiite History()
February 9, 2007 Sectarian violence in Iraq has broadened awareness of the split between Sunni and Shia Muslims, the thousand years of Shiite history and the sect's changing fortunes.
Suggested Reading: The Shia-Sunni Conflict()
February 12, 2007 A list of suggested reading about the Shia-Sunni conflict.
