The Origins of the Sunnite-Shi ite Divide and the Emergence of the Ta ziyeh Tradition

Abstract

This article features the origins of the Sunnite-Shi'ite divide and the emergence of the Ta'ziyeh tradition. The roots of the Sunnite-Shi'ite schism are found in the crisis of succession that occurred after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 C.E. One of the key distinctions between the two factions is the Sunnite belief in the caliphate, as opposed to the Shi'ite belief in the imamate. The disputes surrounding the succession to the Prophet Muhammad precipitated the fundamental schism. The ta'ziyeh ritual is the culmination of centuries of sectarian development, beginning with the crisis of succession to the Prophet Muhammad, which in turn led to a series of political and military conflicts. By far the most significant conflict was the Battle of Karbala, in which Imam Hussein and his supporters were martyred.