Rise Of Islam Research Paper

There are 1.6 billion Muslims which are divided into the 85% Sunni majority and the 15% Shia minority. Since the death of the Prophet Mohammed, the two sects have argued over his successor which has led to years of conflict and violence. That violence has consumed the middle east, and, through terrorist groups, threatens the world. With warring countries belonging to different sects, this poison of a divide must be understood if it is to be dealt with.

Islam was created in the year 610 by the Prophet Mohammed who then died in 632. This began the dispute over who would then lead the Islamic people, this person would be titled Caliph. The Shias believed that his successor should be someone from Mohammed’s bloodline, as they believed it holy.

Meanwhile, some of the major Shia led countries are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. The key player for the Sunnis is Saudi Arabia while the key player for Shias is Iran. In 1979, Iran had an Islamic revolution that put Shias in power, this encouraged Saudi Arabia to hasten the spreading of Wahhabism. Wahhabism is a type of Sunni that is extremely hostile to Shias and terrorizes the 10% Shia minority of Saudi Arabia. Both countries supply funds, guns, and training for soldiers for their respective brand of Islam to fight in proxy wars. A major one of these proxy wars is in Syria and Yemen. Yemen has Shia rebels revolting which has provoked Saudi Arabia to create a coalition of Sunni countries which is supported by the United States (Aly Sergie). These countries include Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia who “said that another four Muslim countries including Pakistan wanted to participate in the Saudi-led military coalition (“Saudi”).” Shia Iran denies supporting Shia rebels in Yemen and says the attacks from the coalition are “a ‘US-backed aggression’ (“Saudi”).” Siding with the Sunni coalition can lead to us being hated by Shia countries and the Shia population in general. Our interference can also anger some of the only groups that both Shia and Sunnis countries try to fight: Terrorist

It is just as much a political party as it is a military group. It uses its military force to send troops to fight with the Shias in Syria while also using its political force to perform acts such as kicking out former “Prime Minister Najib Mikati”, a Sunni (Masters). Hezbollah swears itself to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran. Two of Hezbollah’s major objectives are expelling the U.S.A from the Lebanon and dismantling Israel. It even goes so far with Israel as to bomb it and refuses to recognize it as a country. With the U.S support of Israel it is no wonder Hezbollah stands against America. Shia terrorist groups are not the only ones to hate America as Sunni groups do as well