Why did Sunni & Shia split?
During the first thirty years after Prophet Mohammed's death, four Khalifahs, who were the Prophets dearest friends, governed Muslims. The new Khalifah was to be someone who had been with the Prophet in Mecca and Madinah, qualified to pass on correct hadith, and whose life was very similar to the Prophet's. The word Khalifah means 'successor.' The first four Khalifahs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, were known as the 'Rashidun' or 'Rightly-guided' or 'Orthodox.' These four Khalifahs were very simple, tolerant people and were well versed in the Qur'an. They were in close touch with the people and were easily approachable. They were very wealthy, but did not think of themselves as better then anybody else. They were shocked if anybody thought of them as a King.
The duties of the Khalifah was to enforce only the law of God, if he didn't he wasn't to be obeyed. Other duties were to make sure justice had been done and oppression put down. He was in charge of making sure that none of his people were to live in hunger, without shelter, education or someone to car for them.
During the first thirty years after Prophet Mohammed's death, four Khalifahs, who were the Prophets dearest friends, governed Muslims. The new Khalifah was to be someone who had been with the Prophet in Mecca and Madinah, qualified to pass on correct hadith, and whose life was very similar to the Prophet's. The word Khalifah means 'successor.' The first four Khalifahs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, were known as the 'Rashidun' or 'Rightly-guided' or 'Orthodox.' These four Khalifahs were very simple, tolerant people and were well versed in the Qur'an. They were in close touch with the people and were easily approachable. They were very wealthy, but did not think of themselves as better then anybody else. They were shocked if anybody thought of them as a King.
The duties of the Khalifah was to enforce only the law of God, if he didn't he wasn't to be obeyed. Other duties were to make sure justice had been done and oppression put down. He was in charge of making sure that none of his people were to live in hunger, without shelter, education or someone to car for them.