Why did Sunni & Shia split?

Abu Bakr was the first male adult to have believed in the message that was sent through Prophet Muhammad. He was also the father of the Prophets youngest wife Aishah. He was well respected for his wisdom and gentleness. After the Prophets death there was an election where Abu Bakr's votes outnumbered Ali's. Abu Bakr was an old man, he was about 60 years old and only rules for two years, (632-4 CE). Before he was about to die he did not give the public the opportunity to elect the next Khalifah, but instead nominated Umar. Ali and his supporters thought this was wrong. Ali was the husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah and the Prophet had given several indications that Ali should have been the next leader, but the Prophet had asked Abu Bakr to leader the prayer when he was too ill, and there was also a strong feeling that the leadership should go to one of the 'elders.' But Ali didn't want to bear a grudge and respected the Prophet's friend.

Umar was Khalifah from 634-44 CE. A Persian slave who took revenge as Umar was preying murdered him by stabbing him six times. Before his death three days later, Umar appointed a six-man committee to elect the next Khalifah. The khalifate was offered to Ali first, on the condition that he accepted the previous Khalifahs, but he refused this.

The Khalifate was then offered to Uthman who accepted all the conditions. He ruled from 644-56 CE. He was killed by a group of Egyptians, while he was at prayer.

After 24 years from the Prophets death the khalifate passed to Ali. He ruled from 656-61 CE.

How are they different now?

The main Muslim group is the Sunni Muslims. They are 90% of Islam. Sunnis base their standards of their faith on the Qur'an and the hadiths of the Prophet and the laws based upon them. Sunni Muslims believe in all four Khalifahs, but the Shia Muslims believe that Ali should have been the leader from the day the Prophet died. Shia Muslims say that Abu Bakr was elected when Ali was burying the Prophet with his family. They didn't want to see the power go into the hands of the old chief family of Mecca, who had persecuted them and had been jealous of the Prophet. They claim the Prophet trained Ali to take over. The supporters of Ali, known as Shia believed that the Khalifate should have stayed in the line of the Prophets family. All Muslim teachers are called Imams, but Shia believe there were just twelve imams and some also believe there are seven, who were given special powers by Allah, just like Prophet Muhammad. They believe the first Imam was Ali and his powers passed on from father to son until the last Imam, Mehdi. The Shia group that believes in the seven Imams believes that the last one disappeared in AD 880 and will come back to restore justice on Earth.

Muharram is an important day for Shia Muslims as it marks the day when the Prophets grandson Hussein was martyred. There normally be religious gatherings and some beat themselves with chains and cut themselves with swords to share what Hussein had suffered.

Sunni Muslims rule Major Arab nations like Saudi Arabia, but things are starting to change as now Iran is the main home for the Shia and is rapidly increasing in strength in Pakistan, India, the Yemen and the Lebanon. The number of Shia Muslims today is rising as people in many developing countries are reacting against the decadence of the modern world. Many of them are very strict Muslims. Most Shia Muslims are ready to give up their life in fighting for what they think is right.