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Islam is divided into two major sects, Sunni and Shia Islam, each with its own sub-sects. Large numbers of Shia Arab Muslims live in some Arab countries including Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the UAE, and Qatar. Shia Muslims are a numerical majority in Iraq and Bahrain.
Until recently Shia–Sunni relations have been cordial, and a majority of people of both sects participated in the creation the state of Pakistan in the 1940s. [4] Despite the fact that Pakistan is a Sunni majority country, Shia have been elected to top offices and played an important part in the country's politics.
With its various branches, it is the largest Sunni movement in the Arab world, and an affiliate is often the largest opposition party in many Arab nations. The Muslim Brotherhood is not concerned with theological differences, accepting both, Muslims of any of the four Sunni schools of thought, and Shi'a Muslims.
India is the country with the largest Muslim population outside Muslim-majority countries with more than 200 million adherents. [ 25 ] The Middle East - North Africa ( MENA ) region hosts 23% of the world's Muslims, and Islam is the dominant religion in every country in the region [ 26 ] other than Israel .
Islam by country Sunnī Shia Ibadi Map of the Muslim world's schools of jurisprudence [89] Shia Islam is the second largest branch of Islam. [90] It is estimated that either 10–20% [91] or 10–13% [92] [93] [94] of the global Muslim population are Shias. They may number up to 200 million as of 2009. [93]
Twelver Shias sometimes consider Zaydism to be a "fifth school" of Sunni Islam. [4] Zaydis regard rationalism as more important than Quranic literalism and historically were quite tolerant towards Sunni Shafi'ism, a religion of about half of the Yemenis. [5] Most of the world's Zaydis are located in northern Yemen and Najran, Saudi Arabia.
The Sunni Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini issued a fatwa recognising them as part of the Muslim community in the interest of Arab nationalism. [115] [116] However, Athari Sunni (modern day Salafis) scholars such as Ibn Kathir (a disciple of Ibn Taymiyya) have categorised Alawites as pagans in their writings. [109] [117] [118]
Al-Muntafiq Union (1530-1918) It was a Shiite-Sunni confederation that included tribes in southern and central Iraq; ... List of Shia Muslims flags; References