Ali

Unit 3

Ali was the cousin of Muhammad and the fourth caliph. His assassination in 661 was a turning point for Islam. It marked the split between the Sunni and the Shi'a. The Sunni believed that any devout Muslim could be caliph, while the Shi'a maintained that only descendants of Ali could be caliph. Over time the gap between Sunni and Shi'a has become greater and greater and still exists today.

Sources:
 * The Origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam: http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm
 * Shia rising (Image): http://www.getreligion.org/?p=2219

Created by: Dirk Gadsden (October 22, 2008)