What's the Differences Between the Sunni and Shia Sects of Islam?

Reposted from wisegeek.com

The difference between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam do not exist to the dramatic degree many Western's assume. While there are slight variations in the way they view their religious leaders and attach meaning to the history of Muhammad’s family, cultural and political differences hold the most divisive power. Both sects emphasize the Five Pillars of Islam, read the same Quran, and consider each other Muslims.

The split between these two significant sects of Islam can be traced back to the 600s, soon after Muhammed’s death in 632. Muhammed’s son-in-law, Ali, gained support as the inheritor of the duty to spread Islam. Thus, "Shia" is an abbreviation of "Shiat Ali," or the people of Ali. Not all Muslims believed in Ali’s place as a leader. Yet this group respected Muhammed’s relative as a holy man. He was not a Messiah, as there is only one Messiah. Rather, the Shi’ites regarded him as the first in a series of Imam, or the direct descendents of Muhammad who act as messengers of God. There were 12 Imams before the bloodline died out in the 800s. Each of these Imams now has subsects devoted to their worship within Shia Islam. Shi’ites comprise 10-15% of all Muslims as the second largest sect, but that number is higher in certain countries such as Iran.

The majority of Muslims are Sunni, the largest and more orthodox sect of Islam. Sunnis do not attach any special power to the Imam, but have a rather less structured hierarchy of religious leaders. Some have compared their system as similar in spirit to Protestantism, where ministers are important advisers and community leaders, but they are neither infallible nor chosen by God. These leaders, called Caliphs, teach Islam. They bring peace, dignity, and goodwill to their members and encourage following the laws and guidelines laid out in the Quran. Also, they do not rule the place of worship in the sense of excluding other kinds of Muslims. All mosques are nondenominational, and can receive prayers from any sect.

Some exaggerated differences between Sunnis and Shi’ites are their organization of community religious leaders and their method of prayer. It’s true that Shi’ites focus more on the torment of martyrdom suffered by the Imams, and voluntarily submit to physical pain in order to sympathize with them. Yet Sunnis, too, respect the martyrs. Also, Shi’ites might combine the five daily prayers into three or four, if they work long hours, but this does not necessarily indicate a lesser amount of devotion. Since their respective country’s government does not always distribute funds in a way Shi’ites agree with, they might pay their zakat (a form of alms or tithing) directly to the poor, while Sunnis pay to the state. It’s largely apocryphal that Shi’ites promote a temporary marriage known as muttah for men travelling far from home, as this would run counter to the obligation of chastity.

Spring

Can you smell it... Spring is in the air...

We a saw the first Robin of the Spring so it must be just around the corner.

The original English word for the season Spring was 'lent' and this was replaced by Spring only in the 16th century, based on the notion of something beginning or rising, like water 'springs' from the ground. The vernal equinox ('equal night' from Latin aequinoctium), marking the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs today at about 6:26 pm, when the Sun moves north across the celestial equator.

Golf is a Sport???

The sports pundits thought that the Winter Olympics where a flop. I think this is only because the Canadian and US Olympic teams did below their expectation. Well there was some talk that we should move some of the Summer games to the Winter Olympics. Sports like Basketball and swimming are normally winter sports. So these where some of the sports that were mentioned.

Now I found another sport that would fit the bill. Remember my rant about golf? As I had stated. I didn't think that golf was a sport, but I also found that this weekend is the annual Greenland World Ice Golf Championships held in Uummannaq, Greenland. There are some unique challenges with this "tour stop". What was green fairways is now replaced with white snow. The ball is fluorescent pink or orange. The obstacles are icebergs and polar bears, and the temperatures is around -58 degrees Fahrenheit. The shape of the course, which is created anew each year, is dictated by the position of icebergs in the frozen fjord in which the Championships take place. However, during the match, the course also changes as the pack ice drifts and new icy outcrops pop up.

This should heat up some of the ratings for the Winter Olympics if it's incorporated. It would bring in some of the big names in Golf like the Ryder Cup does, which will in turn will draw in the Golf viewer. Just think of it.... a typically pampered Tiger Woods pulling out his 3 iron not to hit his tee shot but too fend of a local "hazard" from taking a swing at him. I say bring it on. Heck it could even be a team event, giving the Scandinavian countries a shot at this. They already dominate the cross country skiing and shot a rifle events. That should give them an edge when it comes to fending off the polar bears.

Most Wanted List

On March 14, 1950, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began its "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list to increase law enforcement's ability to capture dangerous fugitives. It continues to maintain a public list of the people it regards as the ten most wanted fugitives . The list itself has no particular ranking. It is commonly posted in public places such as post offices. Listed fugitives have been known to turn themselves in upon becoming aware of their listing. As of February 2006, 480 names that have appeared on the list since its inception (7 of them women), 451 have been apprehended, including 147 nabbed as a direct result of tips from the public.

The Internet has made the list even more universal, since it can be seen all over the world in a matter of seconds.

The FBI also maintains a list of Most Wanted Terrorists , along with FBI Crime Alerts , Missing Persons , and other fugitives. The only real way to get off the list is to die or be captured. Osama Bin Laden is on the list.

FYI... Each symbol and color in the FBI seal has special significance. The dominant blue field of the seal and the scales on the shield represent justice. The endless circle of 13 stars denotes unity of purpose as exemplified by the original 13 states. The laurel leaf has, since early civilization, symbolized academic honors, distinction and fame. There are exactly 46 leaves in the two branches, since there were 46 states in the Union when the FBI was founded in 1908. The significance of the red and white parallel stripes lies in their colors. Red traditionally stands for courage, valor, strength, while white conveys cleanliness, light, truth, and peace. As in the American Flag, the red bars exceed the white by one. The motto, " Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity," succinctly describes the motivating force behind the men and women of the FBI. The peaked beveled edge which circumscribes the seal symbolizes the severe challenges confronting the FBI and the ruggedness of the organization. The gold color in the seal conveys its over-all value.

The perfect job?

Michigan universities paid more than 500 professors $23.2 million to be absent from the classroom during the 2004-05 school year, even as the state's economy nosedived and parents and students struggled to pay double-digit tuition hikes. This was the lead line of the Detroit News Sunday Edition.

Why do collage professors need paid sabbaticals?

Proponents state that paid time off is intended for research, expanding skills and recharging mental batteries -- in ways that benefit universities and students.

Critics question the value of sabbaticals as college affordability recedes and professors already are relieved of many routine tasks by graduate students and other assistants. "Why do people in higher ed have to recharge their batteries when people almost nowhere else in the world recharge them?" asked Richard Vedder, an economics professor at Ohio University and author of the book, "Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much."

I, like most of you don't have the opportunity to have a job that pays for taking a sabbatical. Why should collage professors that have Teachers Assistants teach their class?

What happened to Eddie?

I saw this picture on the web. Eddie and his band were the bomb when I was in high school. First Keith Richards now Eddie Van Halen. I didn't realize playing guitar took so much out or you.

The Last Great Sporting Event on Earth

It’s that time of year again when all the world is abuzz about the last great sporting event on Earth. No, it’s not March Madness it is the 1150 mile race from Anchorage to Nome Alaska… better known as the Iditarod.


The race covers the some of the roughest terrain in nature. Mother Nature throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog teams. Add to this that temperatures are far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and side hills, and you have the Iditarod.

The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born.

In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum was brought in by dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs.

The Iditarod is a commemoration of those yesterdays, a not-so-distant past that Alaskans honor and are proud of.

Check out more of The Greatest Race on Earth at the following site.
http://www.iditarod.com/

Dick Cheney

Ok, so I did say I'm a little late with some of my views...

I just saw this on the web and had to repost it for those of you that haven't seen it. I am really a Republican by nature and I still found this funny. At least the Republicans have a funny bone.

All this and it doesn't even mention a shotgun.

Carnival

So I’m a little late with the addition of the Lent post…what can I say, they don’t call me Zotime for nothing.

This year I took Carnival to its highest form and gave up meat for lent. Carnival means farewell to meat in Latin, so I thought it was appropriate. Besides, since my eldest has “become” a vegetarian, my wife has been cooking separate meals for her. At least this will allow her only to cook one thing.

So it’s been a week without meat and what can I report. My goal was actually to loose weight while on this fast, but contrary to popular (ok my) belief I have actually been putting on weight. At this rate, I’ll have put on close to 30 pounds by Easter.

Today at work one of my students also said that I have become more ornery since giving up meat. I don’t know if that’s true, but they must think it has or could it be that they are having problems with Calculus???

I haven’t seen many other differences with me but it’s still early. I’ll report back if things change.

Back from Vacation

I am finally back from vacation and able to catch up on some of my blogging. I noticed that I have been lacking with it.

Where did you go you might ask...

Well, the family packed into the Commander and headed where most of Michigan goes on vacation during spring break... yep you guessed it Florida.

Florida is where it seems it is sunny year round and us white bodies go to get some natural Vitamin E.

It is also where everybody else goes as well which brings us to another thing that Florida has... an enormous amount of vacationers that don't know how to drive. This coupled with the blue hairs is cause for great angst while driving on Florida roads. It seems that if your not stuck behind what seems like a car driving by themselves in the fast lane doing 10 under the speed limit you're being cut off by someone trying to get ten feet in front of you in a traffic jam.

Now don't get me wrong the Florida trip was great! The weather was perfect (mid 80's) and the parks and beach were spectacular.

My youngest was finally able to ride all the rides and also happened to figure out at the same time that the rides are a great way to have fun. Prior to this year she was scared of just about every ride at Universal or Disney as they were either too high, too fast, too loud, too dark, too crowded... you get the point. She basically didn't do any of the rides.

This year she did every ride at Universal and did all of the roller coaster rides in the front row. It was getting to the point that my wife and I let the kids go by themselves on the ride. I mean I like roller coasters, but after 5 times on the same coaster just about everyone of adult age will have their stomach start to get queasy.

Well that is all for now I hope to post some pictures soon.