Sunni Islam vs. Shia Islam

 

1. Sunni Islam vs. Shia Islam (Simple Explanation)

Sunni Islam

• Largest branch of Islam worldwide (±85% Muslims).
• Believe that the leaders after Prophet Muhammad (caliphs) were chosen by community consensus.
• Follow four main schools of law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali.
• Religious authority is decentralized (no single supreme leader).
• Ritual practices are mostly uniform; Ashura is commemorated but not central.

Shia Islam

• Minority globally (±15% Muslims).
• Believe that leadership after Prophet Muhammad should belong to Ali and his descendants (Ahlul Bayt).
• Most follow the Twelver Shia tradition (Ithna ‘Ashariyyah).
• Religious authority is more structured with high-ranking scholars (Ayatollah, Marja).
• Strong mourning rituals, especially Ashura (commemorating Imam Husayn in Karbala).

2. Indonesia vs. Iran (Religious Landscape)

🇮🇩 Indonesia

• Majority: Sunni Islam (≈99% of Muslims), mostly Shafi’i school.
• Islam is practiced with strong local culture (adat), making it more pluralistic and flexible.
• Religious authority is diverse: NU, Muhammadiyah, Islamic scholars in pesantren.
• Religious rituals are more moderate and culturally blended (tahlilan, maulid, yasinan).

🇮🇷 Iran

• Majority: Shia Islam (≈90–95%), specifically Twelver Shia.
• The government system is based on Wilayat al-Faqih (Rule of the Jurist).
• Ayatollahs have strong influence in social, political, and legal matters.
• Rituals like Ashura, Arba’een, mourning processions, and ziyarat (pilgrimage) to shrines are central.

3. Key Differences Indonesia vs. Iran

Aspect	Indonesia (Sunni)	Iran (Shia)
Major sect	Sunni (Shafi’i)	Shia (Twelver)
Religious leaders	Kiai, ulama, ustadz	Ayatollah, Hujjatul Islam
Government role	Religion influences culture but state is secular-plural	Religion is deeply integrated into government
Ritual style	Simpler, culturally mixed	More ceremonial, processions, passion plays
Attitude toward Ahlul Bayt	Respected	Very central and foundational
Religious diversity	Very high	Mostly Shia with respected Sunni minority

4. Cultural Feel

Indonesia

Islam blends with archipelago traditions:

• Batik Muslim style
• Selametan
• Pesantren life
• Friendly Islamic pluralism
• Less political centralization of religion

Iran

Islam deeply shapes national identity:

• Persian culture mixed with Shia symbolism
• Ashura murals and black banners in Muharram
• Shrines of Imam Reza & Lady Fatimah Masumah
• Strong scholarly culture