Question

Identify the key events following Muhammad’s death and the reasons for the split between the Shi’a and Sunni Muslims. Write your response in two to four sentences.

Answer 1

This question was asked like forever ago, but for people in the future, this is the sample answer you are given after you actually answer the question:

"Muhammad failed to identify a successor, so after his death, disagreements developed among Muslims about who would follow him as caliph. Some, who would be called Sunni, believed that anyone can lead the Muslim community. Others, who became the Shi'a, opposed the Umayyad Dynasty and felt that only those very close to Muhammad should lead Islam. This dispute helped lead to the Sunni-Shi'a split."

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The key events revolved around Muhammad's successor. One faction wanted Muhammad's successor to be someone from his family, while another faction wanted the successor to be chosen by the people. That is why the split occurred and why the Islamic world is split into Shi'a and Sunni Muslims.