Shia

  • Are believed to be the descendants from Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and son-in-law Ali.
  • It is believed that they are the best source of knowledge about the Qur’an and Islam
  • This is the key difference between followers of Muhammad’s family and descendants from the followers of Caliph Abu Baker

Sunni

  • They are the largest denomination of Muslims around the world.
  • The word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah, which means words or action.
  • Followers of this denomination are believers that Abu Baker is the messenger of Muhammad.

Hazara

  • An ethnic group who mainly reside in the Central regions of Afghanistan, which is referred to as Hazarajat.
  • They are predominantly Shi’a Muslims and speak Hazara
  • There are approximately 3 million in Afghanistan and 1.3 million in Iran
  • Many live in Iran, Pakistan, New Zealand & Australia

Pashtun

  • In ethno-linguistic terms they are descendants of Iran
  • Primarily reside in eastern and southern Afghanistan
  • They are typically Pashto speakers and strongly adhere to Islamic principles
  • Gained a lot of attention for the Soviet invasion in 1979 and for the rise of the Taliban
author avatar
William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)
William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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