Answer: While both of these sects encompass a wide set of doctrines, at the core, the majority of Sunni and Shia Muslims share the same beliefs in the five pillars, oneness of God, and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

The main division originates from the question of succession in leadership following the death of Prophet Muhammad (SAWAS). Shias believe that the successors of the divine Messenger must be chosen by God and introduced by Holy Prophet. They claim that God has chosen 12 successors who have been introduced by the prophet (SAWAS) on several occasions, whereas Sunnis believe that the Muslim community is free to choose a leader. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, some people gathered in a place called “Saqifa” and selected Abu Bakr, as prophet’s successor while no one of the decedents of the  prophet was invited in that Saqifa meeting. Those who were loyal to the prophet and his household, rejected Abu Bakr’s leadership and followed Imam Ali, the prophet’s cousin as well as his son in law, as their first divine leader.

Today, unfortunately, Sunni sect of Islam has divided into many sects and hijacked by Wahhabism led by Saudi Arabia, while the Shia Muslims are comparatively, united and growing fast, due to their strong beliefs in divine leadership. Many Sunni Intellectuals are converting into Shia faith because of their intellectual and logical arguments across the globe. Especially, in the Middle east.

Currently, the Shia Muslims are holding the majority in Iran, Iraq, Yamen, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.

Answer: Shi'ism refers to a branch of Islam that follows the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) as interpreted and practiced by his family (Ahlul-Bayt), particularly twelve Imams who succeeded him First of them is Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and the last of them is Imam Mehdi (peace be upon him). Shi'ism emphasizes the spiritual and political leadership of these Imams as divinely chosen and infallible guides for the Muslim community.

Origin of the Term "Shia": The word "Shia" is derived from the Arabic word Tashayyu’, which means "to follow" or "to support." It is used to describe those who are followers or supporters of a particular figure.

In the context of Shi'ism, it refers to the followers of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and his descendants, who are considered the rightful leaders of the Muslim community after the Prophet Muhammad.

Answer: Yes, the term "Shia" is mentioned in the Qur'an in its linguistic sense, meaning "followers" or "supporters." For example:

• "And indeed, among his Shias (followers) was Abraham." (Surah As-Saffat, 37:83)
  This verse refers to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) as a follower of the same path as Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him), illustrating the term’s use in the Qur’an.
• "But he who was of his Shia (followers) asked for his help against the one who was of his enemies." (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:15)
  This verse describes an incident involving Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him), where a follower of his called for his assistance.

Answer: Shi'ism traces its roots to the early days of Islam when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) emphasized the unique role of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). Numerous hadiths highlight the Prophet’s designation of Ali as his successor. For example:

• Naming of Shia by the Prophet:
  Renowned Sunni scholars, such as Allamah Ibn Hajar in As-Sawaiqul-Muhriqa and Allamah Ibn Athir in Nihaya, record the Prophet's words:
  "O Ali, verily thou wilt come in the presence of Allah, thou and thy Shias happily, and Allah will be pleased with you."
  This indicates that the term "Shia" was used by the Prophet himself to refer to the followers of Ali.

Answer: The term "Ithna-Ashari" means "Twelvers" in Arabic. It refers to the largest branch of Shi'ism, which believes in twelve divinely appointed Imams who succeeded the Prophet Muhammad:

1. Imam Ali (peace be upon him)

2. Imam Hasan (peace be upon him)

3. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him)

4. Imam Ali Zainul Abidin (peace be upon him)

5. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him)

6. Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (peace be upon him)

7. Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him)

8. Imam Ali ar-Ridha (peace be upon him)

9. Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (peace be upon him)

10. Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him)

11. Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him)

12. Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (peace be upon him), who is in occultation and will reappear to establish justice.

Answer: The concept of death in Islam is multifaceted, encompassing beliefs about the soul, the afterlife, and the final judgment. In Islam, it is believed that each person has a soul that continues to exist after physical death. The soul is considered immortal and will face its destiny based on the person's actions during their earthly life.

The Angel of Death, Izrael, is responsible for taking the souls of the deceased. The manner of death and the extraction of the soul is described differently for believers and non-believers. For the righteous, it is gentle and peaceful, while for the wicked, it is harsh and painful.

Answer: After death of a person, the soul separates from the body and enters an intermediate state called Barzakh, where it experiences a foretaste of its final destiny. It is an obligatory for other Muslims to ensure that the deceased is treated with respect and cleanliness according to religious guidelines. After washing the body for three times, then the body must be wrapped in a plain white cloth, known as a Kafan. The Kafan typically consists of three pieces for men (a loincloth, a long shirt, and a larger outer sheet) and five pieces for women (with an additional chest band and head veil). After the Kafan process, the prayer must be performed on the deceased body, seeking forgiveness and rest of the soul in the next life. This prayer is known as “Salat al-Mayyit”. The next step is that the deceased body must be buried facing the Qiblah (direction of Makkah), typically without a coffin, directly in the earth. 

Answer: Muslims believe that after a person is buried; they are visited by two angels, Munkar and Nakir, or Mubashir and Basheer who question them in the grave. This questioning is part of the intermediary state known as Barzakh, the period between death and the Day of Judgment. The purpose of this questioning is to test the deceased's faith and deeds during their lifetime. The five fundamental questions asked by Munkar and Nakir are:

1. Who is your Lord?
o The deceased is expected to affirm their belief in Allah as their Lord.

2. What is your religion?
o The deceased should respond that their religion is Islam.

3. Who is your prophet?
o The deceased should acknowledge Muhammad as their prophet.

4. What is your holy book?
      o The deceased should acknowledge that Quran is his book.

5. Who is your Imam (Divine leader)?
      O The deceased should acknowledge Imam Ali as his first Imam and then 11divine Imams after him.  
 

Answer: Barzakh is the intermediate state between death and the Day of Judgment. The soul resides in Barzakh, experiencing either comfort or torment based on their deeds. It is a period of waiting for the final resurrection. The souls of believers, carrying good deeds are taken to the neighbourhood of Imam Ali (AS) known as “Vadi as-Salaam” The valley of peace, while the souls of the wicked and disbelievers are taken to the horrible place called “well of Barhoot”

Answer: The Heaven (Jannah) and Hell (Jahannam) are essential components of the life after death and central to the faith's eschatological beliefs. Both are described in detail in the Qur'an and Hadith, offering a clear understanding of the ultimate fate awaiting human beings based on their earthly beliefs and deeds. 

Heaven (Jannah): is a place of eternal peace, bliss, with no pain, suffering, or death and reward for those who have lived righteous lives in accordance with the will of Allah. It is often depicted as a garden of paradise, full of physical and spiritual delights. There are multiple levels in Jannah, with higher levels reserved for those with greater faith and piety. The highest level is called Al-Firdaus. Believers will be reunited with their loved ones, and they will enjoy the company of righteous people and the prophets (Qur'an 52:20-21). Jannah is by the mercy and grace of Allah, even for those who have been righteous.

Hell (Jahannam): is a place of eternal punishment and suffering for those who have rejected faith, committed evil deeds, and lived in defiance of Allah's commandments. Jahannam is often described as a place of blazing fire, intense heat, and various forms of physical and spiritual torment (Qur'an 4:56). Similar to Jannah, Jahannam has different levels, with the severity of punishment corresponding to the severity of the sins committed.

The suffering in Jahannam is both physical and emotional, including regret, sorrow, and despair (Qur'an 14:16-17).

Guardians: Angels known as Zabaniyah are the guardians of Hell, ensuring that the inhabitants are subjected to their prescribed punishments (Qur'an 66:6).

The punishments in Jahannam are a manifestation of Allah's justice, reflecting the gravity of one's actions and the rejection of divine guidance.