Differences Between the Kurds and the Sunni

The Shiites and Sunnis are ethnically Arabs (that is, they speak Arabic and share a common culture). Kurds are not Arabs; they have their own culture and language. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims. ... Supporters of Ali became Shiites or "followers of Ali." Some 90 percent of the world's Muslims today are Sunnis.

1. What makes the Kurds unique?
2. Are all Kurds Sunni?
3. What are the differences between Sunnis and Shiites?
4. What race are Kurdish?
5. What did the Kurds believe in?
6. What are Kurds famous for?
7. Are Kurds Shia or Sunni?
8. What religion was Iraq before Islam?
9. Who are Kurds descended from?
10. Who is more Shia Sunni or Orthodox?
11. What does Sunni believe in?
12. Do Shia believe in Prophet Muhammad?

What makes the Kurds unique?

The Kurds are often referred to as one of the largest ethnic groups in the world with no state of their own. ... These large numbers, together with a distinct sense of Kurdish ethnic and national identity, make the Kurds really important players in the region and especially in northern Iraq.

Are all Kurds Sunni?

Religion. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims who adhere to the Shafiʽi school, while a significant minority adhere to the Hanafi school.

What are the differences between Sunnis and Shiites?

Shiites believe the Prophet Mohammed should have been succeeded by his son-in-law, Imam Ali, and leadership of the Muslim world should pass through the prophet's descendants. Sunnis don't believe the leadership of the Muslim world should necessarily pass through hereditary succession.

What race are Kurdish?

Where do they come from? The Kurds are one of the indigenous peoples of the Mesopotamian plains and the highlands in what are now south-eastern Turkey, north-eastern Syria, northern Iraq, north-western Iran and south-western Armenia.

What did the Kurds believe in?

Religious diversity has been a feature of Kurdistan for many centuries. Main religions that currently exist in Kurdistan are as follows: Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Yarsanism, Yazidism, Alevism, and Judaism. Today, Sunni Islam is the most adhered religion in Kurdistan.

What are Kurds famous for?

Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, and among them are many who practice Sufism and other mystical sects. Despite their long-standing occupation of a particular region of the world, the Kurds never achieved nation-state status. Their reputation for military prowess has made them much in demand as mercenaries in many armies.

Are Kurds Shia or Sunni?

Nearly all Iraqi Kurds consider themselves Sunni Muslims. In our survey, 98% of Kurds in Iraq identified themselves as Sunnis and only 2% identified as Shias. (A small minority of Iraqi Kurds, including Yazidis, are not Muslims.)

What religion was Iraq before Islam?

Before the advent of Islam, the majority of Iraqis (Mesopotamians) followed Syriac Christianity, Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism, Judaism or ancient Mesopotamian religions. There are about 60,000 Iraqi-Armenians who follow either Armenian Orthodox or Armenian Catholics.

Who are Kurds descended from?

Kurds are an Iranian people, and the first known Indo-Iranians in the region were the Mitanni, who established a kingdom in northern Syria five centuries after the fall of Gutium. The Mitanni are believed to have spoken an Indo-Aryan language, or perhaps a pre-split Indo-Iranian language.

Who is more Shia Sunni or Orthodox?

The great majority of the world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunnis - estimates suggest the figure is somewhere between 85% and 90%. In the Middle East, Sunnis make up 90% or more of the populations of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Sunnis regard themselves as the orthodox branch of Islam.

What does Sunni believe in?

Sunni Muslims. Sunni Muslims strongly believe that the redemption of human beings is dependent on faith in Allah, His prophets, acceptance of Muhammad as the final prophet, and belief in righteous deeds as explained in the Koran.

Do Shia believe in Prophet Muhammad?

Shia Muslims believe that just as a prophet is appointed by God alone, only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. They believe God chose Ali to be Muhammad's successor, infallible, the first caliph (khalifah, head of state) of Islam.