Source: This is a facsimile of a webpage no longer available on 11 September 2012.

Original webpage (dated 2001):  http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm
Facsimile version taken 11 September 2012 from:http://ebookbrowse.com/origins-of-sunni-shia-split-doc-d182248416

 

Note: In the article below, the abbreviation “ra” stands for the Arabic phrase Radi Allahu \’anhu, meaning “May Allah be pleased with him;” the abbreviation “pbuh” stands for the English phrase ‘peace be upon him.’