World Religion: A Comparison of Shia and Sunni Leadership

This report examines the historical and leadership differences between Shia and Sunni Islam. It begins by outlining the origins of the split following the death of Prophet Muhammad and the subsequent debates over succession, highlighting the differing perspectives of the Shia, who advocated for leadership through bloodline, and the Sunni, who prioritized qualified individuals. The report discusses the key figures and events, including Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abu Bakr, and the Battle of Karbala, which shaped the two groups' identities. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of leadership development, competency, and reliability, drawing parallels to modern organizational practices. The author's opinion on leadership selection is also included, advocating for merit-based selection, while acknowledging the potential of bloodline members. The report concludes by mentioning the importance of training and senior leadership visibility.

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World religion
By the time of Prophet Muhammad’s death in the year 632, he had no male heir to continue
ruling the Islamic nation. The two groups in the debate about his succession eventually evolved
into two distinct groups namely the Shia and Sunna who form 15% and 85% of modern Islams
respectively (Davis 98). The Shia argued that the heir should be from his bloodline and so they
chose Ali ibn Abi Talib his cousin and son in law. Ali became Caliph for only 5 years and was
assassinated by the Sunna people. Ali’s son, Hussayn, also followed suit after the assassination
in 680 by the second Ummayad soldiers of the Sunna.
The Sunna believed that leadership should be given to qualified individuals and they elected Abu
Bakr, a companion of Muhammad to be the first Caliph. Over the years, the Sunna have always
tried to outdo the Shia people after fearing the fame they gained from Karbala, a place that
defined their moral story where Hussayn and his descendants were killed. Even after the Sunnis
triumphed politically in the Muslim world, Shia’s continued to follow their bloodline
descendants of Ali and Hussayn as their legitimate religious leaders (Davis 98).
In my opinion, leadership should be awarded to people based on competency and reliability and
not strictly bloodline. If a member of the bloodline is competent too should be considered. The
practical principle of leadership development learned here is that leadership can be learned and
can be measured as seen in Abu Bakr. Training of juniors is essential in all organizations. Also,
individuals ought to be developed from selection based on performance, readiness, and

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capabilities for the effective performance of an organization (Uberoi, Varun, and Tariq 302).
Also, senior leadership should be visible as it is crucial for an apprenticeship.

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Works cites
Davis, Paul J. “Best practice principles in leadership development interventions: An Australian
perspective.” Journal of management policy &Practice 15.5(2014): 98.
Uberoi, Varun, and Tariq Modood. “Who doesn’t feel British? Divisions over Muslims.”
Parliamentry Affairs 63.2 (2010): 302-320.