Module 13: Islamic Sects & Diversity

In addition to Sunni and Shia Islam, there are several smaller branches within the broader Islamic world. These groups make up a much smaller percentage of the global Muslim population, but they contribute to the overall diversity of Islamic belief and practice.

While Sunni Muslims account for approximately 85–90% of the global Muslim population, Shia Muslims make up most of the remaining 10–15% (between 160 and 260 million people). In many everyday situations, one cannot easily tell whether someone is a Sunni Muslim or Shia Muslim just by looking at them.

One of the most well-known divisions within Islam today is between Sunni and Shia Muslims. This is the largest and most influential distinction within the global Muslim population. Sunni and Shia Muslims share the same core foundations of Islam: they follow the Qur’an, believe Muhammad to be the final prophet, and practice the central elements of the faith.

When people hear the word “Islam,” it often sounds like a single, unified system with one set of beliefs, one interpretation, and one way of being practiced. But in reality, Islam is not experienced as one uniform system across the world. In many cases, what people assume is “Islamic” is actually a combination of religious interpretation and local cultural tradition.

Module 13 explains that Islam is united in its core beliefs but diverse in how it is interpreted and practiced. It introduces the idea of the ummah, the global community of Muslims, and shows that although Muslims share beliefs such as one God, the Qur’an, Muhammad, and the Five Pillars, they differ in areas such as leadership, religious authority, law, culture, and practice. The module emphasizes that Islam is not one uniform system, but a global religion expressed in different ways across different societies and communities.