is lebanon mostly shia or sunni

In Lebanon, Sunni’s make up about 30% of the population and live mostly in urban areas or in the rural Akkar region. Shiites are widely thought to be the majority of the population, though there are no statistics proving this because there has not been a census in Lebanon since 1932.

Full Answer

Are Lebanese people mostly Shia or Sunni?

But outside of Lebanon, Lebanese people (including diaspora) are mostly Christians. It is also estimated that a large proportion of its population are refugees (1.5 million out of a bit over 6 million in 2017) which affects statistics. The refugees mostly Syrian or Palestinian are predominately Sunni but also includes Christians and Shia.

Where are the Sunni Muslims in Lebanon?

The Lebanese Sunni Muslims are concentrated in west Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, Western Beqaa, and in the countryside of the Akkar.

Is Lebanon’s Prime Minister Shia or Sunni?

Since then, the President is always a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister is always a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of the Parliament is always a Shia Muslim. Most parties have a sectarian identity as well, and represent the interests of their religion.

Where are the Shia communities in Lebanon?

Lebanese Shias are concentrated in Southern Lebanon, Baalbek District, Hermel District and the south Beirut (southern parts of Greater Beirut ).

Does Lebanon have more Sunni or Shia?

Islam in Lebanon has a long and continuous history. According to an estimate by the CIA, it is followed by 67.8% of the country's total population. Sunnis make up 31.9%, Shias make up 31.2%, with smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis.

Is Lebanon Shia?

Shia Islam in Lebanon has a history of more than a millennium. According to the CIA World Factbook, Shia Muslims constituted an estimated 30.5% of Lebanon's population in 2018. Most of its adherents live in the northern and western area of the Beqaa Valley, Southern Lebanon and Beirut.

Is Turkey Shia or Sunni?

Turkey is a secular state. Even though over 85 percent of its population is Sunni Muslim and its Religious Affairs Directorate represents Sunni Islam, Turkey's secular tradition and legal structure help it refrain from pursuing a sectarian policy. The institutional structure is different in Iran.

Are there Sunni in Lebanon?

Sunnis are estimated at 28.7 per cent of the Lebanese population and are concentrated in Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon and in the countryside of the Akkar and the central Biqa'a.

Is Morocco Shia or Sunni?

Unlike Iran's Sunni-majority neighbors with sizable Shiite minorities – such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates – about 99 percent of Morocco's population are Sunni Muslims and there is only a very small community of Shiite converts in the country.

Is Dubai Shia or Sunni?

Approximately 11 percent of the population are citizens, of whom more than 85 percent are Sunni Muslims, according to media reports. The vast majority of the remainder are Shia Muslims, who are concentrated in the Emirates of Dubai and Sharjah.

Is Azerbaijan Shia?

The Muslim population is approximately 85% Shi'a and 15% Sunni; differences traditionally have not been defined sharply. Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population percentage in the world after Iran.

Are Afghanistan Sunni or Shia?

Today's Afghanistan can be considered 99% Muslim. There is a rough 3/4 to 1/4 split in favor of Sunni Muslims to Shia. Though recent history has been defined by growing religious intolerance and sectarian conflict, Afghanistan does have marginal adherents of other religions.

What percentage of Afghanistan is Shia?

10%-20%Shia Islam in Afghanistan is practiced by a significant minority of the population; estimates put their number at 10%-20%. Afghanistan's Shia are primarily the Twelvers, while a minority are Ismailis.

Is Jordan Sunni or Shia?

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a majority Muslim country with 95% of the population following Sunni Islam while a small minority follow Shiite branches. There are also about 20,000 to 32,000 Druze living mostly in the north of Jordan, even though most Druze no longer consider themselves Muslim.

Which countries are majority Shia?

Shias comprise a majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain, and a plurality in Lebanon, while Sunnis make up the majority of more than forty countries from Morocco to Indonesia.

Are Druze Shia?

Even though the faith originally developed out of Ismaili Islam, most Druze do not identify as Muslims, and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam. The Druze have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes such as the Shia Fatimid Caliphate, Sunni Ottoman Empire, and Egypt Eyalet.

Is Jordan Sunni or Shia?

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a majority Muslim country with 95% of the population following Sunni Islam while a small minority follow Shiite branches. There are also about 20,000 to 32,000 Druze living mostly in the north of Jordan, even though most Druze no longer consider themselves Muslim.

Which countries are majority Shia?

Shias comprise a majority in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain, and a plurality in Lebanon, while Sunnis make up the majority of more than forty countries from Morocco to Indonesia.

Is Iraq Sunni or Shia?

The majority of Iraq's Muslims are Shia, and the Isis militants gaining ground there are Sunni. According to the Pew Research Center, Iraq is one of only a handful of countries with a Shia majority. So how do opinions of Islam in Iraq compare to other countries in the region?

What religion is Lebanon?

Lebanese Arabic. Religion. Sunni Islam. Lebanese Sunni Muslims ( Arabic: المسلمون السنة اللبنانيين ‎) refers to Lebanese people who are adherents of the Sunni branch of Islam in Lebanon, which is one of the largest denomination in Lebanon tied with Shia s. Sunni Islam in Lebanon has a history of more than a millennium.

What countries did the Sunni Muslims oppose?

With Lebanese Alawites and Syria. The Lebanese Sunni Muslims initially opposed the creation of the Lebanese state separated from Syria, where the majority of the population was also Sunni Muslim, and wanted the territory of present-day Lebanon to be incorporated within the so-called Greater Syria. Sunni Muslims and Alawites have been in conflict ...

Where are the Sunni Muslims in Lebanon?

Lebanese Sunni Muslims are concentrated in cities of west Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon and in north Lebanon in the Akkar and minyeh dinnieh districts, middle and west bekaa, Chouf district and laqlouq in mount lebanon , hasbaya district, and Northeastern Beqaa Valle y mainly in and around the city of Arsal.

What are the names of the people who were killed in Lebanon?

Politicians, Diplomats, and Public Servants 1 Wissam al-Hassan, assassinated brigadier general at the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) 2 Ali Al Hajj, former major general and director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces

What is the cultural heritage of Lebanon?

The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Lebanese people is a blend of both indigenous Phoenician elements, Arab culture and the foreign cultures that have come to rule the land and its people over the course of thousands of years. In a 2013 interview the lead investigator, Pierre Zalloua, pointed out that genetic variation preceded religious ...

Which country supports the Sunnis?

The Sunnis of Lebanon have close ties with Saudi Arabia, which supports them financially. Moreover, Tripoli, the stronghold of the Lebanese Sunnis, is also the birthplace of Lebanon's Salafi Movement.

Which country has the most religious diversity?

1 The Lebanese people has the most religious diversity of all peoples in the Middle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects recognized by the Constitution of Lebanon. 2 Under the terms of the Constitution of Lebanon, the Druze (Druzite) community is designated as a part of the Lebanese Muslim community.

How many Jews are there in Syria?

The Jewish Community Council, which represents the country’s Jewish community, estimates 70 Jews reside in the country. UNHCR estimates there are 1.3 million refugees from Syria in the country, mainly Sunni Muslims, but also Shia Muslims, Christians, and Druze.

Why do some people list themselves as belonging to a religious group?

Some members of unregistered religious groups, such as Baha’is and nonrecognized Protestant faiths, continued to list themselves as belonging to recognized religious groups to ensure their marriage and other personal status documents remained legally valid.

What percentage of Lebanon's population is Christian?

Statistics Lebanon estimates 32.4 percent of the population is Christian. Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group, followed by Greek Orthodox.

What is the purpose of official recognition of a religious group?

Official recognition of a religious group allows baptisms and marriages performed by the group to receive government recognition, which also conveys other benefits, such as tax-exempt status and the right to apply the religious group’s codes to personal status matters.

How old was Madonna when she posted her face on Facebook?

Political and religious figures, as well as many private citizens, criticized the band for a four-year-old post on Facebook of a controversial image that transposed the face of pop diva Madonna onto an image of the Virgin Mary.

What is the Constitution?

The constitution states there shall be “absolute freedom of conscience” and declares the state will respect all religious groups and denominations, as well as the personal status and religious interests of persons of every religious group. The constitution guarantees free exercise of religious rites, provided they do not disturb the public order, and declares the equality of rights and duties for all citizens without discrimination or preference.

Why was Sepultura banned?

Authorities banned a Brazilian metal band, Sepultura, from entering the country after its members were accused of being “devil worshippers,” according to concert organizers. Organizers also said the band was denied entry due to cultural perceptions that metal music is “satanic” and “anti-religion.”.

How many Imams were killed by Sunni Muslims?

It is believed that there were 12 Imams. With passing days, these Imams were killed by Sunni Muslims for their own agenda. They also believe that the 12 th Imam hasn’t died, he just went vanished and will come back to bring back the fallen law.

Where do Shia Muslims pray?

The majority of Shia Muslims can be found in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, etc.

What is the largest group of Muslims?

Most accepted and biggest group of Islam are the Sunni people. The major portion of the Muslim community is called the Sunni Muslims. They cover almost 1.5 billion people in this world. That is nearly 90% of the whole Muslim population.

What is the last Prophet of Islam?

In Islam, every Muslim believes in the fact that Allah is their one and only lord and Muhammad (PBUH) is His last Prophet. The Holy Quran is the last manual of instructions from Allah to all mankind and after everyone’s death one day He will resurrect every soul that died. After the resurrection, all humans will be questioned about their deeds ...

What does "sunni" mean in Arabic?

In Arabic, the “Sunni” has a distinctive meaning. That is – ‘prophet’s follower’ or ‘those who walk on the path showed by the beloved prophet’. Those who belong to the Sunni Muslim community, have to accept the judgment of the prophet’s companions.

When did the Sunni and Shia groups separate?

Though even in Muslims, there are supposed to be two groups- Sunni and Shia, and their separation happened when the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died in AD 632.

Where do the Caliphs live?

Mostly live in. Lives mostly in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, etc.

Why do Shia Muslims venerate the Imams?

Shia Muslims believe that the Imam is sinless by nature and that his authority is infallible because it comes directly from God. Therefore, Shia Muslims often venerate the Imams as saints. They perform pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines in the hopes of divine intercession.

What is the Shia party?

The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical Shia't-Ali , or "the Party of Ali.". This group is also known as Shiites or followers of Ahl al-Bayt or "People of the Household" (of the Prophet). Within the Sunni and Shia branches, you can also find a number of sects.

What does the word "sunn" mean in Arabic?

The word Sunn, in Arabic, comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet.". Sunni Muslims agree with many of the Prophet's companions at the time of his death: that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job.

When did the Shia split from the Sunni?

The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632. This event raised the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation.

Which countries are predominantly Sunni?

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are predominantly Sunni. Significant populations of Shia Muslims can be found in Iran and Iraq. Large Shiite minority communities are also in Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Lebanon. It is in areas of the world where Sunni and Shiite populations are in ...

Where are the Sunni and Shiite populations in close proximity?

It is in areas of the world where Sunni and Shiite populations are in close proximity that conflict can arise. Coexistence in Iraq and Lebanon, for example, is often difficult. The religious differences are so embedded in the culture that intolerance often leads to violence.

Do Shia Muslims have authority?

Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders , choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word Shia in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people.

Overview

Lebanese Sunni Muslims (Arabic: المسلمون السنة اللبنانيين) refers to Lebanese people who are adherents of the Sunni branch of Islam in Lebanon, which is one of the largest denomination in Lebanon tied with Shias. Sunni Islam in Lebanon has a history of more than a millennium. According to a CIA 2018 study, Lebanese Sunni Muslims constitute an estimated 30.6% of Lebanon's population. (However, in a country that had last census in 1932, it is difficult to have correct population esti…

History

Relations

Geographic distribution within Lebanon

Demographics

Notable Lebanese Sunni Muslims

See also