The Difference Between Sunni & Shia (For Teenagers)

About this lecture

In this lecture, Sheikh Yasir Qadhi responds to a question from Sajid, a teenage Muslim from Australia, who noticed that his town has both a Sunni and a Shi'a masjid and wants to understand why. With a focus on clarity, fairness, and academic honesty, the Sheikh outlines ten key theological and historical differences between Sunni and Twelver Shi'a Islam — covering topics such as religious authority, the role of the Imam, the status of the Sahaba, and the belief in the Hidden Mahdi — while strongly advocating for pragmatic tolerance and cooperation over sectarian hatred.