Iran and Saudi Arabia: Sunnis?
The relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia is complex and intricate. Both countries have long, rich histories of shifting power dynamics and complex religious developments, making their alignment both intriguing and combustible. A significant feature of their relationship is their religious identity, as both countries are generally understood to be Sunni.
At the surface level, it’s easy to assume that given their similar regional origins, Iran and Saudi Arabia have the same religious label – Sunni – but when one delves deeper, the truth is a little more complicated. Before delving into the complexities of the relationship between these two countries, it’s important to explain exactly what is meant by “Sunni.”
Sunni refers to any Muslim who follows the Islamic faith, as laid down in the Quran, as a result of practicing the five pillars of Islam. Sunni Muslims adhere to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad was the most important messenger of Allah. They honor the six primary hadiths, or collections of sayings and deeds attributed to Muhammad, and draw on them as a source of religious authority and guidance. However, within the larger Sunni defintion, there are several schools of thought, sects, and ideologies that further distinguish it.
In Iran, the official state religion is Shia Islam, a branch of Islam that holds Muhammad’s successor, Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the only legitimate leader of the Islamic community. Although there is a minority Sunni population in Iran, the large majority of the country is Shia. For this reason, many people think of Iran as a solely Shiite country.
In Saudi Arabia, the situation is very different. Here, Sunni Islam is official, and the country is home to some of the most devout and conservative forms of Sunni Islam. This has given rise to Wahhabi Islam, a fundamentalist movement that follows a stricter interpretation of Islamic teachings and law. While Shia citizens in Iran may face persecution, the same cannot be said for Sunni citizens in Saudi Arabia.
Given the complex tapestry of religious practices in the region, the answer to the question of whether Iran and Saudi Arabia are both Sunni is not simple. On the surface, the two countries may appear to have a similar religious identity due to their regional origins, but the underlying reality is far more nuanced.
Shia-Sunni Relationship
The relationship between Shia and Sunni Muslims dates back to the earliest days of Islam. There has always been a power struggle between these two major branches of the faith, and this tension has been amplified by the formation of sectarian states in the Middle East and the involvement of foreign powers in the region.
The relationship between Shia-majority Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia is particularly fraught. Despite having some elements of cooperation in the areas of trade, security, and diplomacy, their mutual religious divide has made compromises on political and ideological issues difficult.
This conflict of ideology has been further exacerbated by the involvement of foreign powers in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia’s close ties to the United States and Iran’s increasingly warm relations with Russia. This has heightened tensions between the two countries and made them virtual proxies in a geopolitical power struggle between the US, Russia, and other international actors.
Given this history of warfare and conflict, it is understandable why some people think of the two countries as adversaries, despite some degree of mutual understanding on issues such as oil production. The religious and geopolitical tensions between them may be extreme, but the answer to the question of whether both countries are of the same religious denomination is not so binary.
Cultural Context
The complexity of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s relationship can be further explored within the broader context of their shared culture and religion. In spite of their differences, the two countries share many traditions and beliefs, and their citizens often identify more strongly with their shared faith than with their respective governments.
The common practice of pilgrimages to holy sites, for example, bring Iranians and Saudis closer together as they undertake a shared spiritual journey. Other shared traditions include religious music and art, which explore the themes of faith and identity in an accessible way. This mutual understanding often transcends political differences, and serves to bridge the gaps between people of different faiths.
The shared history and culture of Iran and Saudi Arabia also makes it more difficult to clearly determine the religious affiliation of either country. In Iran, for example, there is a long history of syncretism between Sunni and Shia, and some aspects of Shia and Sunni faith and practice have been absorbed into each other. The same holds true for Saudi Arabia, where the Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam has incoporated elements of other faiths.
The complexity of Iran’s and Saudi Arabia’s relationship within the region cannot be overemphasized, and the same applies to their respective religious identity. While the two countries are often spoken of as if they share the same religious faith, the truth is that there are more similarities than differences in their respective belief systems, and their religious division should not be seen as unbridgeable.
Diplomatic Impacts
The religious differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia have had a significant impact on their diplomatic relations. There is a long history of hostility between the two countries, and this has been exacerbated in recent years due to ideological divides and geopolitical tensions in the region.
The Iranian-reflective governments in Iraq and Syria, and Saudi Arabia’s close ties to the United States and its involvement in the Yemen war, have all caused further discord between the two powers. This, combined with longstanding disputes over oil production, has led to a situation where tensions are high and diplomatic dialogue is often deadlocked.
This religious and political tension has had a serious impact on economic cooperation, as the two countries compete for economic opportunities both at home and abroad. Although there have been some attempts at diplomatic negotiation, the underlying distrust between the two countries often stands in the way of progress being made.
The religious differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia have undoubtedly had an influence on their diplomatic relations. Whether or not they both share the same religious denomination, their beliefs are complex and their respective ideologies often clash. This division has had a profound impact on their relationship, and makes their recognition of each other’s legitimacy and sovereignty difficult.
Concluding Remarks
The relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia is complex and multifaceted, and cannot be fully understood without examining their respective beliefs. While the two countries are both predominantly Sunni, their beliefs often differ greatly, and this has had a profound impact on their diplomatic ties.
Furthermore, their shared religious and cultural heritage often obscures their religious and political differences, thus complicating the issue even further. This complexity makes it difficult to answer the question of whether or not Iran and Saudi Arabia are both Sunni with any degree of certainty, but it underscores the importance of recognizing and respecting their differences.