Select the correct phrase to complete the statement.
The division between Sunni and Shia Muslims originated after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE and arose from a disagreement over ____________
whether Muhammad was a god
whether Muhammad was a prophet
who should succeed Muhammad as leader
who was the next prophet after Muhammad
who should succeed Muhammad as leader
The correct phrase to complete the statement is: "who should succeed Muhammad as leader."
To arrive at this answer, we can analyze the question and eliminate the incorrect options:
1. "Whether Muhammad was a god" is incorrect because both Sunni and Shia Muslims believe that Muhammad was not a god but the last prophet of Islam.
2. "Whether Muhammad was a prophet" is also incorrect because both Sunni and Shia Muslims acknowledge Muhammad as a prophet.
The remaining option is "who should succeed Muhammad as leader," which highlights the main point of contention between Sunni and Shia Muslims after the death of Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believed that the leader should be elected, while Shia Muslims believed that leadership should follow a familial line from the Prophet Muhammad.
Therefore, the correct phrase to complete the statement is "who should succeed Muhammad as leader."