Final answer:
The main difference between Sunni, Shia, and Sufi Muslims is their beliefs about leadership, with Sunnis accepting elected leaders, Shias insisting on leadership from Muhammad's descendants, and Sufis focusing on mystical experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
One key difference between the three main branches of Islam—Sunni, Shia, and Sufi—relates to their beliefs about leadership. Sunni Muslims believe that leadership of the Muslim community is not restricted to descendants of Prophet Muhammad; it can be any pious man who follows Muhammad's example. In contrast, Shia Muslims hold that only the direct descendants of Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali are legitimate leaders, known as Imams. Sufi Islam is less a separate sect and more of a mystical dimension that exists within both Sunni and Shia Islam, focusing on spiritual experience and connection to the divine.
Sunni Muslims elect their leaders while Shia Muslims look to their Imams for leadership. The division initially stemmed from the early debate over the rightful succession after Prophet Muhammad's death, where Sunnis accepted Abu Bakr, the Prophet's father-in-law, while Shias supported Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law. Sufis, on the other hand, might revere saints and seek personal spiritual experiences through rituals and practices that are less emphasized in other branches.