This is CBSI on the world. I'm John Batchel. I welcome my colleague Hussein,

Research Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, to remind all of us that the

Shia of Hisbalah in Lebanon are geopolitical actors, very dangerous.

The Houthis of Yemen are geopolitical actors, very dangerous.

At the same time, there are religious claims that are built upon 20th century expedients,

not the record.

And I welcome Hussein to help me remember the seventh and eighth century, where the critical events took place, including the Battle of Karbalah,

that defines Shia and Sunni separation at that point. A separation that has never led the Shia, I learned from Asain,

to revolt or in any way repudiate their heritage.

Assane, a very good evening to you.

Seventh and eighth century, you can do it very quickly because you do it so nicely for FDD.

How did this succession go, and where is the split before we come to the 20th century distortion?

Good evening to you.

Hi, John.

Well, the split started on day one after the death of Prophet Muhammad.

The Shah never recognized any of the caliphs as the rightful caliph of all of the Ummah,

and they insisted that the whole thing started with Ali,

the cousin of the prophet.

And then after him, his sons and all the descendants.

So after Ali came Hassan and then Hussein.

And when one of the caliphs, the Umayat caliph,

tried to force Hussein to recognize him as the caliph.

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