Doctrinal or Political differences between Alawites and Sunnis

Alevi" (/lvi/) is generally explained as referring to Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. The name represents a Turkish form of the word 'Alawi (Arabic: ) "of or pertaining to Ali". They are the second-largest sect of Islam in Turkey, with Sunni Islam being the largest. By following the the death of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, a dispute arose about his legitimate successor. The Islamic community was divided into those who adhered to Abu Bakr, named Sunnis, and those who sided with Ali, called Shia. Concurrently, people who sided with Ali were called Alevis, defined as "those who adore Ali and his family".