Which two sects of Islam were divided over leadership after Muhammad's death?

The division between Sunni and Shiite Islam originated from a dispute over the rightful leader of the Muslim community following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE. This disagreement primarily centered around the question of succession: Sunnis believed that the community should select its leaders through consensus or election, which led to the selection of Abu Bakr, a close companion of Muhammad, as the first caliph. In contrast, Shiites held that leadership should remain within the Prophet's family, specifically supporting Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, as his rightful successor.

This foundational disagreement on leadership not only resulted in different political legacies and practices but also deeply influenced theological and cultural differences that persist in the Muslim world today. The Sunni-Shiite split has shaped various aspects of Islamic belief, practice, and identity across centuries, making this distinction crucial in the study of intercultural communications, especially in understanding the historical context and the socio-political dynamics within Islamic cultures.