Identify the key events following muhammad’s death and the reasons for the split between the shi’a and sunni muslims.

After Muhammad's death, the sunni wanted Abu Baker, Muhammad's closest advisor, to become the new leader of the muslim world, while the Shi'a favored Muhammad's cousin Ali. Abu Baker was made the leader of islam, but this left many bitter feelings and more disagreements arose between the two sides, especially many years later following Ali's assassination, eventually leading to the creation of two separate sects.