The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was neither Sunni nor Shia. These two branches of Islam emerged after his death in the 7th century CE.
The Prophet Muhammad was the founder of Islam, and his teachings and legacy are the foundation for both Sunni and Shia Muslims.
The split between Sunni and Shia Islam arose from a disagreement about who should succeed the Prophet as the leader of the Muslim community. Sunni Muslims believe the Prophet's closest companion, Abu Bakr, was the rightful successor, while Shia Muslims believe it should have been Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law.
While the two branches have different interpretations of certain Islamic principles, they both share the core beliefs of Islam, including belief in one God (Allah), the prophets, the holy book (Quran), and the Day of Judgment.
