Effects of Religious Dynamics Radical by Sectarianism on Shia-Sunni Family in District Kurram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

This study examines the effects of radical religious dynamics driven by sectarianism on Shia–Sunni family structures in District Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan—one of the country’s most sectarianism-affected regions. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 200 respondents, equally representing Shia and Sunni communities, using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Univariate analysis was conducted through frequency and percentage distributions, while bivariate analysis was performed using the Chi-square test to determine associations between the dependent variable (Shia–Sunni family) and independent variables (religious dynamics). The findings reveal that sectarian divisions negatively affect Muslim unity and social cohesion. Sunni families were found to exhibit a relatively more rigid adherence to religious teachings, while both sects maintain separate religious institutions and practices. The role of religious clerics significantly expanded following the latest wave of sectarian conflict, with Sunni scholars receiving advanced religious education mainly from Arab states and Shia scholars from Iran and Iraq. External religious patronage, divergent worship practices, financial contributions to militant groups under the guise of religious obligations, and non-participation in each other’s rituals have further deepened sectarian divides. The study recommends resolving jurisprudential differences through the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, ensuring the welfare-oriented use of Zakat and Khums, and promoting inter-sect harmony through religious decrees and institutional cooperation.