for helping to explain this - i think i understand! I think what would be good if for me to read some books on the subject - Richard could you let me know what you are reading please? That would be fasicinating. Im learning bits and pieces about the religon all the time but sometimes its so hard to place the bits together in my head, theres so many questions which i have which originate from snippets which people tell me! The main thing is i now know what the difference between sunni and shitis are so i can understand the news a bit better. Thank you so much