Which pair best describes Sunni and Shia beliefs about caliph selection?

• A. Shia: Birthright; Sunni: Vote
• B. Sunni: Divine appointment; Shia: Election by the community
• C. Sunni: Vote; Shia: Birthright
• D. Sunni: Hereditary; Shia: Divine appointment

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how legitimacy and authority for leadership were seen after Muhammad’s death. Sunnis emphasize that the caliph should be chosen by the community or its leaders through consultation or consensus, i.e., by vote. Shia hold that leadership should stay within the Prophet’s family (the Ahl al-Bayt), passed down hereditarily, with that line having rightful and often divinely guided authority. So the best pairing is Sunni: Vote; Shia: Birthright. The other options mix in ideas like divine appointment or hereditary for the wrong group, which doesn’t align with the standard views.