Yes. Based on the research dossier, Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims believe in the exact same God: Allah. The difference between the two is not about who they worship. It is about how they understand religious authority, guidance, and leadership after the Prophet Muhammad.
That is an important distinction. The dossier clearly says Shia Islam is not a different religion and does not have a different holy book. Both groups follow the same Quran and worship the same Creator. The real disagreement is over the proper source of guidance after the Prophet: Shia Islam follows the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the Sunnah of the Ahl al-Bayt, while Sunni Islam follows the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the Sunnah or actions of the Companions and Caliphs.
Do Shia and Sunni Muslims worship the same God?
Yes. The research says both Shia and Sunni Muslims worship Allah, the one God of Islam. Shia theology strongly emphasizes Tawhid, which means absolute oneness of God. In the dossier, Allah is described as the eternal, everlasting Creator and Sustainer with no equal.
So the question is not whether both groups believe in God. They do. The question is how they understand divine guidance after the Prophet’s death. That is where the difference begins.
What is the real difference between Shia and Sunni Islam?
According to the dossier, the real difference is methodological and historical, not about God Himself.
Shia Islam defines true religion through three sources together: the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the Sunnah of the Ahl al-Bayt. It also believes Allah appointed infallible Imams to guide the Muslim community after the Prophet.
Sunni Islam, as described in the dossier, relies on the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the Sunnah or actions of the Companions and Caliphs. It views leadership as an earthly political election rather than a divine appointment.
So the difference is about religious authority and leadership, not about the Creator being worshipped.
What does the Quran say in the research?
The dossier highlights two main verses.
The first is Surah An-Nisa 4:59:
“Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.”
The dossier explains that this verse shows the shared foundation of obedience to Allah and His Messenger. The difference appears in the meaning of “those in authority.” In Shia interpretation, this refers to the infallible Imams.
The second is Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:55:
“Your guardian is only Allah, His Messenger, and those who have believed — those who establish prayer and give zakah while they are bowing.”
The dossier says Shia scholars use this verse as Qur’anic evidence for Ali ibn Abi Talib’s divinely appointed guardianship. Even here, the verse begins with Allah as the ultimate guardian. That supports the fact that both Shia and Sunni Muslims are speaking about the same God.
What do the hadith in the research show?
The hadith in the dossier also support the same point.
One important narration is Hadith al-Thaqalayn, where the Prophet says:
"I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah and my progeny, my Ahl al-Bayt."
— Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)
The dossier uses this hadith to show that the Quran is the shared center of guidance for all Muslims. The Shia distinction is that the Ahl al-Bayt must also be followed alongside the Book of Allah.
Another important narration is Hadith of Ghadir, where the Prophet says:
"Whomsoever I am his Mawla, this Ali is his Mawla. O Allah, befriend whoever befriends him."
— Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) at Ghadir Khumm
The dossier explains that this links Ali’s authority directly to Allah’s appointment. Again, this does not mean Shia Muslims worship a different God. It means they understand divine authority differently.
Does Shia Islam have a different Quran?
No. The dossier is explicit on this point. Shia Muslims do not have a different Quran. They follow the exact same Book of Allah as all other Muslims, and the Quran is the supreme and ultimate criterion for their faith.
This is a very important correction to a common misunderstanding. The shared Quran is one of the strongest signs that Shia and Sunni Muslims belong to the same religion and worship the same God.
Why does the difference matter in daily life?
The dossier says the practical difference is in how religious rulings are derived. Because Shia Muslims follow the infallible Imams, their jurisprudence can differ from Sunni practice in matters such as temporary marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
But even here, the disagreement is not about God. It is about how to receive and apply God’s guidance correctly.
Conclusion
Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims believe in the same God, Allah. They also share the same Quran and the same Prophet. The real difference between them, according to the research dossier, is not theological belief in God, but the method of guidance after the Prophet: Shia Islam follows the Quran, the Prophet, and the Ahl al-Bayt, while Sunni Islam follows the Quran, the Prophet, and the Companions and Caliphs.
In simple terms, the God is the same. The disagreement is about authority, leadership, and interpretation.