The Muslims in Ayutthaya were divided into distinct groups. The first, the Indo-Malay Muslims, and the second, the Sunni Muslims from the countries to the west of Siam, were the groups outside the city wall, while the third resided inside the city wall. This third group consisted mainly of Indo-Iranian Muslims of the Shiite sect, different from the first and the second groups, who were primarily of Sunni sect of the Shaf?is group. The differences in their religion, race, society, and culture caused these Muslims to separate into different communities in the city of Ayutthaya.